Page 130 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

“I am. And I’m also really tired–even after that twelve-hour nap.”

“Understandable,” Alicia said as she patted her sister’s shoulder. “Well, nap away. And if you need anything, just let me know. Want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?”

“No,” Julia said. She needed time to think, and room to breathe.

“Okay, sweetie. I’ll leave you to it.” Alicia rose and kissed the top of her head. With a grin, she squeezed her hand. “So glad to have you back.”

Alicia strode to the door and pulled it open when Julia stopped her. “Oh, uh, Ally?”

“Yeah?” Alicia asked as she spun to face her.

“Do you have my phone and a charger?”

Alicia’s eyes went wide for a second before she raised a finger in the air. “Uh, let me grab one and your phone. I’m sure we have an extra around here somewhere.”

“Thanks. And don’t worry about waking me, I’d like to have the phone.”

“Yeah, of course.”

Julia nestled back in the pillows, letting tears sting her eyes again after the door thudded closed. She promised once she got her phone, she’d at least text Sierra. Even if the woman was mad at her, at least she’d check on her. Or maybe she could find out through Kyle.

She felt awful using Kyle for information, but he may be her only option. He’d probably be speaking to her. Possibly not. Had her relationship with Luke angered him, too? He hadn’t been around when she’d been in the hospital. That was odd.

After everything that had happened over the past few days, she couldn’t blame any of them. This trip, supposed to be a family bonding experience, had ripped them apart piece by piece.

She let her eyes fall closed as a few hot tears burned her cheeks. After the long day, the tension sent her off to sleep. She awoke as the late afternoon sun streamed through her window.

She stretched and yawned, surprised she’d slept that long. She hoped it meant she’d sleep later tonight.

As she rolled over, she searched her nightstand and the dresser top for her phone but didn’t see it. Her shouldersslumped. Ally probably hadn’t brought it in so she wouldn’t wake her.

As much as she loved her sister for being sensitive to her recovery, she really wanted her phone. She rose from the bed and crossed to the door, pulling it open. The sound of voices rose from the kitchen.

The warm laughter reminded her of old times, soothing her tired heart a little. She descended the stairs and navigated to the kitchen. Each corner she passed held whispered memories of laughter and tears, making her heart twinge with a longing for an uncomplicated time.

She slipped through the doorway, the scent of spaghetti sauce filling the air, moist from the boiling water. It all seemed so familiar and normal. Could she step back into this life and leave her current one behind?

“Hey, Juju!” Alicia said as she stirred the pot of sauce. “Did you sleep?”

“I did,” she said as she sank into a chair at the table next to Luke.

“Feeling better?”

She nodded, struggling to reconcile things as the past melded into the present. “Did you find a phone charger for me?”

“Oh, I did,” Alicia said, “but…your phone’s done.”

“What?”

“It’s dead. We tried it in rice, but nothing.” Alicia waved a baggie of rice surrounding Julia’s phone. “I’ll grab you a new one in the morning.”

“Really? Dead? I thought it was working when–”

“Must have been the rain,” Ethan said as he set a salad on the table.

“And it doesn’t matter because you’re here with us. And we are going to cram you full of popcorn and movies so you won’tneed to be on your phone.” Alicia set a steaming plate of pasta in front of her before she sank into a chair.

Julia forced a smile as she picked up her fork. She desperately wanted her phone, but she couldn’t explain that to her sister. Her eyes slid sideways, peering at the rice bag on the counter. Maybe her sister had done something wrong. Maybe the phone still worked.