Toxic Bad Boy(48)

He shoved my cell into his left pocket. “I’m giving you a ride home.”

“No, you’re not,” I told him firmly. “I’ll call a taxi if I have to.”

“I’ll just steal your money,” he said.

“This isn’t the time for this,” I told him.

He nodded slowly. “You’re right. Better not argue with me about it because it’ll upset our parents.”

“I hate you.”

He pulled into the drive-thru of a Jack in the Box. “I think you may be lying about that also.”

I stared out my window, refusing to gaze at his gorgeous face. “Whatever. I want a hamburger, fries and strawberry milkshake.” I added with satisfaction, “You’re paying.”

He huffed out a laugh and rolled down his window. “As if I’d let you pay.”

After ordering, he adjusted to reach into his back pocket for his wallet. Something about the move was incredibly sexy. The cashier handed him the drinks on a tray. He inserted a straw and took a sip from my milkshake before giving it to me.

I glared, causing him to chuckle. “Get your own.”

“I love your milkshake,” he rumbled suggestively.

He handed me the paper bag with our food and drove back to the hospital, parking in the same spot. I leapt out of the vehicle before he even had a chance to cut the engine, hoping to ditch him. He could take a different elevator.

No such luck. He caught up with me, carrying the drink tray and took the bag of food from me. I rammed my thumb against the up arrow button, drinking from my milkshake with a scowl.

Caleb hadn’t attempted to finish our earlier conversation and for some reason that pissed me off. It was possible he’d liked the freedom of the past two weeks and had no intention of tying himself to a girlfriend again.

Which was exactly what I wanted, of course, for him to move on.

It was for the best.

Stomping out of the elevator, I thought about tomorrow instead of my ex-boyfriend. I’d stay with my mom and Chance for a few days to take care of them. After my mom was better, we could take turns caring for Chance until his leg healed. My dad would be happy for him to spend a few weeks this summer with us. It would give my mom the opportunity to figure out whatever drama was going on between her and Scott.

I almost tripped as an awful thought came to me. Holy crap, if my mom and Scott hooked up, got married again, Caleb would be my stepbrother once more. I’d never escape him or my feelings.

How would I deal with years of having to face him at family functions? What about when he brought another girl home for the holidays someday? I would be like a freaking aunt to his children!

I would seriously move across the country. No, across an ocean! Europe or Australia or anywhere that was thousands upon thousands of miles away. I’d always wanted to live in London. But Australian guys had the hottest accents. I’d be perfectly happy in either place!

“What are you thinking about?” Caleb asked as he strolled next to me.

“Foreign accents,” I ground out.

“You hate them?” he asked, likely confused by my angry demeanor.

“We’re here,” I announced, charging into room 214 ahead of him.

A nurse hovered over where my mom was still sleeping. If I had my phone, I’d check the timer. I was positive we were back early. Scott’s head turned to me. “Six more minutes.”

Caleb held out the drink tray for his dad to take one of the sodas. He then motioned for me to sit down in a chair by the window and pulled out a hamburger, even opening up the wrapper for me in my lap. My fries were set on the wrapper next to my hamburger.

“Thanks,” I snapped ungratefully. I didn’t want him being sweet. He could save it for that nameless girl who he’d bring home for the holidays.

I was sure Christmas in the English countryside was beautiful. I’d rent a cottage with friends who had cool British accents and it’d be freaking picturesque.

While we ate, the nurse said it was time to wake my mom. I shifted my food onto the chair as I got up. The nurse woke her and my mom drowsily opened her eyes.

“I’m here, mom.” Tears formed and I fought to hold them back.

“Honey, don’t cry,” my mom whispered.

That was all it took for the salty floodgates to open. My upper body tilted forward to hug her and I cried out my relief. We may not get along or agree ninety-nine percent of the time, but I loved my mom. While her love was often misguided, I knew it existed.

“I was so worried your head was going to explode,” I joked through my sobs.

She laughed softly. “The MRI came out okay. But my head is pounding so hard it feels like it’ll burst.”

When I straightened, I saw the nurse was gone but Caleb and his dad watched us. “Look, mom, Caleb is here to see you.” Maybe she could drive him away.