Page 128 of Timelessly Ours
I manage to look at him and he searches my eyes. I know he sees me. He sees my pain. I’m not afraid of anything. But I’m afraid of whatever is going on through his head.
I’m just too weak to argue right now. If only he’d give me time, I could explain.
“Nicole?” he urges. “You went to see Pamela today, right?”
My heart hurts as I nod. Stupidly nod.
“Is that all? Did you…go anywhere else?”
I don’t answer. I just…let him stare at me.
Finally, he gives me a soft smile, strokes the side of my face, and stands to face his ex-wife. “She’s not drunk.”
“Of, course she is—”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but Nicole doesn’t drink beer. She prefers vodka,” he snaps.
Claire laughs diabolically. “Then how do you explain her passing out at Sylvie’s earlier this afternoon?”
I turn a hard glare at the woman standing with her arms crossed a few feet from me. How...could she know that?
Royce follows my eyes. Waiting for an explanation—from her.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “I was concerned for your wellbeing after you banned me from your life, clearly under her influence, so... I had her followed.”
“What?” My voice is so strained I’m not even sure she heard me. “You…can’t do that.”
She raises her voice just to fuck with me. “You’re close to people I care about. You spend time with my only daughter. I can do what I damn well please.” She turns to Royce. “I have every right to want to look into who she associates herself with.”
Royce blinks, and tilts his head toward me, his jaw working.
“Go ahead. Deny you were there,” she shouts and I really wish she would just leave. “By the way, you owe me two grand for the services from this P.I. He came highly recommended.”
Royce drags his gaze from me and looks at Claire. “Send me his bill. I’ll take care of it right now.” His voice is strained, and I know he’s hurt. Angry.
She pulls her phone from her pocketbook. “With pleasure.”
I scrunch my face, feeling ill again, and shiver.
Royce puts his hand on the back of my head, then lifts my feet. “Lie down,” he says softly, helping me on the pillow and securing my shawl over my shoulders.
He walks away from me and picks up his phone from the coffee table.
“The photos are attached,” she says in a hushed voice like they’re engaged in a private conversation.
I swallow hard.
He murmurs something to his ex-wife that sounds like confirmation and then scans the images. He shakes his head and curses under his breath.
Then puts his phone to his ear.
I can’t watch this anymore. I just want this couch to swallow me whole.
What did I do to deserve this?
Oh. Right. I broke a promise.
“David hi, it’s me. Listen, I need a quick favor. Yes. I’ll hold.”