Free Determined: To Win (Determined Trilogy Book 3) by Elizabeth Brown Page A

But a cloud of discontent circled about me. Something felt off, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. David had been acting strange and busy with work ever since he asked me to move in with him. That coincidence hadn’t escaped me, but I tried once again to push the thought out of my mind. I knew he had asked me to move in with him because we had something, something special. I could feel the energy we had between us, and I knew he did, too. David Keith just wasn’t someone who did things because other people expected him to.
    He told me when we’d first met that he was someone who was used to getting what he wanted. And if that was me, why should I argue? Yes, he wanted me here. Otherwise he wouldn’t have asked. I needed to forget about this morning and wait for everything to work out.
    My phone buzzed around eight. I picked it up, hoping it was David, calling to say he was on his way, but it wasn’t. I slid the phone open to answer the call.
    “Hey Mom.”
    “Hey sweetie! How are you feeling?” I knew she was talking about my physical state, following the accident, rather than my current emotional one.
    “Good, Mom. I’m feeling basically one-hundred percent. How is Erin doing?”
    “Oh, she’s all right. We have an appointment with the specialist again tomorrow, and they’ll be able to check how well everything is healing. But she’s in good spirits. Dad is spoiling her with DVDs and ice cream.”
    I looked down at my empty bowl and laughed. “Must be nice.” I’d give anything for the company of my mom and dad right now. David’s huge apartment felt very, very empty.
    “I think she’s enjoying it. The trick will be making sure she doesn’t enjoy it too much. Anyways, I wanted to call and see how the first week at your new job went, hon.”
    “Oh, right. It was good.” God, had it really only been that long? It felt longer. “We spent one day at the de Young, so I could get a sense of her taste, and then Friday I spent the day at her house doing measurements.”
    “And that’s in Belvedere, right?”
    “Tiburon.”
    “Right. And do you like her? Your new boss?”
    “Gina? Well, yeah.” I said, exhaling. “I mean, she’s no Curtis, but then who is, right? But she’s nice enough. She’s giving me a lot of leeway, which is cool.”
    “That’s good, hon. When’s your last day at the gallery?”
    “Tuesday.” Boy, I couldn’t believe it was so close.
    “Already? Wow, that felt fast. How is everything with David? Is he excited for you?”
    “He is. He’s been very supportive.” I paused, trying to decide whether or not I should tell my mom we were moving in together. I mean, both my parents loved David, but they were also a little more old-fashioned. When we all stayed together at my family’s cabin at Lake Tahoe, they insisted on separate bedrooms. I couldn’t figure out how to break the news, so I decided to wait.
    “Well that’s good, honey. I’m so glad he encourages you. It takes a strong man to do that.”
    I smiled over the phone. She was right. I was really lucky. I decided to save the moving news for another day. I had some time. After all, I hadn’t even scheduled the moving van yet.
    “Well, I don’t want to keep you too long, hon. I just wanted to call and check on you.”
    “Thanks, Mom. Will you text me and let me know how Erin’s appointment goes tomorrow?”
    “Of course, Sammie. You take care now. Give our best to David.”
    “I will. Say hi to everyone for me.”
    “Will do. Talk to you tomorrow, Sammie.”
    “Bye, Mom.” I pressed end on the phone and sat there for a while, watching the television continue on mute. I loved my family, even if they could drive me nuts occasionally. I made a mental note to try and get down to visit them sometime soon.
    Later, I went to sleep for the second time in two days without David.

13
    The sun woke me up the next morning. Cool, gray sunlight. I extended my arm under the blanket, expecting to find David next