Page 78 of The Wicked Love

Oh, please don’t cry.

I walk around her chair and kneel in front of it. “I should have checked with you first,” I tell her as she takes my hands in hers.

“Oh, shut it, honey. It’s been a long time since this old gal has been spoiled. Thank you very much. It means the absolute world to me. Even if you might have done it for him, I’m very grateful.” She smiles, and it reminds me of Cal’s, twisting at my already-raw heart.

“Oh, you don’t need to thank me for tha—”

“Take the damn compliment, honey!” Gran interrupts me.

I laugh. “Thank you.”

I stand up and watch as she is put into her new wheelchair and loaded into the Banford van. I watch Cal smile more in five minutes than I’m sure he has his whole life in this house.

Stella gets in and smiles at me, a genuine, kind smile. And I lock it in my memory.

“Are you ready for tonight?” Cal asks as he walks up behind me, wrapping me in his arms.

I have to take Austin out tonight and play to his every whim. Which was easier before I knew he was Stella’s rapist.

I texted him right after the group left the night we figured out exactly who Austin was, and he was more than happy to lend his “expertise” to me. I told him to bring his laptop, so he could take notes and get back to me.

There is going to be so much fake flirting. I’m going to lose my mind.

“Yeah, I’m ready for this all to be over,” I tell him as he kisses my cheek. “Go. Let me know how she likes it.”

“I’ll let you know when I get back. I’ll come over. I love you,” Cal says as he spins me in his arms.

I will never get used to hearing those three words come out of his mouth.

“I love you too.” I bite my lip, and my cheeks flush.

He kisses my forehead, and a burst of warmth spreads through my chest.

I watch the van pull away, and then I get in Rupert and drive back home. Although it doesn’t really feel like home anymore. It never really has. It’s just always been where I laid my head at night, in hopes of sleep.

TWENTY-FIVE

Callum

“So, what do you think?” I ask Gran as she is handed her dinner from her nurse—grilled chicken with sautéed asparagus, mashed potatoes, and a slice of strawberry cheesecake.

She grins ear to ear. “I could get used to this.” She takes a bite of her chicken. “This is so good. This is all too good. Becca shouldn’t have gone to this much trouble. I can’t imagine how much this is costing her.”

“More than you’d like to know.” Stella laughs, and I have a suspicion she knows exactly how much this place costs.

“How much?” My curiosity gets the best of me.

Stella glares at me. “We’d better get going, Gran. I’ll come visit tomorrow, okay?”

Gran swallows. “When is that boy going to put a ring on your finger?”

Stella laughs. “You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

“Bye, Gran. Love you.” I squeeze her hand and stand up.

“Love you too. Thank Becca for me, please. And bring her by next time. I’d love to talk to her again.” Gran smiles as I close her door.

Once the door is closed, I ask Stella, “How much? How much is this costing her?”