Lie to Me (Sexual Misconduct Volume III) by Bethany Bazile Read Free Book Online Page B

running a battery of tests to assess the severity of the situation.”
    Avery sucked in a sharp breath and covered her face with her hands. Ian wrapped an arm around her shoulder and whispered something into her ear. Avery felt responsible, and I didn’t want that for her. Even if this was karma coming back for me, I knew I’d never adequately atone for my mistakes.
    “ Can I see her?” I asked.
    “ Once we get her settled in a room, then the nurse will let you up.” The doctor turned and left, and I couldn’t stick around and watch Ian coddle Avery any longer. I took off down the long hallway and tried to find somewhere to calm myself down before I got thrown out of the hospital when I knew my mother needed me.
    ~*~*~
    I walked into the room they’d assigned my mother. The only sound was the steady beep of the monitor—proving my mom’s heart was still beating, and at that point, that was the only thing I needed to hear. Her coloring was so pale she almost matched the bedding. There were two large chairs set up near the windows. I dragged one to her bedside and sat with her for a long while.
    “ I messed up, Mom. I’m sorry.” I reached out and took her hand in mine. She squeezed it feebly and then narrowly opened her eyes. She shifted in bed and sluggishly shook her head and pulled my hand closer.
    “ Everything bad that’s happened in this family all circles back to me. I can’t handle you dying right now. What am I supposed to do without you? Please, Mom. Please. I know you’d happily give up and go to Dad, but it’s not time yet. I didn’t fix things with him. Let me fix them with you.”
    “ I’m not going anywhere,” she managed, then began coughing.
    “ Don’t talk, Mom.” I stood and helped her sit up slightly.
    “ Water,” she whispered.
    I picked up the small pitcher at her bedside and poured some water into a plastic cup. I helped her take a few sips , then settled back into my seat.
    She stared at me for a long while , and I didn’t want to say anything to force her to speak, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes.
    “ We both made mistakes,” she finally said.
    I nodded, reached out , and combed my fingers into her hair. “I know, Mom. And I’m going to fix it all… somehow.”
    The door opened as I ran my hand down her face. She leaned into it and smiled weakly as Ian stepped in behind me. I got up and walked out without sparing Ian a passing glance. As I stepped out into the hallway, I stopped short.
    Avery leaned against the opposite wall with her head down. She looked as devastated as I felt. I liked to have control of my emotions, but it seemed between my mother and Avery, I was spiraling downward. I stepped toward her, and she tried to sidestep to avoid me, but I pulled her into me and wrapped my arms around her. She began to struggle, trying to push away.
    “ Please. Just let me hold you for a minute.”
    We both needed it despite her refusal. She slowly stopped struggling and sagged against me. I rested my chin on the top of her head and tightened my hold on her. I just wanted to feel what we had, even for a few seconds, but it wasn’t the same. Her reluctance was evident even when she loosely wrapped her arm around me. I wanted her back. I wanted her to want to hold me as much as I needed to hold her.
    When I pulled back and looked into her face, her eyes were glazed with unshed tears. It was the first time I’d seen her stone-cold hold on her emotions crack. I knew she was seriously hurting if she’d let me see her break this way. I wanted to help her—to take everything back and make our love perfect. But we were doomed from the beginning, and if either of us had realized our connection to the past, a future would’ve never existed for us.
    “ I miss you,” I said, raking my fingers into her hair.
    She inadvertently leaned into the caress and closed her eyes. “Don’t, Xander… please.”
    “ Why not?”
    “ Because you and me together is sheer bedlam.”