Insufferable Proximity 2 by Z. Stefani Read Free Book Online Page A

the mark on Heaven’s cheek.
     
    “That son of a bitch! I could just kill him over and over for what he’s done to you, my darling daughter,” Sybille snapped. She wasn’t being dramatic—she was shaking with rage.
     
    Julian nodded in agreement; he liked the idea of being able to kill Gavin repeatedly. Once would never be enough.
     
    “It’s all right, Mom,” Heaven tried to reassure her. She had never seen her mother so angry.
     
    “Damn him! I am just so angry!” she growled the last word—shocking everyone around her.
     
    “He’ll get his, but right now, Sevigne needs to rest,” Coco reminded her sister. It was a matter of seconds before Sybille worked herself up.
     
    “I know,” Sybille bent to kiss Heaven’s head. “I love you, get some rest.”
     
    “I love you, too,” Heaven whispered.
     
    “We’ll come back up to visit you later, Toots.” Coco kissed her forehead.
     
    “Bring ice cream,” she murmured as her eyes closed a little.
     
    “I will,” Coco replied, before taking her sister’s hand and heading towards the door.
     
    “Good idea; we can bring her some fresh iced tea with mint, too. It will go great with vanilla ice cream.” Sybille’s eyes began to pool with tears.
     
    “I’ll even help you make it.” Coco grinned, and Sybille’s frown jerked up into a smile.
     
    “We’ll come back and check on her soon.” Sybille continued to smile as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
     
    “Don’t worry; I’ll take good care of her,” Julian assured her.
     
    “I know you will.” Sybille smiled sincerely, obviously relieved with Julian’s confidence. “Have you eaten yet?”
     
    “I’ll eat later after she’s asleep.”
     
    “You need to keep yourself healthy, too,” Sybille reminded him before leaving.
     
    Julian closed the door once they were gone and then wheeled the cart over towards Heaven. He prepared her food and then stood next to the bed.
     
    “Your soup is ready.” He smoothed a loose tendril back from her face. He slid his arms underneath her and carefully sat her up, grabbing an extra pillow and propping it behind her back. He sat on the edge of the bed facing her, before he grabbed the bowl of soup. “Your mother told me to tell you that she made it from scratch.”
     
    “It smells delicious,” she said her voice still groggy. “What kind is it?”
     
    “Chicken noodle soup.”
     
    “Where’s the chicken?” she asked as she looked at the broth. “Where are the noodles?”
     
    “I don’t want you chewing with a head injury.” He was so serious that Heaven decided it was pointless to try to convince him that he was going overboard.
     
    “So I’m reduced to chicken-flavored water?”
     
    “Just for a couple of days.” He filled the spoon and then lifted it to her lips.
     
    “I can do it.” She tried to take the spoon, but he stopped her.
     
    “No strenuous activity.”
     
    “Lifting a spoon is strenuous activity?” If her head weren’t pounding, she would have smiled.
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Let me guess, chewing is also on the strenuous activity list.”
     
    “Yes, it is. Just sit back and relax.” He held the spoonful back to her mouth, and she promptly accepted it.
     
    She swallowed the soup and nodded, “It is good. Did you try it?”
     
    “Not yet.” He refilled the spoon and put it back to her mouth.
     
    “Have you eaten?”
     
    “I’ll eat later.”
     
    “You haven’t eaten anything today?” She was concerned about him.
     
    “It’s early,” he answered as he held another spoonful to her lips.
     
    “But—“
     
    “No buts,” he cut her off, “I’ll eat later.”
     
    “Yes you will eat later; I’m not letting you skip any more meals,” she insisted.
     
    ***
     
    After Heaven finished eating, Julian insisted that she lie back down. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes. It didn’t take long for the pain medication to kick in. Once it did, she felt