by Nia Arthurs
This is driving me nuts.
We were so close last night.
What the hell is this?
Unable to sit still in my office, I head outside to get some air.
On the way, my phone rings.
Thinking it’s Lucas, I answer without checking. “Stop bugging me. I haven’t told Elizabeth I love—”
“Mr. Harrington?” a crisp female voice says.
I stiffen.
“I’m calling from the hospital. There’s been a complication.”
I start running. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
The engine roars as I tear down the freeway. The light in front of me turns red. I ignore it and blaze through traffic.
Cars skid to a stop to avoid running into me.
I barely hear the annoyed honking.
My eyes stay on the road ahead.
Steph has to be okay.
I can’t lose her.
I can’t.
My fingers grip the steering wheel tightly. Running a few red lights shaves ten minutes down to eight. Once I park the car in front of the hospital, I run straight to Steph’s ward.
Ina spots me and waves me over. “Brogan!”
“Where is she?” I demand, unable to catch my breath.
“She’s sleeping. The doctors managed to stabilize her, but…” Ina’s sober face tells me everything she’s not saying. “The infection is severe. Her heart has been pushed to its limits. She’s holding on from pure will.”
“Is she… going to die?”
“Brogan…”
“Is she?”
“We don’t know. Even if we go through with the heart transplant now, she’s too weak to receive it. It might not make a difference.”
“I don’t care. If there’s even a chance—”
“Brogan, it’ll be too dangerous.” Ina’s eyes swim with tears. “We need to wait and monitor her.”
“Wait?”
“I’m sorry.”
“There must be something we can do.”
“The doctor will see how she responds to the medicine and then we’ll come up with a new plan.” She squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can to save her, Brogan. I promise.”
The lump in my throat robs me of speech.
I nod.
Ina walks away while I gather the courage to enter Steph’s room.
After a few deep breaths, I stride in. She’s there. Lying on the bed like a fragile doll. Helplessly still.
I fall into the chair beside her.
Tears prick the back of my eyes.
“Steph,” I whisper. “Stay strong for a little longer, baby. Hold on for a little longer.”
The machines’ beeping is my only reply.
I grab one of her little hands.
They’re so small.
So cold.
I’m not used to her being this quiet. She’s usually jumping around. Chattering a mile a minute.
I want her to be okay.
I’d do anything to make her whole.
The fact that I have no control, that I can do nothing at all, is… torturous.
Elizabeth’s face comes to mind.
She’s probably meeting with Novah right now.
I hesitate.
Put my phone back in my pocket.
Take it out again.
I send her a text to let her know what’s going on and then I stay by Steph’s bedside, begging God to spare this precious little girl’s life.
Twenty-Six
Elizabeth
My phone vibrates, dancing over the table.
Novah arches a trim eyebrow. “Are you going to get that?”
“Later.” I wrap my fingers around my mug of coffee. “This is more important.”
She laughs. “Elizabeth, anyone would think I’m some mobster the way you’re looking at me.”
“How did you find out, Novah?”
“Well, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together.” She leans back, a self-satisfied smirk on her face. “I smelled something fishy from the start. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.”
I tap my fingers on the table, my mind whirring. “Is it that unbelievable that I found someone who loved me?”
“Honey, I’m not stupid. It was surprising enough to find out you had a mystery boyfriend, but when you turned around and married him, I knew there was something going on.”
“Maybe we just love each other,” I defend.
It’s worrying that I can say that so confidently.
It’s terrifying that it feels… true.
Brogan hasn’t said those words.
Neither have I.
But it feels like we’re not faking it as much.
I think we might have something real.
“Maybe.” Novah flicks her fingernail around the rim of her cup. She’s wearing a bright pink lipstick and the stains are etched into the white mug. “The Harrington estate is worth a ton, did you know that?”
“I knew.”
“Your hubby is a billionaire.” She toys with her curly weave. “Or he will be. In exactly two days and twenty-two hours.”
I stiffen. “How do you know that?”
“One of my fiancé’s friends works at the law firm handling the will. I asked him for a favor and he delivered.” She lifts her latte to her big lips and blows on the steam. “I really do love how small this world is.”
“So he’s getting an inheritance. That’s not proof of anything.”
“To get access to the money, he needed a wife. And, according to public court records, Brogan Harrington divorced Lana Phyllis almost three years ago.”
“So you’re a PI now?”
“When something bugs me, I have to get to the bottom of it or I go crazy. You know that, Liz.” She scratches her dark cheek. “It was quite the dilemma. What would poor Mr. Harrington do now that he found himself broke and… wife-less?”
“You’re wrong. Brogan and I—”
“Are what?” She smirks.
“We’re together.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“Because of a piece of paper?”
“Novah—”
“Because you kiss and cuddle in front of our family?”
“Watch it.”
She snorts. “Don’t tell me you opened your legs and let him—“ She grins hard. “You screwed him, didn’t you?”
“Novah!”
“You think that’s love? Any of it?”
My heart beats rapidly.
I dig my fingers into my palm.
“Come on, Liz.” Novah slaps her hand against the table. “Enough with the lies. Stop pretending your marriage to Brogan is anything but a sham. It’s pathetic. And deceit doesn’t look good on you.”
My chest heats with humiliation. I started down this road to protect my dignity and my pride. Now Novah’s trampling both under her booted feet.
Digging deep to find the poise that I don’t have, I lift my chin. “So what are you going to do with that information? Are you going to tell my parents? Tell the entire family? Shame me?”
“Oh heavens, Elizabeth. Do you think I’m the Evil Queen? Why would I do that?”
Because she hates me?
Because her one joy in life is making me miserable?
“I’m sorry to burst your little self-absorbed bubble, but my world does not revolve around you. I have so many better things to do with my time than run around worrying about your fake marriage.”
“Those are bold words coming from someone who conducted a full investigation on my husband.”
Novah’s lips tighten. “You’re so smug, aren’t you?” She picks up her mug. “I hope you’re still that confident when your little show comes to an end.”
I stall, my hand trembling.
Novah catches sight of it.
Hurriedly, I pull my hand into my lap, but it’s too late.
“What’s this?” Novah tilts her head.
“Nothing.�
��
“Your expression…” Her lips ease into a pitiful grin. “Oh, honey. Don’t tell me you bought into your own lie.” She flings her head back and laughs. “Elizabeth, please please don’t make yourself look any more pitiful than you already do.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Brogan’s going to be a rich man. And you’re going to be a public laughing stock when he leaves you.” She arches an eyebrow. “How much money are you getting out of it?”
“We’re not—” I bite down on my lip. “There’s no money.”
Novah’s mouth falls open in shock. “You went through all this without expecting a penny?”
I shrug.
“Even a tiny portion of that inheritance would set you up for life.” She turns and stares dreamily out the window. “You could buy yourself a nice house. A better car. All the clothes you could want—”
“I don’t care about those things.”
“Fine.” She pouts. “Then you can buy your mama and daddy a nice house and a better car.”
Her words paint a brilliant picture in my head. My mom and dad never having to worry about bills a day in their life. Enjoying their retirement. Travelling the world.
Novah drops her voice to a whisper, “I think you should get Oren’s lawyer friends together and amend whatever agreement you made with Brogan. You’re his wife in the eyes of the law, even if it was only a sham. You deserve to get a piece of the pie too.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I just…” I swallow hard. Think of Brogan’s expression when he confessed to giving Lana money and getting his heart broken in return. “I can’t do that to him.”
Novah rolls her eyes.
“What?”
“Girl, I am so disappointed in you.” Novah huffs. “How could you be so stupid?”
“Watch it, Novah.”
“No, you’re the one who needs to watch herself.” She lifts her head. Glares at me. “You love him.”
My shoulders tense.
“Babe, it’s all over your face.” Novah sighs as if I’m a terrible student and she’s the exasperated teacher. “I’ve heard the song and seen this dance from you before. You tell me about some guy who seems perfect on the outside. You lower your guard. Give him everything. Put all your trust in him. And then what happens?”
I glance away.
Novah reaches across the table, grabs my chin and forces me to look at her. Brown eyes burning, she hisses, “What happens? What do all of those jerks do?”
“They leave me,” I mumble.
“I can’t hear you.”
“They leave me!”
“Exactly.” She drops her hands. “They leave your sorry butt. They leave you to pick up the pieces of your broken heart. Remember? That’s why you chose to be alone.”
My nostrils flare.
No.
Brogan’s different.
I think of how tenderly he held me last night.
After everything.
We’d just… stayed in each other’s arms.
Our breaths fell in sync.
Our heartbeats marched to the same rhythm.
It was perfect.
It was beautiful.
It was more than lust.
Novah eases her hands across the table and takes one of mine. “He’s using you just like you’re using him.”
“You don’t know him.”
“And after four days, you know him so well?” She gives me a you’ve got to be kidding look. “I’m not saying he’s the bad guy, Liz. Feelings are complicated, but they’re just that. Feelings. They come and go.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m telling you not to make a mistake because of the emotions that are clouding your judgment. Open your eyes, Elizabeth.”
I reach for my phone. “I have to go.”
Novah watches me with a smirk. “Good luck, cuz.”
I crash through the exits.
Hurry to the car.
Once I’m in the backseat, Gerard hangs up on a call and turns to me. “Mrs. Harrington, we need to get to the hospital.”
“Steph?”
He nods.
I gesture to him. “Step on it.”
On the way to the hospital, I check my phone and see several missed calls and texts from Brogan. I call him back, but it’s busy.
Gerard drops me off in the parking lot and leaves to pick up Gwen.
I run inside the building, heading straight to Steph’s room. As I stand outside her door, voices drift over to me.
“I miss you, Brogan. Can’t we be a family again?”
I freeze.
Peer through the glass.
Lana is kneeling in front of Brogan, one hand on his back, the other on his thigh. He’s patting her back gently. So he’s making up with his ex-wife after all?
I laugh bitterly.
Back away from the door.
Then I stop.
Turn around.
No.
I have to face this.
In two days, Brogan and I will be done. He’ll be free to pursue Lana or any other woman he pleases.
And what’ll I be doing? Crying into my pillows because I let myself fall for him? Wishing I’d kept the lines clear and my heart out of a relationship that was doomed from the start?
Ha.
I’m not going to be pathetic again. It’s better to accept our inevitable breakup now and embrace a world without Brogan Harrington as my husband than run away because I let myself act a fool.
I straighten my clothes, lift my chin, and throw the door wide open.
Twenty-Seven
Brogan
Elizabeth stalks into the room.
I push Lana away from me and jump to my feet. “Liz.”
“I came as soon as I could.” She spares Lana a short glance and turns her attention to Steph. Worry crawls into her brown eyes. “How is she?”
“Not good.” I blow out a breath.
“What can I do?”
I squeeze her hand. “Just being here is enough.”
She smiles but pulls her hand out of mine.
I frown at the distance and observe her tight expression.
What’s wrong?
She didn’t… see me comforting Lana, did she? What if she heard Lana trying to get me back and misunderstood?
I study Elizabeth’s face, but I can’t read her. My eyebrows knit together. Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe she’s upset because of Novah. I make a mental note to pull her aside and ask about that as soon as we’re alone.
A small cough grabs my attention.
I jerk around and cry out in relief when I see Steph starting to shift on her little bed. Thick eyelashes flutter. Pull apart. And then I’m looking into a pair of sweet brown eyes.
“Steph!” I take her hand.
Lana huddles close to me, balancing her cheek on the top of my head and wrapping one arm around me. “You’re up.”
I don’t let that embrace slide. With a forceful tug, I pull Lana’s arms away from me and glance over at Elizabeth. Hurt is stamped all over her face. She takes a hesitant step back.
I want to reach out to her, but Steph squeezes my hand. “Uncle Brogan.”
“Hey, Pumpkin.” I run my fingers over her small forehead. “You scared us.”
“Lizzy, could you get the doctor?” Lana shoos my wife away, her eyes on Steph.
I frown at Lana. “I’ll get him.”
“No, it’s fine,” Elizabeth says softly. “I’ll go. You two should stay with Steph.”
“Liz…”
But she’s already turning and walking out of the room.
I spear Lana a what the hell look.
She blinks innocently in return.
Steph croaks, “Uncle Brogan.”
“Yes, honey.” I ease forward.
“Have you… proposed to Elizabeth yet?”
Lana’s eyes widen. “What are you saying, Steph?”
&
nbsp; “Uncle Brogan and… Elizabeth are my first match.” She sucks in a deep breath. “I want to see them together before I… before…”
“Don’t say that, sweetie. You’ll be fine. The doctors are going to help you.”
Lana pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth.
Just then, the medical team arrives with Elizabeth. We step back so they can check Steph over. I move to Elizabeth’s side and try to slide my arm over her waist.
She shifts away from me.
I give her a questioning look.
She ignores it.
The pressure in my chest gets worse. Even when the doctors assure us that Steph is in the clear—for now—and that the sooner we can schedule the heart transplant, the better, I don’t feel relieved.
My wife keeps avoiding my gaze.
There’s this huge wall between us.
I keep running into it.
Keep getting dazed.
It doesn’t make sense.
After last night—
I thought we’d knocked that wall down.
It feels like we’re strangers.
More than strangers.
The first time we met in that coffee shop opposite Make It Marriage, I felt a connection to her. Now, it feels like that connection disappeared.
On the drive home, I try to clear the air. “Liz.”
“What?”
“I’m not going back to Lana.”
She stares straight ahead and doesn’t answer.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand what you saw or heard. Lana probably found out about the inheritance and thought she could—”
“It doesn’t matter,” she says firmly.
“It does.”
“No, it doesn’t. I don’t care what you do with Lana or any other woman.”
Other woman? “Liz…”
She flips on the radio, a clear hint that she doesn’t want to speak any longer.
Frustration boils inside me.
I flip the radio off.
Elizabeth hisses. “I was listening to that!”
“I’m trying to talk to you.”
She folds her arms over her chest and glares through the window.
I suck in a deep breath and ask calmly, “How did things with Novah go? Does she really know about us?”
“She knows we’re fake, yeah,” Elizabeth spits out.
I wince at the word ‘fake’. This marriage isn’t a ruse to me anymore and it almost hurts me to hear Elizabeth still feels that way. But what did I expect? We made love last night, but I never told her how I felt.
