Read What a Girl Wants for Free Online Page B

much pressure ¾ I hope your time on the island turns out okay for you. I blame my stupid brother ¾ oh, listen to me, I’m rambling. Guess I’m tired too.”
    Maddie’s fingers tightened around the phone. “Give it to me straight. What’s going on?”
    “Pre-wedding jitters.” Felicia’s tone was defensive. “And there’s your birthday coming up.”
    “Are you going to remind me about the stretch marks I caused?”
    “No. It’s…it’s…the memories surrounding your birth.” Felicia’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I did love your father, but the circumstances were wrong. He had so many problems.”
    “What kind of problems?” Maddie was fast losing her patience. “Did he leave the toilet seat up? Did he snore? Did he forget to close the cupboard doors? What?”
    “He had problems closing a lot of things, especially the brandy bottle.”
    “So my father was an alcoholic?” Maybe he had to be to put up with Felicia.
    “Of course not. It’s my anger talking. We messed things up.” Felicia coughed, a familiar stalling tactic. “You must be exhausted. We should say goodbye.”
    “Wait, don’t hang up. I want to know more.”
    “I’ll call you the minute I get back from the Riviera Mayan. That’s where we’re going on our honeymoon. Don’t worry. I’ll get this wedding underway alone. It was good talking to you like this.”
    Talking like what? “Yeah, have a good trip.”
    Maddie slammed the receiver in its cradle and pounded the mattress with her fists. She was no further ahead than she had been years ago.
    Attempting to extract a straight answer from Felicia was like nailing jello to a tree.
    With her head against the white wicker headboard, she pressed the heel of her hands over her eyes and wiped the frustrated tears.
    By the time she was able to tie her own shoes, Maddie had discovered it was useless to attempt to decode anything her mother said or did.
    Instead, she repeated her personal mantra. “Get over it. Move on.”
    She closed her eyes and played the game she’d invented as a child for when she suffered like this. It had saved her sanity throughout her life. In her mind, she replaced Felicia’s conversation with fantasies of the exciting places she wanted to visit and write about.
    A light knock on her door interrupted her musings. She flung her legs over the side of the bed and tread barefoot to answer it.
    She peeked through the peephole and eyed Alex with his back to the door, scanning the hallway. She opened the door, and he swung around, flashing a smile as bright as Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
    “Hey there,” he said. “Are you up for a short visit?”
    “For you, always.” His presence relaxed her. She stood aside as he entered the room and closed the door.
    “I called, but your line was busy,” he said.
    “Why were you looking up and down the hall?”
    “No reason.” He crooked his finger and lifted her chin. “I wanted to check if you were okay. Did I hurt your ribs this afternoon?” He furrowed his brows. “You’re pale. Let’s go to the clinic.”
    “No bruises and you didn’t damage anything. I’m fine. And there isn’t a doctor around who can fix the aftermath of a phone call with Felicia.”
    “Your mother called you here? What happened? Did her husband get barred from his frat house? Sorry, I shouldn’t talk like that about ¾ ”
    “Don’t apologize. Frat Boy left her to go find his smile. Cougar Mom is getting hitched to husband number seven.” Or was it eight? She sighed. “It’ll last until he comes out of his trance or she gets bored and another Manhattan lawyer will do the billable-hour happy dance.”
    He placed an arm across her shoulder and led her into the room. She resisted the urge to sag against him.
    “You sure you’re okay?” he asked.
    “I’m good. Tomorrow I’ll kick back on the beach and get some color.” Warmed by his caring she tried for a smile, but knew it didn’t reach her eyes. Felicia’s phone call