Page 159 of Cold As Ice

Jesus Christ. It was like something out of the Exorcist.

“Okay, new plan,” I muttered, stripping off my puke-spluttered sweater and jeans and throwing them in the laundry basket. Then I reached into the shower and turned on the jets. “Come on, princess. Let’s get you cleaned off.” I scooped her up into my arms and carried her into the shower.

“I don’ts feel so good, Mommy.” Imogen groaned, hanging in my arms like a ragdoll.

“We’ll get you cleaned up and into bed, okay?”

“But what abouts our special date with Mr. Austins?”

“You can call him Austin, you know, sweetheart.” A fact I’d told her at least twenty times since Sunday.

“I wanted to knows the surprise.”

“I know you did, baby. But we can reschedule.”

She sobbed against my chest as I tried my best to clean her up.

“Mommy’s going to have to lower you to the floor, okay? Just so I can undress you and wash your hair.”

Imogen nodded but she was crashing fast from the aftermath of vomiting everywhere.

I managed to make quick work of getting her clean and before she knew it, I had her bundled in her favorite fluffy towel. “Let’s get you some water and crackers and I’ll tuck you up in bed,” I soothed.

“I want to stays with you, Mommy.” She tightened her arms around my neck as I carried her through our apartment.

“Mommy needs to clean up your room first, so why don’t you snuggle Mr. Hopsy on the couch and then we’ll snuggle.”

She nodded against my chest and gave me a meek, “Okay.”

With Imogen safely on the couch, set up with her favorite TV show and a plastic bucket just in case she wasn’t done vomiting, I grabbed my cell and quickly texted Austin.

Madison: I’m so sorry to do this last minute but Imogen is sick. Rain check?

Austin: Of course. Is she okay? Do you need anything?

Madison: We’re good but thanks. xo

I left my cell on the counter and grabbed some cleaning supplies to go tackle her bedroom. The rancid smell hit me the second I entered the room, and I had to breathe through my mouth as I set about cleaning up the mess.

Not how I’d planned on spending my Wednesday night. But maybe the universe was trying to tell me something.

No, I didn’t want to believe that.

Austin had been great with Imogen on Sunday and clearly intended to include her in our relationship.

It took a little while to scrub the carpet, but I got there in the end, right as Imogen called out for me.

“Mommy, Mommy!

“I’m coming, baby.” I gathered everything up and shoved it in the trash bag. “Mommy has got to take out the— Austin.”

“Hey,” he said from the door.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was already on my way when you texted, so I stopped at the store and grabbed some supplies.” He held up the grocery bag. “I figured we could stay in.”

“Austin—”

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