DARE-TO-LOVE-TRUTH-AND-DARE-DUET-COLLECTION-by-Lylah-James-pdfarchive

sickness and death. I went to the help desk, and they
redirected me to where Brad Coulter was staying. A private
room in the upper floor. Lila and I took the stairs, and when
we walked into the corridor, my mother was there.
Leaning against the wall, waiting. “Maddox,” she
breathed, in what seemed like relief.
“I’m here. Now what?” I said in a bored voice.
My mother flinched and then sniffled. “Your father wants
to speak to you.”
Lila touched my back, and her touch seared me through
my shirt. Even as her hand fell away, I could still feel her on
my skin. “I’ll wait here.”
I stuffed my fists in the pocket of my jeans and stalked
forward, into the private hospital room. My feet paused at
the door, and I came to a halt at the sight that greeted me.
My whole body froze, and my heart jumped to my throat.
Shit. Goddamn it.
I didn’t know what I expected when I walked into the
hospital. Hell, I didn’t know what to think when my mother
called me, weeping over the phone, as she told me my
father was in the hospital and sick.
I didn’t think.
I didn’t react.
Not until now.
I didn’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t it.
My father, looking thin and frail, in a hospital bed that
made him appear even smaller. Multiple machines beeping
and attached to him. The Brad Coulter I knew was strong
and confident, with arrogance that matched my own. He
was always well-dressed, always spoke like he owned the
room and everyone in it, always stood tall.
This was not Brad Coulter.
I didn’t know what to do, what to say… so, I stood frozen
at the door and stared at the man, who was my father. A
stranger. My lungs clenched, a reaction I hadn’t expect.
I didn’t care, I told myself.