Page 91 of Taking the Pitch
Lucy and Kessler look at each other. Lucy tips her head and shrugs a shoulder.
Kessler turns back to me. “Could Lucy and I meet her first? We’d feel better about saying yes if we knew she would be ok with us.”
I nod my head enthusiastically. “Absolutely, I can give you Jeremy’s contact information and you can schedule a time with him.”
“We’re not saying yes until we visit, so don’t get your hopes up,” Kessler warns.
“I know. I’m just happy you’re considering it. She deserves a home.”
I look over at Lucy, and she gives me a wink. I smile for the first time in days. If Lucy has anything to say about it, and she does, Ruby will have a home for Christmas.
Finally, one thing is going right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
amelia
“Areyousureyou don’t need me to cancel my trip? You know I would,” Charlie asks me again.
“Six.”
“Six?” Charlie repeats. “Are you having a stroke? That’s not at all what I asked.”
Propping myself up on my elbows, I look at Charlie from where I’m currently laying on her living room floor. “You’ve asked me six times in the last,” I tap my phone to look at the time, “Two hours. That’s an average of three times per hour.”
“Yes Millie, I know what six divided by two is. But that doesn’t answer my question.”
Flopping back onto the pillow, I grab another handful of Mike & Ike sours and shove them in my mouth. If I don’t have cavities after the amount of sugar I’ve consumed in the last three days, I’m buying stock in the toothpaste I use. “No, Charlie, I don’t need you to cancel your trip. Your mom has been wanting to do this foryears. I’ll be fine.”
Probably.
“Have you had any more panic attacks?”
“Nope.”
Yes. Several more, each one worse than the last.
But if I tell her that, she’lldefinitelycancel her trip. I’ve only had three in front of her since showing up at her place after fleeing the library Thursday. One as soon as I got here. One after Hazel showed up, and I was finally able to tell them what happened. And one yesterday morning when I thought she was still asleep. I’ve been able to surprisingly hide the other ones, or they’ve hit when she’s been gone.
She eyes me suspiciously, like if she stares at me long enough, I’ll crack.
I won’t.
As much as I appreciate her and Hazel being here for me, crying with me, eating more ice cream than anyone should be able to consume, watching my comfort movies and shows with me. It’s time for me to go home.
My phone pings with an incoming text. I don’t need to look at it to know who it is. Judd has been texting me every day to check in and apologize. I’ve read every single text; I just can’t bring myself to reply. Every time I think about texting him back, Julie’s voice replays through my head.“That’s such an inspiring story. And the fact that you’re with Judd after he was charged with the very thing that took your parents.”
I now understand what someone means when they say something feels like a slap to the face or a punch to the gut. I experienced bothin that instant. The shock and sting of her words left me breathless and the only thing I could think of doing was run.
So, I did, despite my heart screaming at me to stop and go back. To let him explain that it’s just a mistake, a misunderstanding. But the look of anguish on his face confirmed that it wasn’t. That it was all true.
Sighing, I pick up my phone and unlock the screen, reading the new text.
Sexiest Man Alive
I talked to Lucy and Kessler… They’re going to make an appt with Jeremy to go look at Ruby. I think the chances are pretty good of them adopting her.
Sexiest Man Alive
