I’m too pissed at her. Too hurt. A part of me blames her for this. If she hadn’t left Dad, then maybe he wouldn’t have gone and gambled everything away and put us in this position. Who knows what all she hasn’t told me? At this point, I’m just waiting for the bank to show up and take the house from us. Closing her door, I head to my room and shower. Afterward I crawl into my bed. Snuggling into my pillow, I close my heavy eyes and pass out.
I wake to the sound of voices in the house. Sitting up, I look at my phone to see it’s a little past six in the morning. My door flies open, and I pull the covers up to shield my chest from a guy I’ve never seen before. “Excuse me …”
“I’ll talk to her.” My mother’s nurse, Liv, enters behind him.
“What the hell is going on?” I demand.
“I said I’ll do it. Now get out.” She points at the door, glaring at him, but tears cover her face and her dark eyes are bloodshot.
He spins on his heels and exits my room.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask her, reaching for my phone again.
“Emilee …” She walks over to my side of the bed and sits down on the edge. “I went in to check on your mother this morning.” She bows her head and sniffs. “I’m sorry …”
I throw the covers off and storm out of my room. Running down the hall, I don’t care that I’m wearing a silk tank top with no bra and a pair of matching shorts. I barge into her room and come to a halt. She’s not in her bed. People stand by it. One guy has a clipboard. The other turns to face me. He was the one that was in my room a moment ago. His blue eyes look me up and down before he clears his throat. “Ms. York …”
“Where is my mother?” I demand, taking a step toward the bed.
“Ma’am …”
“Where in the fuck is my mother?” I shout, fisting my hands.
He lets out a long sigh. “The coroner came and removed her body fifteen minutes ago.”
My heart stops. I take a step back at the blow of his words as if they were his fist to my face. Coroner? She’s dead? Fifteen minutes ago? Why didn’t they wake me? Why didn’t I get to say goodbye?
“I have some questions …”
“Get out,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes.
“Ms. York …”
“Get the fuck out!” I scream at the top of my lungs.
He just stands there and makes no move to leave. Instead, he pulls his cell out of his pocket and dials a number, turning his back to me.
I can’t breathe. My chest is tight, and blood rushes in my ears. I grab my chest and lean up against the wall.
She’s dead?
We had more time. I was supposed to get six months. I just buried my father. Now I have to bury my mother. I have no one left. Now it’s just me. That thought is crippling.
I had been ignoring her. I had blamed her for everything. But was it really her fault? How much had my father done to her that I didn’t know? I feel like he had this other life that he kept from me. Did she feel the same? Now I’ll never know.
TITAN
I pull up to the York residence and get out of my car. Running up the stairs, I enter without even knocking. It was unlocked.
I rush up the stairs and into the bedroom. I see Emilee sitting on the floor. Her back against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest, and her head down.
I kneel before her. “Em?” I reach out, running my hand through her tangled hair.
She brushes me off.
“Emilee? Look at me.” I touch her arm.
She slaps it away with the other. “Go away,” she mumbles.
“Emilee …”
Her head snaps up, and her eyes are narrowed on mine. “I said go the fuck away, Titan!” she shouts. “Why the fuck are you even here?” she demands. “Why does everyone call you?” Her voice cracks, and she bows her head.
My heart breaks for her and what she’s going through. Both parents in a matter of weeks would be rough on anyone. “I’m here for you.”
“I don’t need you.” Her eyes search the room, but it’s just us. “I don’t need anyone.” She shoves me away and rises to her shaky legs. “I want to be alone.”
“I can’t do that.” I shake my head.
“It’s not your decision.” Her fisted hands start punching my chest.
I grab her wrists and yank her to me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her shaking body against mine. She buries her head into my chest. “Shh.” I run my hand down her back. “It’s going to be okay,” I lie. “I’m here for you.” That’s not a lie, but it’s also not what she wants to hear right now.