Free Marcus: The M Series, Book Three by Ryanne Anthony Page B

gawking, disbelief all over their faces. I pulled out my cell and hit my mother's icon.
    “Marcus,” my mother answered, sounding confused. “It's almost one a.m. Is something wrong, darling?”
    “Yes, but I'm trying to fix it, Mother. I'm going to give Mariah's mother the phone; I'd like you to talk to her about when I met Mariah, all right?”
    “Do you want me to tell her about that collision, too?”
    “Yes. Everything.”
    “All right, darling. I'm ready.”
    I give Mrs. Harvey the phone. “Good evening, Mrs. Cannon... All right, Katherine. Please call me Rachel.”
    “I'm going to check on Mariah,” I said to the others.
    “I'll come with you,” Nathan volunteered, but when we got to the stairs, he stopped me.
    “I believe you love her. I told her so when she told me about you and what happened this afternoon. She's torn up over it because of the 'engagement.' Otherwise, she wouldn't have hesitated. Also, Mariah is a wounded bird, Marcus. She once had a boyfriend that hit her, and he said he loved her. Don't tell her you love her yet.”
    “Shit... hit her?”
    He nodded.
    “I have to tell her. I can't let her think I’m only after her body.”
    “If you tell her, she will reject you. I think she loves you, too, so let her say it first, when she feels ready. Trust me.”
    “She doesn't have a problem telling you she loves you.”
    “Of course she accepts my love; she knows it's genuine and unconditional. Mariah and I have known one another for years and she's been like a little sister to me. There has never been any interest in each other in any other way; unlike you. She's only been out of therapy a couple of months. Dr. Wilson wanted her to find love; be open to it, but she's reluctant. You tell her of your feelings, and she’ll bolt. Just wait; I’m sure she’ll be ready soon, now that she’s found you.”
    When I make it back to Mariah's living room, our mothers have finished talking and Mrs. Harvey hugs me.
    “Katherine is sending your brother with a change of clothes for you, Marcus. She’s sure Matthew will be here soon,” she informed with a smile. “Let's go check on my baby.”
    I nodded, realizing Nathan and I never made it up the stairs. I checked my watch and see it's been four hours already. I go into the room and clicked the night light back on.
    She moaned as I gently sat on the bed and checked her carotid pulse. I tried to move swiftly and lightly when I checked her temperature and blood pressure, but she winced as I inflated the cuff. I felt bad, so I whispered a quick 'Sorry, baby' then kissed her cheek. She smiled a little, never opening her eyes. Lisa replaced her towel as I stepped in the hall.
    “Why don't you go get some sleep,” I whispered to Rachel and Thomas. “It's after midnight, and I don't think she's going to be okay for a while. I'll sit with her.”
    “Are you sure, Marcus,” Thomas said.
    “Absolutely.”
    Rachel studied me a minute before she spoke. “Okay. But we'll be just downstairs. I'm not leaving here yet.”
    “Fine.” I checked my watch again. “Nathan, I think she should have another dose.”
    “I agree,” he nodded then enters the room.
    I watched as he measured a syringe then bent at Mariah's arm.
    Her weak call for her mother tore my heart out, almost as much as watching her endure the brief pain she experiences when she's being medicated.
    When she went to sleep again, Lisa stayed with her while I went outside to wait for Matthew, not wanting him to ring the bell and hurt Mariah’s head. When he arrived, he gave me a duffel bag and questioned what was going on.
    “Damn,” he murmured when I told him. “Will she be all right?”
    “I think so. Her friend is a doctor and he’s here, treating her.”
    “What’s his name and age,” Matthew pressed, pulling out his cell.
    “No, Matthew. He’s her best friend; he loves her and has been nothing but professional with her.”
    He stared, studying me. “If you change your mind,