Read Done [Running to Love 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page B

anything else were lost, and she fell back into slumber.
    She awoke again to the sound of raised voices in the hall. She could make out Greg’s and the nurse’s. Her name was Sheila, according to the little tag pinned on the front of her uniform. Go team Sheila. Lacey managed to figure out the controls on the arm of the bed and raised it a little. She could see the tea on the little table, and her parched mouth longed for it. She awkwardly maneuvered herself and was able to snag the corner and pull it to her while the little battle raged in the hall. Ah, success. It wasn’t hot any longer, but she pried open the little packet of honey and glopped it into the cup, and then poured the well steeped tea over it. She stirred it, wincing at the pull of the IV needle, and took a big draught. Tannin and honey. Double nirvana. She drank it down and had just set the cup back on the table when Greg came in, followed by the red-faced nurse, her ally, Sheila.
    “It’s okay, Sheila,” she said, avoiding even a glance at Greg. “Maybe I’ll have some soup after all.”
    The nurse hesitated and locked eyes with her, and Lacey felt something pass between them, an age-old message that women had been sharing since the beginning of time, she was certain. Sheila would be there for her after Lacey had done what she needed to do. The other woman nodded and gave Greg one last glare, then exited, closing the door quietly behind her.
    Greg stepped into her line of vision and advanced on the bed. Lacey watched him approach and girded herself with her hurt and anger, her pain.
    “Lacey, baby, are you okay?” Greg looked the picture of abject grief and concern.
    “I just lost my baby, Greg, so I’m not doing particularly well.” Lacey managed to reply with asperity, trying to keep him at arm’s length.
    “Our baby, Lacey. I wish I had known. I would have been there for you.”
    Lacey closed her eyes and mustered her defenses again, her anger washing away any hint of pity for him. “Well, you weren’t. You weren’t there for months, Greg, so I’m not sure what you’re doing here now. I thought I had made it clear. I’m done.”
    “We need to talk, baby. Please.”
    “If you want to have a conversation about this, then come back tomorrow. I’m tired and not interested in talking right now.” Lacey planned to be elsewhere by tomorrow.
    Greg stared at her with a familiar assessing look. Lacey steeled herself. He was looking at her in the same way he used to when deciding what he would do next to enhance her sexual pleasure, looking deep inside her soul. This was so wrong. So twisted. Her emotions were rioting, and the only thing she could hang onto was her anger. Her face must have reflected it, because Greg nodded his head once.
    “I’ll wait until you’re feeling up to it. If you need anything, I’ll be here. I’ll do whatever needs to be done.” He pushed the chair back into the corner and settled into it, and Lacey realized that he didn’t intend to leave, intended to simply wait her out. This was the Greg she remembered, too little, too late. Fuck him.
    “I’d like you to leave, Greg.” She was too tired to fight, and being civil took a lot of energy.
    “I’m not leaving you alone, Lacey. You’ve been through a terrible experience.”
    The tears surfaced again and she tried not to sob out loud, but Greg rushed to try and hold her. She flailed at him ineffectually and then speared him with words, words that literally sucked her dry and felt too long in coming. “You left me alone five months ago. You abandoned me emotionally. You rejected me and forgot who I was and what we were to one another. So now leave me alone and get out of my sight. If you have any feelings left for me at all, get the fuck away from me. Go. I’m begging you.”
    Greg backed away, visibly flinching at each word. His handsome face became even more strained, and his eyes were hot, blue flames. As he got close to the door, it opened and Sheila