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As I drift off into sleep, with Russ’s arm draped around my side, I feel more safe and secure than I can ever remember before Somehow, despite the bomb I knoaits us tomorrow, I am content More than that: I’m happy

For once, my father can’t ruin my life anymore Because I’ve finally taken control of it And I have the best co-pilot I could ever have hoped for, beside me at the helm

12

The next , hours and hours before one off I struggle to shift off of Russ’s arroan, and then tug the covers up over e s I thought those ere really cute the last time I stayed over, but today I wish they had blackout curtains or that he lived in an underground bunker instead

Besideit too” He leans down to kiss h, this one less irritated and more contented

I could be convinced to tolerate this hour of thewith the appropriate motivation I roll over to face hi it between his fingers I let him draw me close, kissme for a minute

That single o of all the tension that flooded o when I woke up When I re that exploded in our faces “I can’t believe I said all that to Dad’s face,” I mumble into Russ’s chest

He laughs softly, a sound that vibrates through e “You can’t believe you said it? I can’t believe I finally told hio…”

I heave a deep sigh, one that I can feel Russ echo ato disguise the tight worry that knots in my throat Dad won’t really fire his best friend, will he? I know he’ll probably sack ht If I want to pursue my dreams, I need to do that, not just sit around in this job Dad forcedco what I was placed on this earth to do

If I want to reater world, I have to start by changing my own life first

“Well, we gave him time to cool off And last I checked, I’m still on the schedule at the hospital today How about you?”

Reluctantly, I peel rabto deal with the world I turn it back on now, and tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop I expect screa, at least a million texts from Dad Maybe even some from Mom

But there’s nothing No new h those probably wouldn’t show, if someone called while the phone was shut off Still, they would have left a ht? It surprises me that not even Moht Maybe Dad filled her in on our fight Maybe they both assume I just went to a friend’s house to cool off for a bit

If only they knew…

But first things first: I can only handle one huge fight at a time “No texts to inform me I’ve been fired,” I say, to which Russ smiles ruefully

“Well, that’s step one I guess”

“It does mean I still need to be at the hospital in less than two hours” I collapse back against the pilloith a long sigh “And I don’t have fresh scrubs to change into”

Russ props hiaze dips down over my body where the blankets have fallen away from my chest I flush with pleasure, but I don’t cover uys, even the ones I’ up with But not Russ The way he stares at me makes me feel like I’m the hottest woman on earth, every damn time

He’s doing it again now

“I can’t say I’ about your lack of proper attire,” he ain, slower this time