One Week Girlfriend - By Monica Murphy Page 0,55

of us has slept much this week while in Carmel.

We leave tomorrow, the day my family is acknowledging as the two-year anniversary of my sister's death. I'm glad to get out of here, but unsure what life's going to bring Fable and me when we get back home.

I'm afraid what I might do. What she might do. What we both might do together to screw everything up.

My cell pings and I know without looking who it is. My dad or Adele, the very last two people I want to talk to. I scoot over and sit up, reaching for my phone. The lamp on the dresser across the room is still on, casting out its dim glow. Glancing at my cell, I see that yep, it's my dad who sent the text and just as I'm about to read it, the phone starts to ring. Again, it's my dad.

"Sorry I haven't returned your calls," I immediately say, feeling bad. He's having a tough time of it too, and I shouldn't shut him out, no matter how easy he makes it.

"Don't you dare hang up on me." Fuck, it's Adele.

"What do you want?" I keep my voice low, trying my best not to disturb Fable but she rustles under the blanket, turning away so her back is to me.

I have no idea if she's awake or not, but I have no plans in saying anything to Adele that Fable might question later. It's bad enough I confessed what happened with Vanessa today. No way can I dump any more on her.

"You're coming with us tomorrow, right? To Vanessa's grave?"

"I went already today."

Dead silence answers me and I say nothing in return. I'm not going to be the one who says something first. I'm tired of being at this woman's bidding. It's gone on far too long.

"Did you go with her?"

"I did."

A hiss escapes her. "How dare you bring her to my little girl's grave."

"She's my sister, damn it. I can bring my girlfriend to her grave."

"She's not your...God." Adele seems to choke on her words. "You're coming with us tomorrow. I need you there."

"We leave tomorrow. I can't. That's why I went today." Not exactly true, but the explanation works.

"You'll disappoint your father." She lowers her voice, until it sounds like she's almost crooning to me. "You don't want to disappoint him, do you? You're always such a good boy, Andrew. You always do what I say. What I ask from you."

My skin is literally crawling at how she's talking to me and I close my eyes, take a deep breath and pray I don't fall apart. Yet again. I've been on a nonstop emotional bender since I came back here. I knew it would be bad. I didn't expect all this, though. "I'm not going with you, Adele. It's time to cut the ties for good." I hang up on her before she can say anything else.

I look at Fable to find that she's rolled back over so she's facing me again, those intense green eyes watching my every move. My stomach bottoms out and I wonder how much she heard.

"She giving you a hard time?" she asks softly.

I nod. Don't say a word.

Pushing the blanket off her body, she gets up on her knees and comes to me, resting her hands on my shoulders, her face in mine. Her lids lower and she stares at my mouth, I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, feel the comforting warmth of her touch. This girl, she just...

Does it for me.

But I don't know how to put it in words and tell her.

"Thank you for everything today," she says, surprising me.

I frown as I reach out and tuck a strand of silky hair behind her ear. "I should be thanking you for all that you did for me."

"Yes, you should." A tremulous smile curves her lips. "But I wanted to thank you for being so honest. For telling me about your sister and sharing that part of your life with me. I know it wasn't easy."

My fingers linger on her soft cheek and I stroke my thumb back and forth. "Thank you for being there for me. Listening to me." And holding me in your arms and letting me cry.

She crawls on top of me, her legs on either side of my thighs and I automatically grab her, splaying my hands across her perfect ass and hauling her in close. God, she feels amazing like this, nestled up