Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
A pause.
“Daria doesn’t know I called you, but if you’re the dumbass I think you are, you probably won’t believe me. I don’t give a damn. Your loss. Dumbass.”
“THIS IS IT, SIR.” THE Rolls Royce slid to a smooth stop, allowing Nik to study the charming two-story apartment he had come to find. A full minute passed before he made the decision to leave the car and knock on the front door.
A teenage girl opened the door for him, her eyes widening in recognition upon seeing Nik.
He had never seen her before, but he knew who she was. “You must be Iolanthe’s sister, Leah.” He took out his phone and showed it to her.
Leah smiled grudgingly when she saw the panda bumper. “You used it.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to tell you thank you for it.”
She shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s not much, considering what you do for us.” She was tall and lanky unlike her sister, and extremely guarded, also unlike Iolanthe. “Come in. She’s...resting.”
He ignored the way her voice suddenly caught, knowing that it would only offend the girl’s pride if he asked what was wrong. A pointless question, too, since he already knew what was wrong.
Iolanthe’s face broke into a smile of surprised pleasure when he entered her bedroom. “Nik,” she breathed. “What are you doing here?”
She hadn’t aged over the years, but there was a frailness about her that made his chest hurt. She might not be dying of cancer now, but anyone only had to look at her to know it was just a question of when.
Leah had a fierce look in her eyes, and he knew she was ready to kick him out if he said anything about Iolanthe’s appearance the wrong way.
Taking the chair next to Io’s bed, Nik began talking. He remembered her telling him once that she liked hearing him talk. It sounded insane to him, but he figured he should give it a shot now.
He told her about his life, about Miranda – he told her everything except about Daria. She laughed and gasped at times, but every time she did, she looked more tired after.
He stopped an hour later, only because he had seen Iolanthe’s eyelids drift close. She was sleeping.
His eyes met Leah’s. She was seated on the opposite side of the bed, a militant look on her face. A fighter, he thought. She really was the opposite of Iolanthe in every way.
“She’s getting better every day,” Leah told him fiercely.
He wondered if she knew how desperate she sounded. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said quietly. “Whatever you need, just tell me.” He asked for her phone, and he input his private number in it. “I’ll be the one to answer you directly.”
The hope shining in Leah’s eyes only made Nik feel more of a bastard. He could have done this earlier – could have helped this child and not let her handle everything on her own if not for his stubborn unwillingness to become involved with anyone.
After securing his promise to join them for dinner, Leah left the room, and Nik said quietly, “You can stop pretending now.” He had noticed Iolanthe’s breathing pattern change a minute ago.
Her eyes slowly drifted open. “Why am I even surprised you know I was faking it?” Her voice was so faint Nik had to strain to hear her.
When Nik didn’t answer her, she said worriedly, “What is it?”
That she could be concerned, even in the state she was in – how could she never fear doing this, Nik wondered tautly. How could Io always put everyone before her even when other people constantly repaid her with pain?
“I wouldn’t blame you if you hate me right now,” he said grimly. “You should hate me.”
Io only smiled. “Leah used to. She saw me crying over you so many times, you see. But she forgave you when you paid for all this.”
He shook his head. “It’s not enough.” He met her eyes. “I’m sorry, Iolanthe.”
Her face softened even more. “Nik, there’s nothing to be sorry about.” She paused, the words visibly tiring her. “It’s not...your fault you didn’t love me. You tried—-”
Nik was incredulous. “Are you kidding me? I practically threw you out. I—-”
“You did.” Her voice was faint but emphatic. “The whole time you didn’t fire me, you...tried.”
“You’re too damn nice,” was all he said.
Io lifted one hand up, her movement slow and weak. She patted his face. “You’re too hard...on yourself.” Her eyes were bright with tears. “Those were some of the...best days...of my life. You were my...greatest infatuation. I’ll never...regret.” She spoke with such feeling Nik was both humbled by it as well as gutted, realizing it also meant that he had hurt her so damn much when he had cut her out of his life without a single word of explanation.