Tainted Heartbreak by Terri Anne Browning

Author:Terri Anne Browning [Browning, Terri Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Amara

The feel of the bed shifting had my eyes snapping open. It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up with what I was seeing. The streetlamp outside lit the room dimly enough that I could make out where I was—not home, but in my room at my dad’s house. I could feel Cash’s steady breathing on the back of my neck, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. My back was molded against his front, and we could have been mistaken for one person.

In front of me, Riley adjusted the extra pillow and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “How are you?” she whispered.

“Numb,” I told her honestly. “When did you get here?”

“Not long ago. Jane let me in. She made up the couch for me, but I couldn’t sleep knowing you were hurting.” She stroked her fingers over my brow. “I’m so, so sorry, Mar.”

Fresh tears stung my eyes. One spilled down my cheek, but I was too exhausted to wipe it away. “You didn’t have to come. I know how important tomorrow was to you. Your mom could have expanded to New York. She was going to give you LA.”

“I told you, you’re more important to me than anything. Mom knows that and understood when I told her I had to be here for you.” She grimaced. “She sends her love, by the way.”

“Lin didn’t come, did she?” But I knew the answer before she even opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry, babe. Her dad wouldn’t let her come. You know how he is, and with your falling out with Malcolm…” She trailed off, but I knew what she would have said.

Lindsey’s dad was friendly with Malcolm. He wasn’t going to pay for his daughter to run after me and hold my hand for any reason, including the death of my father. Hell, it was a wonder he hadn’t made her move out yet. It wasn’t like I was important now. With me tossing everything aside for my own happiness, I was no longer close to Malcolm, so I was no longer useful.

I shrugged. “It’s fine. I understand and knew she wouldn’t. Lin loves me, but she would never go against her parents.”

“But you’re her best friend,” Riley argued, upset for me. “She should be here for you, damn it!”

I hugged her close. “But you are my best friend, and that’s all that matters. Right?”

“Yeah,” she sniffled, her arms going around my middle, separating me from Cash slightly. “That’s all that will ever matter.”

With the two people I loved the most right there holding me, I found myself falling back to sleep easily despite the ache that felt like it was pressing painfully against my ribs. Thankfully, dreams eluded me, and I slept peacefully.

The sound of Cash’s deep voice rumbling under my ear woke me. Opening my eyes, I realized I’d turned in my sleep until I was lying mostly on top of him. Riley was still where she’d been when we fell asleep. She was

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