Page 40 (1/2)

"Reid needs a friend who cares about him When he had that accident last suh--" her hands twisted in her lap "--he didn’t care about his oelfare He’s drinking less, going out less since you started co around, and I just… wanted you to know you’re welco to make sure he doesn’t repeat my mistakes" Her voice fel to a whisper "There’s no hope for ht that there’d come a point where there’s no hope for hi aside thoughts of Deb and my parents and prayer and hope--and my loss of it

She shook her head "I’ve tried rehab three times, and failed every time I can’t endure another three months away from home" Her eyes brimmed, so like Reid’s eyes that I felt my stomach clench

"Have you… have you tried AA?" Do woo to AA? Society women, who can afford to check themselves into luxury clinics for several month stints? I felt out of my element

She shook her head "Oh, no It would be horrible if someone found out I won’t embarrass my husband or Reid more than I’ve already done"

She was trapped, not only by her addiction but by her privileged place in society and her son’s very public career

She cal ed herself hopeless, but hope was stil alive in her, because she’s exae

--and people don’t exa for an escape

"There’s a confidentiality clause with AA While it’s true that the press often reports on celebrities who check into rehab, I can’t res" I leaned closer "Mrs Alexander, Reid wouldn’t want you to feel unable to help yourself One of the reasons AA works is that the individual makes the decision not to drink, one day at a tiht? One minute?" Her eyes never left mine Even with the consequences of years of alcoholisot his beautiful face I iether when he was very young, walking through a shop or in the park, his hand in hers, her beauty reflected in the little boy at her side We sat quietly, and into the silence of those sixty seconds ca Deb I wanted to cry for her and myself and my parents and Brad I wanted to cry for Reid’s mother, and also for Reid There are a mil ion ways to lose someone you love

"There’s one er than you know, Mrs Alexander"

Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wal and back to me

"Please, cal me Lucy I’l think about AA But… don’t tel him yet" I nodded, and she left the roo, but I’ any of these oes blank as Reid tosses the res over his lap, "I can think of a lot of other things I’d rather do"

"As in, a lot of kissing?" My words light a fire in his eyes and he stretches out on the wide sofa, pul ing side hi ertips across the planes of his face, I brush his hair out of his eyes, touch the lips I want to touch s," he says huskily

"What other things?" I’He closes his eyes and leans his face into my hand, kisses my palm, wraps his arms around me

"That, as always, is up to you" His lashes feather up

The lighting, perfect for a home theater, is too dim to see the blue of his eyes

"As always, huh? So it was me who attacked you in that pink closet?"

He s yourto be audacious and brash;but "Can you read it now?" shaky whisper is anything but "Can you read it now?" One eyebrow quirks up "Feeling reckless tonight, are you?" I nod "Mmm," he hurin appears in the saers stroke the skin of entle pressure to hot and deep and back to gentle He pul s away to sit up and it’s al I can do to silence the protest that proves unnecessary when he haulshim

I lean in to kiss hi raze bare skin and leave a trail of goose bu clothing for better access, but he’s never reuts to pul the sweater over my head Instead, I reach under the sweater and pul the bra straps downeach ar overthe bra on the otto seen that trick a thousand times Before I lose my nerve, I scoot forward until I’ers into his hair, and kiss him like he kisses me when I haven’t seen hiue across his lower lip He gripsme to movepainstakingly down his chest, lower across his firrabs h I could swear he’s never held me like this before

he’s never held me like this before

"Dori," his breath is hot in my ear as he holds ainst"I… need to take a break"