Free Forgotten Promises (The Promises Series Book 2) by Elle Brooks

envelope on the bed and reach out to shake Dr. Moss’s hand. “Thank you for everything,” I tell him as I widen my eyes at my mom in a ‘happy now?’ expression. By the subtle shake of her head, I guess she’s not placated by my efforts. Whatever.
    “Are you really just going to leave?” she asks the second that we’re alone.
    “Yeah, why?”
    “What do you mean, why? Ethan, your dad is in the ICU; he needs life-threatening surgery and you’re just going to leave?” Her tone is laced with disbelief, but she doesn’t sound angry; she sounds sad.
    “Are you being serious right now? He hates me. Why would I stay—what for? He sure as shit doesn’t want me here, or am I mistaken? Did I misinterpret the way he screamed for me to get out when I went to his room? Sorry Mom, but here is the last place on this fucking planet that I want to be. He blames me; you and I both know it. Nothing has changed. I’m always the one to blame. The only difference is that now he doesn’t have the luxury of expressing his anger towards me the way he no doubt wants to. The way he’s always done. So yes, Mom, I am about to just leave . I’m not waiting here and being used as a verbal punch bag, and for once, I’m not scared to walk away. Maybe that makes me a coward because I know that he can’t just up and follow me, but honestly, I don’t care. And if you had any sense, you’d do the same. You’d pick me and not him, and leave. But that’s not you, is it? Never has been.”
    I watch as her shoulders sag, and she physically shrinks before me. Her face has paled, and her former look of disbelief has dissolved into shame.
    “Ethan, I…” she lets herself fall like a ragdoll into the chair positioned across from the bed. Her sadness is palpable; she looks like a child in this scenario, not the parent. She raises her head and her eyes are red. “I can’t just leave him in here.”
    The words fill the room from a whisper that hits me louder than if she’d screamed them into a megaphone. Only I’m not hearing, ‘I can’t leave him’ I’m hearing, ‘I can’t choose you.'
    I snatch the letter from the bed, and I’m out of the door just in time to hear her cry. Good. Welcome to my life, Mom . I make it a whole ten feet before I feel the hot bite of a tear slide lazily down my cheek. I wipe furiously at my eyes.
    I. Will. Not. Cry.
    I repeat the words low under my breath as I navigate the maze of corridors all painted in the same sickly pale green, no doubt chosen by some sadistic prick that hates his job and thought it would be a fun game to make every corridor look exactly alike to completely confuse us poor assholes that have to walk them. I finally find my way to the main exit and race through the large sliding doors as if I’m being chased. Maybe I am. Perhaps I’m trying to outrun the worthlessness and rejection that seems to never be more than two steps behind me. I emerge into the parking lot and squint as the bright midday sun casts a blinding glow through the cloudless Arizona sky. The heat is causing the air to ripple before me, dancing in waves as the blistering gleams bounce from car to car, prompting me to shield my eyes. I can’t determine what hurts most: the dazzling light scorching my vision or the sting of holding back tears.
     

     
    I’m pulling up outside Blair’s hotel as my cell vibrates. I reach down and retrieve it from my pocket to see she’s messaged me.
     
    From: Princess
    Text me when you arrive. Our room number is 102; I’ll come down to the lobby and meet you.
    B xxx
     
    I toss the driver a twenty and climb out of the cab. I had him pull over at an ATM on the way here. I run my hand through my hair and my wrist protests at the movement as I type out a reply with my good hand.
     
    To: Princess
    Outside now.
    Ethan
     
    I stare at the screen and debate whether or not to add kisses. I spend a few seconds putting way too much thought into it before deciding I’m a total douche and