“You have custody because I allowed it. I can bury you in court and make you look like the loony bitch you are.”
I felt like the breath had been knocked out of me and I couldn’t move. Those words hurt me, so I couldn’t imagine what they did to her. I couldn’t believe that an hour ago I had wanted to scream at her. What did that say about me?
I shook my head. I was in the right in our situation. What she did to me was wrong.
But she wasn’t what this man, who was obviously Canyon’s jackass father, was calling her.
I heard a car door slam coming from that direction, signaling the end of the argument.
I tried to shake what I’d just heard out of my head, but I couldn’t.
I wanted to go over to her and demand answers. What the hell was that? How could he talk to her like that?
And how could she possibly have loved him more than me?
I heard the car ignition then, and a moment later saw Jules’ profile in a Range Rover leaving the parking lot.
Chapter Nineteen: Greyson- 9 years ago
There was ringing in my ears. Loud. I put my hands up to my ears to stop it, but it wouldn’t work.
I was blinking hard, as hard as I could, wondering if I was blinded.
I slowly came to the realization that it was just pitch-black outside and the car was completely dead.
The ringing in my ears was painful as fuck.
I took stock of my limbs; the car was crunched close to me but I could still move everything.
But my head. It hurt so fucking bad. My vision was swimming, like I was underwater.
And then I remembered where I was going and who I was with.
Panic welled inside of me like I’d never experienced before, and I started shaking so hard I couldn’t unbuckle. I could see she was unconscious in the seat next to me and her seat belt had been on. I was afraid to move her. Hockey had taught me that much. You never wanted to move someone who possibly had a neck injury and risk making it worse.
Oh God, what if she had a neck injury. What if I hurt her? I cried out, incapable of any true words.
Searching for a way out of my stuck seatbelt I felt something wet and sticky on my hands. Looking down and focusing my eyes as hard as I could, I saw red. A lot of it.
She stirred then and I paused.
She looked over at me and shock registered on her face.
“Greyson!” She cried and reached to touch me.
I didn’t care what she said or how she said it, just hearing her speak and seeing her move put me at ease and darkness closed around me.
I blinked against the starch white brightness and tried to bring my hand to my eyes, but I couldn’t. My arms felt like lead.
I felt a woman’s hand was in mine. Thank God. Jules was okay.
I tried to mutter “Jules,” but I choked instead.
The darkness started to close in around me and I let my body fall back into it. I was so tired.
This time when I woke up, there wasn’t a hand in mine. I missed it and wondered where Jules had gone. She was probably somewhere near, bossing a nurse or doctor around. She wouldn’t leave me here alone.
This time I was able to push myself up.
