Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 699(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
“I was planning on releasing Meghan tomorrow, but with everything going on, I think it’s best if we wait just a little bit longer,” Dr. Gresham said. I sighed, my shoulders sagging in defeat. “I just want to make sure that she’s going to be okay before I let her go home.” He smiled at the two men. “Her paintings are magnificent, though.”
I swallowed thickly, a little nervous for Axel and Julian to see my latest painting. “Can we see?” Julian asked.
Dr. Gresham looked over at me. “Are you okay with that?” he asked.
I nodded. We stood up, and Julian grabbed my left hand in his, linking his fingers with mine as Axel did the same to my right. We silently followed Dr. Gresham to the art room. My latest painting was still drying on the easel I had used.
I wasn’t smiling in this painting. In fact, I looked absolutely furious with everything. My hands were clenched at my sides. My wings were on fire, and everything around me was burning with them.
It revealed all of the hurt and rage I was feeling inside.
“Holy shit,” Axel breathed.
“You hurt me,” I told him quietly, not pulling my eyes from the painting. “You left.”
He tightened his fingers around mine. “Sweet girl, I’m so sorry.”
I swallowed thickly. “You promised you would always be there, Axel,” I reminded him. He drew in a sharp breath of air. “I screamed for you until they sedated me.”
He flinched. “I’m so fucking sorry, sweet girl.” He turned me to face him, my hand never leaving Julian’s. He bent his knees a little so he was eyelevel with me, his dark eyes boring into my mine. “I will never leave you alone again, sweet girl. I swear to you.”
“Please don’t,” I begged him. “I don’t care if you have to scream at me; please just don’t ever leave me again. I thought that was it. I thought you were another person to be added to the list of people who abandoned me.”
“Never, sweet girl,” he promised. “You’re it for me.”
Dr. Gresham sighed. “I have to cut this short,” he said, sounding apologetic. “Alli is coming back to the center today, and I need to be available for that.”
Axel nodded in understanding. He cupped my face in his hands and covered his lips with mine. “I love you,” he whispered when he pulled back.
I smiled up at him and traced his jawline with the tips of my fingers. “I love you,” I told him, hoping he believed my words.
He grinned before he pecked my forehead and disappeared from the room. Julian turned me to face him and rested his hand on my belly. “How’s the little one treating you?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Ginger tea is the base of my diet,” I sheepishly admitted.
He brushed this thumb over my cheek. “Sorry that our little one is making you so sick, baby girl.”
I covered his hand with mine. “Every moment is worth it.”
He smiled before he leaned down to softly kiss me. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He kissed my cheek before he followed Axel. Dr. Gresham gave me a smile. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked. “I’ll come back to check on you in a little while, but I have about five minutes before Alli is due to come back.”
I nodded and turned to look at the angry woman in my painting. “I’ll be fine.”
And I would be.
I just had to continue to fight my own internal demons.
That started with accepting both of my men.
* * *
✶ ✶ ✶
* * *
I looked up at Alli when she suddenly stepped into the dance room. I was standing in the middle of it, just staring at all of the mirrors around me, reminiscing on the time that I used to dance.
The feeling of freedom I felt.
The loss of pain I felt for that little bit.
And lack of urge I felt now to do it all over again. It was . . . healing, in a way, to know I no longer had an urge to dance.
“What?” I asked her as I ran my hand over the ballet bar.
“Was that your fucking doing?” she snarled at me.
I arched an eyebrow at her. “What in the hell are you talking about?” I demanded to know.
“Having to live with you once I’m out of here!” she screeched, her voice bouncing off all the mirrors, surrounding me with her anger. “Aren’t you ruining my life enough by taking my brother from me?!”
I rubbed the heel of my hand against my chest when it began to ache. “Alli, I’m not taking your brother from you,” I told her. “Your brother is an adult, and he wants to be with me. As for living with me, that was a settlement your brother, Julian, and your parents came to.”