Page 112 of When Hearts Collide
Someone clears his throat loudly in the distance and we quickly spring apart, my breathing coming out in harsh exhales.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to make a speech.”
Maxwell stands at the entrance, his quiet, brooding presence reminding me of his brother, yet different all the same. He has a colder, more unemotional edge, a refined elegance about him, but his dark eyes are penetrating all the same as they sweep over us.
A soft smile appears on his lips as he strides over. He’s leaner and taller than his brother, equally handsome in a different way.
He extends his hand, his charcoal eyes sharpening when they land on the pendant on my chest. “I’m Maxwell. And you are…”
My eyes dart to Ryland’s, finding him clenching his jaw, a myriad of emotions appearing on his face with each tic of muscle, each throb of the vein on his forehead. He gives me a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
I turn back to Maxwell and reply, “I’m Millie Callahan, Adrian Scott’s sister.”
I don’t want to say I’m Ryland’s student, so I settle for the identity most people recognize.
Maxwell’s eyes widen a fraction as he shakes my hand and glances at my necklace once more.
“A pleasure, Ms. Callahan. Thank you for taking care of my brother.”
His words are laden with meaning as the brothers share a look, communicating messages bystanders can’t possibly understand, and Ryland’s lips tilt up in a soft smile.
Maxwell grins, the smile transforming his face into something much more approachable, and he slaps a hand on his brother’s shoulder before stepping away.
“I’ll give you two a few minutes.” He nods at me and walks out of the garden.
I wince as a sudden flash of pain unmoors me and a whimper escapes from my lips. Time for another round of meds. My hand curls over my belly as the roiling stabbing steals my breath. Sweat forms at the back of my neck and I close my eyes.
“Millie?” Ryland leans down, clasping my face in his hands, his voice urgent. “Are you okay?”
“I..I’m f-fine.” I curl into myself as another wave punctuates the calm.
“No, you aren’t. Do I need to call the doctor?” His arms move to my back and effortlessly, he swings me up in his embrace and heads toward the door.
I groan and lean against his chest, listening to the reassuring thumps of his heartbeat, focusing on the lulling sound, trying to time my inhales and exhales to the movements of his chest.
“It’s that time of the month and I was probably standing too much earlier tonight. I just need to lie down and take some medicine. I’ll be fine.”
He hoists me closer to him and presses his lips over my forehead, which is glistening with a thin layer of sweat. “Let me take care of you.”
I grab his arm and shake my head. “You have The Ball and the speech.”
“Nothing is more important than you.”
My heart can’t help but skip a beat at his words.
Chapter 43
I thought it’d be terrifying, giving her the pendant. Having my heart live outside of me. But instead, I feel a strange sense of calm, because now she knows what she means to me. Even if we can’t be the end goal, at least I can give her this bit of honesty.
It’s the least I can do, and she deserves so much more.
A few people stare at me as I’m sure I stand out like a sore thumb in front of the feminine products aisle, their whispers drawing me out of my thoughts.
I ignore them as I survey the rows of colorful packages in front of me at the pharmacy one block away from The Orchid, a shopping basket in one hand and my cell phone in the other.
My phone pings, a new message from the chat group, “The Orchid Shenanigans,” with my siblings and my good friends.
Lana
