Page 53 of The Love You Hate
Mom gives the affirmative, and I look up when I hear Grant’s voice. “So good to see you, ma’am.” What a perfect gentleman in front of people. I want to scream that behind closed doors he’s a monster. My breast has a wound that will certainly scar, and marks from his upper and lower teeth are bright red against my creamy skin. Luckily, the dress covers it. “Can I have this dance?” Grant asks. I look up and he’s extending his hand like Rico Suave. My stomach flips as I take his hand. He’s given me no option—I can see the anger in his eyes.
Mom smiles, but it’s fake, as I follow him away from the table. “There’s no one on the dance floor, Grant.”
“I don’t care. Let them stare. We still have to settle the matter of payment. If you want the meds to keep coming, we need to make another deal.”
I’ve been dreading this hotel stay for this singular reason. “We have tonight. There’s still time for me to hold up my end of the deal. Or is there something else you want?” He spins me away, flashing a fake smile to those passing by, then pulls me back to his chest, holding my hand against his sternum.
“I want to make this legal so I can stop lying and hiding. I can make more money if it was on the up-and-up. Since you’re a stick in the mud in the bedroom now, I want your help with this instead.”
I nod. “Okay, and how do I help you do that?”
“Your dad.”
Shaking my head, I avert my gaze. “I don’t have access to him. Hello, I had to go to you when I ran into trouble. Don’t you think I would have gone directly to him if I had that option? Then I wouldn’t owe any favors. I mean, I wish I could talk to him then I could tell him about the dirty deals you forced me to make.”
“You wouldn’t tell him,” Grant says, narrowing his eyes. “You wouldn’t want him to know.”
“Like I care what he knows at this point. He’s never getting out. I’ll never see him again, despite what my mom thinks.” I look over to her table and that’s when I see Nate Sullivan. He’s encased in the shadow of an entrance, behind Mom. His eyes are locked in my general direction. My heart skips a beat and I stumble, missing a step and nearly falling before Grant steadies me.
“You always did have two left feet.”
I should be telling him to go get stuffed, but I’m too preoccupied. “Yeah, never did take to ballroom dance classes,” I admit sarcastically. “I’ll figure out a way to get you on top of Lexington Pharm.” I don’t even look at him. “Then we’re square for however long I need, and you’ll owe me more than just the one person, too.” It would be naïve to think I’ll never need to call in another favor of this magnitude. I may not find peace like my mother obviously has, but I will work on building security.
“Open ended dealings? You’re more like your father than I gave you credit for.” Grant releases me, and there’s soft clapping from somewhere in the room. “I’ll be in touch.” His voice holds distinct promise that makes me uncomfortable. “You know how to reach me?”
“Same as last time no doubt.”
To appease the crowd, he leans in and presses a soft kiss on my neck. A juxtaposition of how he marred my body last night. He releases me, and I drift in Nate’s direction. He looks both left and right to see who is watching, and it just so happens everyone is. They’re all waiting to see how he reacts to me. To us. I’ve done a good job at blocking out the pain in his absence, but being this close to him causes it to flood back in. Nate holds his face stoic and proud. He doesn’t look at me too long. He’s sweeping the room like a good bodyguard.
“Presley Cohen,” he says.
“Pretty sure you can call me by my real last name here, Nate,” I hiss.
He doesn’t meet my eyes. “I’ll be escorting you back to Gold Hawke today. We will leave directly following the luncheon and the packing of your bags.”
Tears prick my eyes, and it’s miserable that he knows how much he’s upsetting me. “It’s true then? You’re officially a robot?” I stutter. “I didn’t believe it because I’ve never hated love so much in my entire life, but if you can erase me, then I can eviscerate you.” There’s no tells. Nothing. His uniform is perfect, and his face looks exactly the same as it did all those months ago, except a ring of black below his eyes suggesting sleepless nights.
“I’m your Charge Man. It is my job to protect your heartbeat. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
Nodding, I sink into my feelings even further. “I can’t believe this nightmare. I’m stuck with you. With you? I’d rather have Gray!” I hiss. “He’s honest. Brutally honest.” My voice rises and others hear, curious stares aimed my way.
“That’s not the way it works. I’m your Charge Man. Bags packed and at the door at four.”
“I hate you, Nate Sullivan.” His jaw shifts left and right, but that’s the only indication he’s heard what I’ve said. His eyes stay focused above my head. I head back to the table with my mom because I could use some of her self-help bullshit. Maybe she can recommend a book.
