The Way of Us (Paradise Bay Billionaire Brothers Book 5) by Claudia Burgoa

Author:Claudia Burgoa [Burgoa, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-12T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Atzi

Heath sips a travel mug of fresh coffee while he weaves expertly through traffic. When we get to a stoplight, he glances at me, asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I croak. We’re about to get onto the highway. I usually don’t mind it, unless we’re going to the airport.

“It’s okay,” he whispers. “I got this.”

“I trust you.” My voice is a murmur. I’m not sure he can hear me.

Driving toward the airport is not my favorite activity. My anxiety spikes one thousand percent on a good day. It’s been this way since my parents and my sister died. It took a long time to be able to get into a car after the accident.

Aunt Cécile bought me a cute convertible when I turned sixteen. I refused to drive it. Later that year, she purchased an Audi Q7, hoping I’d change my mind. According to her, it was one of the safest SUVs on the market. It took a lot of convincing from Heath and my therapist to agree to driving lessons.

I still have both cars, but I try to walk and use public transportation as often as possible. It’s safer for the drivers around me and, well, me. Heath insists I’m a shitty driver because I don’t practice.

He doesn’t understand why I can face everything with courage except for one thing. Driving and going to the airport. It brings terrible memories. I recall the last moment when Mom screamed, and the other car was coming at ours from the opposite direction.

Dad said we’d be fine, but we weren’t. We were on our way to France to celebrate Mom’s birthday. That was the last time I saw my parents. I still can hear the panic in their voices. The sound of the emergency vehicles and my sister crying.

I rub my leg as the pain begins to cripple along with the anxiety.

“Count with me, love. One, two… I can’t hear you.”

“One,” I murmur.

“Deep breaths, everything is okay. Let’s count: one, two, three.”

I join him, counting until my breathing normalizes.

“This is why I wanted Owen to pick them up,” he says. “You’re already dealing with a lot.”

I lean my head against the seat and close my eyes. “Will it ever get better?”

“Are you still in therapy?”

I almost growl because it’s been a hot minute since I last saw a therapist.

“You need professional help,” he points out.

“Don’t use logic on me, Spearman.”

“This is just a suggestion, but you do you.” There’s some humor in his voice.

I blow some air out. “Fine, I’ll search for someone new.”

“When did you stop going?”

“If I say I don’t remember?”

He laughs. “That long, huh?”

“The last one wanted me to stop working so much and find a real hobby.”

Heath gasps. “The horror.”

“Listen, kettle. You’re always at the hospital.”

“Not true. I’m either there or with you. Mostly with you.”

“Hmm,” I say, almost lost in thought. I had never thought about his whereabouts. Is that true?

“And here we are,” he says as he enters the parking garage. “Ready for them?”

“No. We’re going to fail.

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