And now I listened to his breathing rattle in and out of his chest. Hopefully he’d sleep a while longer. It was still early if the light outside was anything to go by, but that meant I should probably set off back to Carwyn City. I had meetings to attend today and things to discuss with Davina and Jackson.
I rolled my eyes. I always had shit to discuss with Davina and Jackson. But that didn’t mean I could miss a day.
I rolled over and sat up. Man, these floors weren’t meant for sleeping on. Everything ached. And it was as though every joint creaked and cracked in dissatisfaction that I was trying to move at all.
I stood and looked at my dad. The youth and peace that his waking hours would steal were returned to him in the night, and his face was unlined.
I bent forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. I missed him. His advice and his guidance, but also his laughter and his smile.
So much was gone now. A constant reminder that life really wasn’t fair. Constant inspiration to keep my business moving, too, amassing more money than Saundra had taken from us.
And I was doing it.
As I crept down the hallway, I glanced into Mom’s room. She looked so small and tired now. She’d cared for Dad since…since Saundra had destroyed us and left. But when did Mom ever get a break? She needed one, or I’d lose both parents one way or another.
I sighed at my thoughts, and the soft sound disturbed her.
“Hello, sweetheart.” She lowered her book, giving me her full focus as soon as she became aware of my presence. “I peeked in earlier. You didn’t need to sleep on the floor, you know.”
I rubbed my hand over my head again. “Believe me when I say I didn’t mean to.”
“Thank you for making your dad comfortable last night. I’m sure he was happy you were there.”
I nodded but didn’t reply. My chest constricted and there was nothing I could say.
Mom got out of her bed and approached me, a smile on her face. “So when will we see you again? You’re too busy out there in the city.”
I shook my head. “Never too busy for this. And you know what?” I smiled, hoping to lighten the mood. “Next time, I’ll make sure I bring along your other child, too. What’s her name again?”
“Davina,” Mom said.
I nodded. “That’s the one. I’ll bring her with me next time. Even if I have to abduct her and transport her in the trunk.”
She pressed a hand to my cheek. “You’re a good boy,” she whispered, and emotion caught in my chest. My mom’s approval meant so much, even if I didn’t always feel like I deserved it.
We said our goodbyes and I left the house, walking to my car as the sun crept farther above the horizon. I needed to hurry home if I wanted to shower, change my clothes, and get to the office on time.
I slid into my car and my gaze fell onto the passenger seat. My cell phone was there. Perfectly safe in my parents’ driveway, but also perfectly dead now that it was morning.
I rooted in the glove compartment, looking for the charger I usually kept in the car, but apparently, I’d moved it and not replaced it. Still, I was only an hour from home. I’d charge my phone when I got there.
It was unusual, being out of contact with everyone on the way home, but the peace was welcome. Often, my phone rang all the time, with everyone thinking their reason for speaking to me was more urgent than anybody else’s. I had news for them — they were all wrong.
Some days, I fucking hated people.
Not today though. A day when none of them could get a hold of me.
I laughed and switched on the radio, then turned down the AC in the car. I didn’t have to worry about anything because no one would bother me. I didn’t have ten thousand work questions or issues running through my head because there was no one to remind me of them.
This journey home would be a joy.
As usual, the miles disappeared quickly, and soon I swung into the parking lot at Lycan Heights. Part of me wanted to keep on driving, traveling right past to enjoy a day of no interruptions, but accidentally ignoring my responsibilities wasn’t the same as deliberately doing it when I got home. I couldn’t really justify any more time off, no matter how welcome this quiet trip home had been.
I sighed and got out of the car, grabbing my cell phone and slipping it into my pocket as I moved. No one was around as I got into the elevator, but Adrian waved from behind the desk. I greeted him but kept my voice down, still not really wanting to burst my bubble of calm.
When I reached my condo, I breathed a sigh of relief again. For the first morning in at least three days, I was alone. No Jackson invading my pool. No unwelcome splish-splash sounds of someone else working out. I wandered over to the water and peered in.
There was something even more inviting about it, ever since Jo had floated in the warm water and teased me about being a wooly mammoth.