Stolen Course(41)

“No, I really fucking don’t,” I snap a little too harshly.

“And you know what I don’t need?” she says, suddenly sitting up and cocking her head at me. “Your attitude about it. If you want this to work, you are going to have to figure out a way to keep your hatred to yourself. I know it’s there. I definitely don’t need you to remind me about it every single time her name happens to come up.”

Feeling like an ass, I sit up also and drag her across my lap. She quickly moves to straddle me, not even willing to relinquish control for a minute.

“Fair enough. You don’t talk about her and I’ll keep my shit to myself?”

“Yep,” she says shortly, but I can feel her body begin to relax.

“Deal. Now tell me you’re mine.”

“You’re definitely mine, Caleb,” she says with a smirk that has me growing hard all over again.





IT’S MOVING day, and Eli just picked up the last load of Sarah’s stuff. True to his word, Caleb has been completely absent today. It doesn’t hurt. I understand his reasons, and after our little discussion, we both agreed that distance between him and Sarah is the best answer. I can’t keep them as separate part of my life forever, but for now, this seems to work.

Eli Tanner is my new pal. He showed up bright and early this morning to help me move all of Sarah’s stuff into our new two-bedroom apartment. Without even asking, he walked in and immediately started packing boxes. We didn’t think it was right to ask Brett to help. His opinion of Sarah isn’t any better than Caleb’s right now. So Eli brought along another friend, Ty Stephens, to help. He’s a big quiet guy who has probably only said ten words to me all day. However, he’s been working his ass off. Between the two guys, they have made quick work of this move.

“Hello?” I answer my phone. “Eli, no! That’s my room. Sorry…hello?”

“Miss Erickson?”

“Yes?” I say, pulling the phone away from my ear to look at the caller ID on the screen.

“My name is Dr. Preston Clark. I work at Building Foundations. I’m currently treating your sister, Sarah.”

“Oh, hi! Is she okay?” I quickly ask as guilt and panic settle in my stomach.

I haven’t talked to Sarah since that day in the hospital. I’ve tried, but she just rejects my calls. I get updates from the center, but it’s always from her the patient coordinator, Judy. This is the first time I’ve actually heard from one of her doctors.

“Yes, Sarah is fine. I was wondering if you would be available to come in for one of her therapy sessions this week?”

“Really? Does Sarah know you’re calling? Does she want me there? Will she talk to me?” I rush out a million miles an hour, causing the good doctor to laugh a little.

“Yes, she does. We were hoping you could come in tomorrow?”

“Can I come today?” I can’t contain my excitement. I’ve been wanting to talk to her for weeks now.

“Sarah’s session is in thirty minutes. Perhaps tomorrow—”

“I’ll be there!” I jump to my feet, scanning the room for my keys.

“Miss Erickson, really, tomorrow—” He starts, but I once again cut him off.

“Please, please just let me come today! I’ve been dying to talk to her, but she has been avoiding me. Please. I can be there in twenty-five minutes.”

He lets out a resigned sigh but finally answers. “Don’t speed.”

“Thank you!! I’ll see you in a few.” I quickly hang up the phone. “Eli!” I scream, and he pokes his head around the corner.

“What’s up, babe?”

“Can you finish this up on your own? I hate to do this. I really, really appreciate your help, but I just got a call and I can see Sarah if I get there in the next half hour.”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course. Go ahead and get out of here. I’ll drop the key off with Jones when we’re done.”

“Thank you!” I shout over my shoulder as I sprint to my car.

Thirty minutes later, I walk into a large medical building.

“Hi, I’m Emma Erickson. I’m here to see Dr. Clark.”

“Please have a seat. I’ll let him know you are here,” a sweet older lady says from behind a glass window.

I sit in the waiting room, frantically trying to figure out what I’m going to say to Sarah. I have so many things to say, but I don’t want to set her off. Damn it, I really should have waited until tomorrow to figure out the best way to approach her.

I nervously wait. I must redo my ponytail twelve times before they finally call me to the back.

“Mrs. Erickson?”