Chapter 303
Mamie stepped out of the bathroom, still wrapped in warmth and mist. She paused when she spotted Scott, wide awake and half-sitting against the headboard. His eyes were sharp and alert.
“All done?” Scott arched an eyebrow. “Come to bed p>
“Yeah p>
With her heart fluttering in her chest, Mamie walked over and climbed onto the other side of the bed. The second she sat down, Scott suddenly leaned in, making her
tense up.
She instinctively shrank back, her eyes going wide. “Um, I’m not really ready for… you know p>
Scott’s gaze was dark and unreadable, but he almost smiled. He reached right past her, his arm brushing close to her ear.
Click.
The lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.
“When they built this place, they only put the light switch on one side,” Scott said, his voice relaxed, even teasing. “What did you think I was going to do to you? Just go to sleep p>
Mamie was beyond embarrassed. If the lights were on, her face would have been bright red for sure. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so awkward in her life.
Maybe it was the stress, or maybe she’d just exhausted herself worrying, but soon her breathing evened out and she drifted off to sleep.
When Mamie opened her eyes, she found herself back on a college campus that was both familiar and strangely distant.
A man in a suit leaned against a wall, his face cold and unreadable. “So you really want to break up with me p>
Mamie bit her lip. Her heart was pounding, but the words came out anyway. “Yes p>
As soon as she said it, a bitter taste filled her mouth.
Scott’s voice was icy, almost mocking. “Are you sure you won’t regret this, Mamie? If you walk away now, we’re truly over p>
She looked at him, at the stubborn set of his jaw and the chill in his eyes. He wasn’t the kind of person who ever went back on his word.
Neither of them spoke again. The air felt heavy, pressing down on her until she couldn’t breathe. She watched as the light faded from his eyes. Then he turned his back and walked away.
Even though she’d forgotten most of what happened between them, her heart still hurt, squeezed painfully tight.
Her phone buzzed with a new message:
[Who told you to break up with him? Don’t you want your mom to get better p>
Mamie jolted awake, chest rising and falling with every shaky breath.
The movement woke Scott. His voice was rough, still thick with sleep. “Mamie, did you have a nightmare p>
She clutched the sheets with cold fingers, sweat damp on her forehead. Scott noticed and quietly got out of bed to turn on the light. The soft glow made the room fee safer, less stifling.
He found a warm towel and gently wiped the sweat from her face. “You’re okay now.
It was just a dream p>
He rested his hand on her back, grounding her with his steady warmth. “I’m right here p>
The comfort in his touch helped her breathe easier.
“Thanks. Let’s just go back to sleep. It was nothing, really—just a dream p>
Mamie closed her eyes and lay down, but the memory of that text message wouldn’t leave her. Her mom had been sick before. Was that why she and Scott broke up?
At the airport, Beatty was seeing Bonita off.
“You go ahead. I’ll come visit as soon as I finish up here,” Beatty promised.
Bonita gave her a wry smile. “Funny,
isn’t it? I was supposed to be welcoming you back but now I’m heading out instead.” She squeezed Beatty’s hand. “Forget about him. You deserve so much better p>
Beatty smiled softly. “I know p>
She hadn’t returned just to start something with Latham. She just wanted to see him
again, the guy she used to have a crush on.
After her last talk with Patrick,
Bonita had let go gracefully. That actually made Latham respect hera little more. Traveling abroad was probably for the best. Now all the drama was gone, and no one would be scheming against his wife anymore.