Sleeping ’til Sunrise by Mary Calmes Read Free Book Online Page A

having a person in your life to share bullshit with—this could be real bad for us.”
    “You’re serious.” It was a statement, but he still sounded surprised.
    “I am.”
    “Because why?”
    “Because that’s what people in a relationship do: they lean on each other.”
    “And if one person does like 90 percent of that?”
    “Who told you life was always fair and equal?”
    “Ess—”
    “No, really? Who?”
    He coughed. “No one.”
    “Then where is this everything’s gotta be equal crap coming from?”
    Silence.
    “As long as you’re in it, seriously, giving and taking and doing it as hard as you can with your whole heart, I don’t see where there could ever be any problem.”
    After a moment he took a breath. “You’re amazing, you know, and you have no idea.”
    “Not a saint.”
    “I didn’t say saint—and you’re not—but you’re different from anybody else I know.”
    “Shouldn’t I be, if you want to be with me?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you do, right? Want to be with me?”
    “More than you can possibly imagine.”
    It was good to hear. “Okay, then,” I said with an exhale. “Talk to me.”
    “Okay, so the reading of the will happened today, and now it’s a battle because my grandmother left me the winery and everyone is trying to get me to hear their side of things.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “I decide what happens to it, that’s what she wanted, and my father just told me they’re going to challenge me because of my illness.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “He’s telling them that the cancer is affecting my mind.”
    “Hold up.” That made no sense. “Without even waiting to hear what you’d say, he goes right to attacking your mental faculties?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s crap!”
    “Yes, it is, but if he files suit and then it goes to the state medical board, I—”
    “You’re telling me that something he does there can affect your practice here?”
    “It could, yes.”
    “No,” I said quickly, taking a breath. “Come home.”
    “What?”
    “Pack your stuff, drive to the airport, and get on a plane.”
    “But I’m supposed to see the lawyer tomorrow and—”
    “What lawyer? Your father’s?”
    “Well, yes, actually,” he said oddly, and I could tell he was actually thinking about what he’d just said.
    “No. You need your own lawyer.”
    “Yeah, I probably… do.”
    “Just come back and we’ll figure everything out.”
    “Ess––”
    “I don’t mean to cut you off, honey, but I really don’t think you being there is a good idea. You’re too far from home and your support base and… me.”
    His breath caught. “You’re giving me heart palpitations, and I’m trying to be so cool.”
    “I can’t believe you left town without telling me!” I railed.
    “I’m sorry, all right? I didn’t want to scare you off with any more damn drama after I just told you I had fuckin’ cancer!”
    “I thought I didn’t matter at all, because you could just leave without a word.”
    “What?” he gasped.
    It was good, that alarmed sound, because it spoke to the truth better than any words. “It makes sense, right?”
    “No. And nothing could be further from the truth.”
    “Oh yeah?”
    “Yes, Essien, I swear I—”
    “Prove it,” I barked.
    “Prove it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “What are you, ten?”
    “Oh, so then, this is bullshit you’re giving me.”
    “No.”
    “Then like I said, prove it.”
    “How?”
    “You want me?”
    “I do, yes.”
    “Are you sure? Because you don’t sound sure.”
    “I am, though… very sure.”
    “You’ve been thinking about me?” I pressed because I could, and he deserved the interrogation. He’d left me, after all.
    “I have.”
    “And you’re ready to show me?”
    “I am,” he said breathlessly.
    “Then get your ass home so I know you’re serious, because leaving like you did was crap. Whatever we are, we’re still friends, and Blake knew what was going on when I didn’t!” I