Play My Game: A 100 Series Standalone Romance by Adrian Lara

Author:Adrian, Lara [Adrian, Lara]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: contemporary romance, billionaire romance, romance anthology, lara adrian, 100 series
Publisher: Lara Adrian, LLC
Published: 2020-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

20

MELANIE

Standing in the hallway outside my mother’s hospital room, I watch through the window as she sleeps. Her doctor has just left to continue his morning rounds after stopping to give me the latest update on her condition.

She’s stabilized now, but they want to keep her under observation for another day to run further tests and to make sure there are no bleeding issues with the stents they inserted into two of her severely blocked arteries. The EMTs who reluctantly let Katie and me stay at Mom’s side in the ambulance yesterday said if we’d been even a few minutes later getting her to the emergency room, we would have lost her.

Even now, the starkness of that reality hits me like a physical blow. I wipe at the sudden swell of tears that spills out the corners of my eyes.

I’ve saved my worry and tears for the few minutes here and there I’ve been able to steal away from Katie. I don’t want her to know how scared I was yesterday. I don’t want her to see how scared I still am that one day Mom’s struggling heart is going to give out for good.

At six years old, she doesn’t need to carry that fear along with me. I need to be strong for her. Strong for Mom, too. It’s not a burden I resent even for a second. Still, sometimes it would be nice to have someone I could lean on once in a while. Fortunately, I’ve got a few good friends like Evelyn Beckham on my side.

Rallying myself to head back out to the family waiting area where I’ve left Katie with Eve, I make a quick stop in the restroom for tissues to dry my eyes. I make the mistake of glancing in the mirror over the sink and I groan at the horror staring back at me. The industrial-grade fluorescent light overhead gives my red-rimmed, dark-ringed eyes and ashen skin the full zombie effect. I’m sure my breath is no better for the countless cups of bad coffee I’ve had since Katie and I arrived at the hospital with Mom.

I manage to school my expression into one of calm confidence as I make the short walk from my mother’s recovery room to the large, open space where I spot Katie reading a children’s magazine seated next to my friend.

“Sorry that took longer than I’d planned. Mom’s doctor was making his rounds and I wanted to catch him while he was on the floor.”

“No problem,” Eve says, her slender arm wrapped around Katie’s shoulders. She doesn’t voice her concern in front of my niece, but I can see it in her pale green eyes. “If you want me to stay a while longer, I can call my client and cancel her fitting.”

“No, don’t do that. You’ve been working on those lingerie designs for months. Besides, Gabe will be waiting outside to pick you up before long, anyway.”

Eve gives me a caring smile. “You’re sure? I know my client will understand if you’d like me to stay.

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