Page 80 of Inked Temptation
“Goodbye, Branson.”
“You were never right for her.”
I shook my head as I kept going. “No, I wasn’t. But she was mine. If only for a little while.” And then I got into my truck, Cora following me, and I headed home, wondering why a man could hate me for so long, and why I let him.
I pulled into the house to see Penny and Archer standing there, smiles on their faces. They were talking, and I opened the door to let Cora out. Before I got out, I waved the two of them off and pulled out my phone.
Today was the day for healing. At least, that’s what I told myself. I should start doing it.
I pressed the contact in my phone, holding my breath, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake.
“Killian? Are you okay? You haven’t called me in over three years. It’s always me calling you. Oh my God. Is this Killian?”
“Ann, you’re talking so fast I can barely understand you.”
“It’s you. Is everything okay?” She choked on a sob, and I cursed under my breath.
I had not reached out to my sister since I lost my family. I was hurting the family I had left because I was in pain. Because I was a fucking asshole.
But no longer. I looked up at Archer as he gave me a look, and I smiled at him, seeing the worry and relief mingled in his gaze.
He was healing, so I needed to heal, too. Damn it.
“I just wanted to hear your voice. And to actually call. Because I haven’t done that.”
“Oh.” And then she promptly burst into tears.
Ann’s husband picked up the phone and whispered words to her that I couldn’t quite catch, other than that they were something sweet.
“Ann has to put her feet up right now. Doctor’s orders.”
Tension radiated through me. “What?”
“Stop worrying him,” my sister called out from the background.
“I can get on a flight right now if you need me.”
There was too much silence. I was afraid that the call had been disconnected. Instead, my brother-in-law cleared his throat.
“You should come out and visit. See your family. We want to come out there too. We’re just giving you space. Ann’s okay. I shouldn’t have mentioned the doctor’s orders so quickly since it’s not serious yet. I’m just fucking terrified.”
Alarm shot through me, and my hands shook. “I’ll head down there right now.”
“Let’s make plans so you can come and visit. And not out of worry or fear.”
“But she’s okay. Is my sister okay?” My hands went clammy, my mouth dry.
There was a scramble, and then the phone went to speakerphone, as Ann berated her husband softly.
“I’m really okay. The doctor said I just needed to take it easy. I’m not on bed rest, and I can still do what I normally did. I just need to stop stressing out.”
Only a small amount of relief hit me, and I let out a shaky breath. “I’m not going to be that stress for you anymore. Okay?”
“Okay. If you do this for me, I will love you forever.”
“You’ll love me forever no matter what. I’ve learned that over the past few years.”
“Killian,” she cried, as my brother-in-law whispered sweet words to her.
