Glow (Glimmer and Glow #2)(116)

“You’re wrong. You’re mixing everything up in your head.”

“I don’t want to fight with you,” she insisted shakily. She paused, trying to gather herself. He sensed her slipping away, and he’d never felt so defenseless. “Being with you was like being in a dream . . . the best dream in the world,” she gasped. Looking undone, she thrust the piece of paper she was clutching against his abdomen. He grasped it without thinking. She started to walk past him.

“Alice.”

She paused a foot away from the door, her head lowered. She didn’t turn around.

“Do you think you’re the only one that this is hard for? I’m no more of an expert at trust, or relationships, or the long haul than you are. But I’ve figured out one thing. What’s between us is real. You feel it. I know you do. You and Sidney can call it some kind of residue from our past, or guilt, or f*cking insanity if you want to, but it’s not going to change what’s there. I loved Addie Durand because she was the first person in the world who loved me without question or thought. That’s what came to her as natural as breathing. But I fell in love with you, even though you fought me and questioned and distrusted every step of the way, because I loved your strength and your independence, and yeah . . . even your goddamn prickliness. The bond between us isn’t going to break,” he assured her grimly. “No matter how much craziness we might have to deal with from Durand Enterprises or the press or Sebastian Kehoe’s sentencing or trial. It’s sure as hell not going to break if you walk away right now.”

She stood there, her shoulders slumped and her head lowered. After a moment, she straightened her spine, lifted her head, and walked out of the room. He wasn’t surprised she did it, necessarily. He knew her well.

That didn’t stop it from hurting like fire.

He just stood there, feeling hollowed out in matter of minutes. Eventually, he noticed that he held something.

He separated the paper from two staples and tilted the makeshift envelope. Alan Durand’s silver chased lighter landed in his hand. He carefully opened the piece of paper. She’d only written two sentences.


It’s from both of us, Alan and me. You will always be my knight in shining armor.





TWENTY-FOUR


THREE WEEKS LATER


Doby frisked around her legs as she tried to help Maggie carry in the groceries.

“Cut it out, Doby,” Maggie scolded as she heaved multiple bags on the kitchen counter. “You’re going to put the girl back in the hospital, tripping her up that way. Silly dog, come here.”

Alice laughed as Maggie’s beckoning cleared the path for her. “I’m not that fragile anymore. Thank God. How did the test go?” she asked, referring to an exam Maggie gave her grad school class in statistics. Alice had helped her make up the test.

“I haven’t even looked at them yet. I’ll get to them tonight,” Maggie said, putting away a gallon of milk.

“I’ll grade them for you,” Alice said, lifting some bananas out of a bag. “My bruises are almost faded, so I’d be happy to teach a few classes for you early next week, too, if you like. Earn my keep.”

She looked around when the refrigerator door closed with a loud thump. Maggie regarded her solemnly. “What’s wrong?” Alice asked uneasily. “I was your grad assistant, I used to teach a couple of your classes every semester. Do you think I’d be out of practice?”

“Of course not. But I already have a grad assistant. You aren’t a grad student anymore. You graduated with top honors and you’ve been offered a position at Durand Enterprises by that Stalwalter guy. If you don’t want to work for him, I’m sure there are plenty of other companies that would give you a spot. And of course, according to some reliable accounts, you own Durand Enterprises,” she added drolly. “You’ve sort of moved past grading papers and doing my least favorite lectures, Alice.”

“But this is just a temporary thing. I wanted to help out while I was here with you, that’s all,” Alice said, frowning.

Maggie sighed and stepped toward her. “And I appreciate it. But you’re here as a friend. You don’t have to work for me. You needed time and space to heal and figure things out.”

“So you’ve decided my time is up, huh?” Alice asked with a dry laugh. “Are you kicking me out?” she asked, smiling despite her uneasiness at the turn of the conversation.

“No. I’m just . . .” Maggie shrugged and made a helpless sound. “Prodding you a little?”

Alice exhaled and leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed beneath her breasts.

“I saw an article in the Tribune this morning about the Durand Enterprises press conference next Friday. I assume you know about it?” Maggie said.

Alice nodded mutely. She’d suspected Maggie would see the article.

“And you weren’t going to tell me about it?”

“I . . . I didn’t know how to,” Alice said, frustrated because she felt guilty for not being forthcoming with Maggie. She felt like she had this huge, enormous thing inside her, and she wanted to get it out. Problem was, she didn’t know how to expel it properly. She was like an overdue mother desperate for relief, bursting and helpless in the face of nature.

“Wait. Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Did you get the test results?” Maggie asked tensely.