Page 52 of His to Love
“How about drinks when you’re done at home?”
“I don’t know how long that will be.”
“I’ll wait up. Just come to my place.”
Driving all the way to my parents’ house, then back to Latham Hills meant I had to pass my hotel twice. It wasn’t the longest trip, but I had no idea how long it would take with my father. Already, I felt the adrenaline I’d most likely been running on all day begin to dissipate. I was going to be exhausted later. Too tired for a drink.
I also realized I didn’t care.
My hand twisted around the steering wheel, and I smiled softly. “Okay, Tyson. I’ll see you later.”
I agreed to call him as soon as I was on my way, and then I hung up the phone, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed straight home.
The entire time, I was praying that my mother hadn’t taken a drastic turn for the worse.
—
My heart pumped wildly against my chest as I climbed out of the car in my parents’ driveway. Gathering up my courage, imagining the worst-case scenario, I hurried up the stairs and pushed open the front door. The clamor of pots and pans in the kitchen echoed down the hallway toward me, and Claude was nowhere in sight.
I should have run to my mother. Seen how she was. My fear instead moved me toward the kitchen, where I knew I would first see Clarissa. My heels clicked along the tiled floor until I stopped in the doorway of the kitchen. Everything appeared as it should. Clarissa stood in the kitchen facing the stove and stirring a sauce that had steam wafting from the top. It smelled delicious—like marinara seasoned with her special spices.
“How is she?” I asked, stepping into Clarissa’s domain. It was also the one room in the house where I knew I was always welcome.
Clarissa’s head jerked back at the shock at my voice. “How is who?”
“Mother. Father called me several times this afternoon and said I had to get home.” I stopped and ran a hand through my hair. I tried to catch my breath but it was useless. I was terrified. “I came as quickly as I could.”
A line appeared between her brows. “She’s fine, bella. She’s been resting all day like usual, and nothing bad has happened.”
A sigh of relief escaped me and I leaned forward, bracing myself on the edge of the counter. Tears formed in my eyes as I accepted the news. She wasn’t dying. Not today, anyway. I should have been grateful. I was only more confused.
Lifting my gaze only to see concern shining in Clarissa’s eyes, I asked, “Where’s my father?”
“He’s in his study.”
“Ugh.” I stood up and fixed my hair and then took the time to make sure my clothes weren’t horribly wrinkled. The last thing I needed was an argument with my father over my appearance. If he didn’t call me home in such a hurry to see my mom, I had no idea what he wanted. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Gabriella?”
“Yes?” I turned and looked at Clarissa over my shoulder.
“He’s not alone.”
I frowned when she began wiggling her eyebrows.
My shoulders drooped.
“Malik is with him?” I asked on a defeated sigh. This wasn’t good. Both men had called me earlier and my father’s insistence had to mean a horrible thing.
“Have fun.”
I snorted, earning me an unladylike look from Clarissa, and hoofed it to my father’s office.
I should have ignored his call and just gone to dinner with Tyson. But now I was thinking I couldn’t wait for a drink at his place later. I figured that after this conversation, I was going to need one.
Or six.
Chapter 13
