“That conniving bitch,” Beck hisses, drawing the same conclusion I have.
“Yep. So much for caring about her son.” Hudson’s jaw tightens. “She threw a hissy fit when Garrick was calling for Stevie. Instead of thinking about her son, and doing what is best for him, she only thought about herself and her stupid vendetta.” He looks at me. “She wants to keep you iced out, so she told him you stopped seeing him eleven months ago and you were living with another man. She also insinuated you tried to ruin her.”
I close my eyes as my heart tears into little strips.
“How can she be so reckless?” Beck asks. “She could set back his recovery.”
“He had a seizure,” Hudson confirms, and I whip my eyes open. “He’s okay,” he rushes to reassure me, “but she induced a seizure with her cruel words. The neurosurgeon was furious, and he ripped her a new asshole. He made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he would join with Hugh and go to court to confirm Garrick was no longer safe living under her roof if she pulled anything like that again.”
“I hope that shut the bitch up,” I say in a shaky voice, snuggling against Beck and clinging to his muscular arms.
“It did. She knows she’s treading on eggshells now. She knows Garrick will find out what she did to you and how she has cut Hugh and Dawn out in recent months, only granting them access again because Hugh threatened to request an emergency meeting with the judge to demand visitation rights to his son. Ivy can’t afford the bad publicity, so she was forced to relent, and now she’s forced to relent in your case.”
“What do you mean?”
Hudson rubs the back of his neck, glancing awkwardly at Beck again. “I’m sorry, man. I know this is rough for you,” he says before turning his attention to me. “Garrick is asking for you repeatedly, Stevie. His doctors want you to visit him ASAP because they’re worried he’s going to have another seizure if he doesn’t see you.”
I look at my boyfriend, swallowing anxiously over the golf-ball-sized lump clogging my throat.
Beck caresses my cheek. “I’m not your keeper, Stevie. It’s your choice.” His voice hints at the emotion he’s trying so hard to hide.
“I love you.” I kiss him hard on the lips. “I loveyou.” I peer deep into his eyes. “I know this is an awful situation, but I’m still yours. No matter what happens, I’m yours.”
“For how long?” he asks with tears in his eyes.
Pain eviscerates me on the inside when I see the agony etched upon my boyfriend’s face.
“I’m sorry,” he adds, wiping his eyes and sitting up straighter. He clears his throat. “I’m being selfish.”
“Fuck, no.” Hudson shakes his head. “You’re not. It’s only human to feel conflicted. If this was my girlfriend, I’m not sure I could be as generous as you.”
“Trust me, the thoughts in my head right now are less than generous, and I feel like a prick for them,” Beck says.
“One final thing,” Hudson says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I want you to know I have spoken to Garrick about this. Dr. Mann felt it would be a good idea to talk to him about some of the stuff he missed and to clarify what Ivy said. He knows you were there every single day until his mom iced you out, Stevie. I told him how devoted you were. I didn’t say too much about Beck. I thought you’d want to explain yourself. But he knows you’re with him and that it’s serious.” His eyes probe mine. “I hope you’re not angry, but I thought it best to somewhat prepare him.”
“I understand, and it’s better in a way.”
“Are you sure you should visit him? If Garrick knows, maybe it’s best to let it go,” Beck supplies. There is no malice in his tone, and I know his suggestion is coming from a place of love for me.
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t ignore him, Beck. I can’t let Garrick suffer any more than he has. If he is asking for me, I need to go see him.” I have no choice now Ivy cuntface has spilled the beans. I’m pissed about the seizure, but in a way, she’s probably done me a favor. “I will explain I can only be there for him as a friend now.”
Tension bleeds into the air until Beck breaks it. “Okay. Go and visit him.” He attempts a smile, but it’s impossible not to see the worry behind his eyes. “I’ll be here for you when you get home.”
ChapterSeventy-Five
Stevie
“Will she be here?” I ask Hudson as we park in front of Ivy’s house, and he kills the engine.
“No. The doctors insisted she make herself scarce. You won’t see her.”
“What about Pepper?” I ask, trying to stop the full-body tremors coursing through me and quell the nausea crawling up my throat. I’m regretting the soup and bread earlier. I’m liable to vomit it back up any second now.
“She packed her bags the second day Garrick was chanting your name. When she visited him, he barely acknowledged her. I think she knows the game is up. Garrick will never love her, and she’s a fool for ever believing he would.”
“At least Garrick has been spared that drama.”
“Are you ready?” Hudson asks, eyeing my shaking form with concern.
