I hung up the phone and tossed my hair. “How’s that for climbing the social ladder?”
My parents just watched me, their mouths agape.
I squeezed Dean’s hand and pulled him from the club to the car. Grandmother followed shortly behind. It was the last I ever wanted to see of the vile place.
I shook as Dean drove us back to the hospital.
“Are you really cutting him out?” I said to Grandmother.
“Yes,” she said. “Your brother has been primed to take over for some time, and now that he has Emma, I don’t have to worry he’ll turn into your father.”
“Do you think they’ll change?”
She looked back at me from the front and shook her head.
“A leopard can’t just change his spots,” she said.
I understood. They had been living in this world for too long.
We pulled up to her waiting car. I helped her out and gave a big hug. It had been a hard day for everyone. She started to walk away and then stopped.
“You know,” she said. “We’ve been talking about having some artwork done in the building.” She waved her hand in the direction of the hospital. “You might be interested.”
I could feel the grin spreading.
“I’d love to,” I said.
She winked at me and smiled back. “That’s my girl. I’ll have someone give you a call.” She paused. “I’m glad you found what’s important to you.”
“Me too,” I said softly and glanced at Dean.
Everything was starting over.
I sighed. Maybe this would be the turning point for all of us.
***
Chapter Twenty-Five
I leaned back and stared at the sketch on the table. It was the fifth time I’d drawn it, and for some reason, I just couldn’t get the expression right.
“Why is that fairy constipated?” Dean asked from over my shoulder.
I jabbed him in the stomach with my elbow.
“Aside from the constipated fairy, what do you think?” I looked up at him as he studied the paper.
“Is this for the new ad campaign?” He leaned in further. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his woodsy soap tickled my nose.
I nodded, my head drifting toward his neck.
“It’s good.” He turned his head and smiled at me. “Are you going to see Vivien today?”
I shook my head.
“She has physical therapy today. Her balance is getting better, but the doctors think it’s going to be a long recovery. The neurological damage to her balance is tough, but she’ll overcome it,” I said. “It’s just amazing how far she’s come these last few months. Her voice is back to normal.”
Dean nodded. “And the nightmares?”
I sighed. “Chance said they are fine when she sticks to the meds, but off them they come right back. He’s talked to the psychiatrist, and they wonder if she’s going off them as some sort of punishment to herself.”
Dean stepped back, shocked by this. “But why?”
I fiddled with the buttons on my shirt. “She misses her parents and thinks it’s her fault.”
He lifted my chin and looked me in the eye.
“Do you miss your parents?” he asked quietly.
We hadn’t talked much about my parents over the months. The exposé came out, and it was the talk of the town, but we hadn’t heard a word from them. I knew Grandmother and Gavin were still talking to at least Father, but neither Mother or Father had bothered to find me.
I shook my head. “No,” I said. “Life is good, and if they want to find me they will.”
“Do you think it’s me?” He sat next to me at the table.
I laughed. “No, it’s me,” I said. “They wouldn’t think of you as a challenge, but a disobedient daughter? That’s a new one for them.”
I looked around our apartment and smiled. Things weren’t always perfect, but life was good. When Dean and Emma decided to commute to school and work, getting a place to stay had seemed like such a big leap, but it had worked out.
I spent my days between school and the hospital. It would seem I had something to thank my parents for. All those marketing classes were finally paying off. After I painted the hospital, Grandmother put me in the marketing department, and I loved it.
I yelped when Dean lifted me of my chair and straddled my legs across his lap.
“Not a challenge?” he said and raised an eyebrow.
I giggled when he leaned in and kissed along my neck.
“I don’t know,” I said. “You don’t seem very challenging right now.”
Dean growled in my ear. “Well, my cowboy and I say we’ll see who isn’t a challenge around here.”
My heart sped up as I looked into his eyes.
“How about you and your cowboy hat meet me in the room?” I gave him a wink before I popped up and raced out of the room.
I laughed as I landed on the bed and turned to see Dean in the doorway. I winked up at him and laughed at his devilish look. This was how life was supposed to be, surrounded in happiness with the one you love most.
***
A Note from Madison
Thank you for reading Elite. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.
You can join my new releases mailing list at http://eepurl.com/OX9r5
***
ALSO BY MADISON STEVENS
Allen Securities (Romantic Suspense)
Reed (Allen Securities #1)
Kace (Allen Securities #2)
Liam (Allen Securities #3)
Kelly Clan (Romantic Suspense)
Finn (Kelly Clan #1)
Conor (Kelly Clan #2)
Luna Lodge (Paranormal Romance)
Sol (Luna Lodge #1)
Titus (Luna Lodge #2)
Lucius (Luna Lodge #3)
Road House (Contemporary Short Stories)
Letting Go (Road House #1)
Holding On (Road House #2)
Standing By (Road House #3)
Privileged (New Adult Romance)
Privileged (Privileged #1)
Elite (Privileged #2)
***
Author Bio
Madison currently lives with her husband and two children in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. After leaving the frozen tundra of the north, she was more surprised than anyone with how much she has enjoyed living in the desert. Seeing as she stated on more than one occasion before moving to Arizona how much she hated heat, it was an odd move, but it seems her hatred for sub-zero temperatures and ice has won out in the end.
When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying time with her family. Madison and her family frequent festivals in the area, as well as local cultural events, and spend time with family in the area. In the summer, she is most likely to be found in the pool with the family and in the winter by the fireplace. Since both her children are autistic, days can be a little chaotic, but with her husband beside her, there’s nothing she can’t handle.
Madison has a full schedule of releases planned for 2014 listed and updated on her blog: http://madisonstevensauthor.com/
She can be contacted at [email protected]
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Elite Page 17
