Adonis in Athens - Page 54

“I think she just needs her best friend right now. She’s freaked out and scared, thinking about everything except getting better. You’re going to have to convince her to come home, Paige. She can’t stay here in Vegas.”

“She doesn’t want to go back to Phoenix,” Paige said softly.

“I know that, but her father and I can’t afford to pay her expenses while she’s healing. I’m so sorry to say this, but it looks like you’re going to have to find another roommate.”

“I’m not worried about me,” Paige said quickly. “I just want her to be okay.”

“I’m going to go get some coffee—do you want some?”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll go see how she is.”

Paige walked into Raegan’s room and sighed when she saw her friend. One leg was in a cast and she looked terrible. There was a bandage on her forehead and bruises on her arms and what she could see of her chest.

“I can’t leave you alone for five minutes,” she said softly, trying to force a teasing lilt to her voice.

“Oh, God, Paige, what am I gonna do?” Raegan looked defeated and Paige hurried to her side.

“Don’t worry—I’ll figure something out!”

“I can’t go home!”

“I know!”

“My mom doesn’t—”

“I know. Don’t worry. You’re not going home. I’ll figure something out.”

“If you go to Greece, I won’t have any choice.” Raegan’s blue eyes filled with tears.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were in trouble?!” Paige demanded. “I might have been frustrated with you, but I could have helped!”

“It’s not what you think!” Raegan whispered. “It was the car. Over a thousand dollars in repairs and then I didn’t have the money for the books for my next class!”

“Oh, Raegan.” Paige sighed, but reached out to stroke her friend’s hair.

“I know.”

“Let me think about it. It’ll be okay.” Paige sank into the chair next to her friend’s bed and tried to focus. So many things had happened in such a short time, she was overwhelmed. She couldn’t even start to worry about Apollo right now; her first priority was Raegan. Technically, they could move in with Paige’s parents. It would be a huge inconvenience and miserable for everyone, but that was the safest place they could afford. Paige could swing the rent at their apartment for a couple of months but the logistics of getting Raegan up and down the stairs would be a nightmare.

Where’s Apollo when I need him, she thought miserably. The thought came out of nowhere and she realized how much she’d come to rely on his quiet strength and stability. She refused to jump to conclusions about what she’d heard, but she’d needed to get to Raegan and she had to have faith that he loved her. His only motivation for maliciously leading her on would be sex, and that was ridiculous. A guy like him could have a different woman in his bed every night, so luring Paige into bed seemed unnecessary; she would have slept with him even if he’d signed those divorce papers and they both knew it. She regretted not talking with him, but aside from her panic about getting to Raegan, she’d also been a little shell-shocked. What had she heard? Why had he felt it necessary to lie about anything? Moving to the U.S. had been his idea, so she didn’t understand any of it.

She’d have to think about it later, she realized. Right now she had to take control of Raegan’s situation. Nora was bipolar, and although she loved her daughter, she was oblivious to things that had gone on while Raegan was growing up. She was finally correctly medicated, but still had bad days and Raegan’s father took care of her; no one could say anything negative about him to Nora so they didn’t even try anymore. However, Paige would take out a personal loan rather than let Raegan back in that house.

Apollo could help. The thought flashed through her mind and she glanced at her phone longingly. She was desperate to call him, but part of her wanted him to come after her. She hadn’t done that on purpose—her only thought had been getting on that flight—but now it felt like it was his chance to make it up to her for whatever he’d been lying about. Lies were rarely black and white, as she’d learned through this experience. She hadn’t lied about being married while dating Tom; she’d simply chosen to bury her head in the sand because she was afraid. Since Apollo had done the same thing, it was clear that they’d been young and foolish, despite having genuine feelings. They just hadn’t been able to figure out what to do about them. Because of all that, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. He had to be the one to reach out, though. Otherwise, whatever he was hiding would sit between them and fester into something ugly. Something that would force her to ask for those divorce papers… She sighed.

“Paige?” Raegan was staring at her worriedly. “I have to tell you something.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll call my mom,” Paige said abruptly. “You can move into my old room. Our lease is up in August, so I’ll manage the bills until then and move out as soon as I can. It’s only about eight weeks.”

“Aren’t you moving to Greece?”

Paige shook her head. “I have no idea, to be honest. I left Greece like a bat out of hell and Apollo and I had a little bit of a misunderstanding…but no matter what happens with him and me, I’m not leaving until you’re on your feet again.”

“What kind of misunderstanding?” Raegan frowned.

“It doesn’t—”

“Hi, honey!” Nora came in with two large coffee cups, handing one to Paige absently.