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"No We don't need to be thinking like that We need to do everything we can to support her to get better"

"Okay you're right," I say with relief

Because I can't give up on Maeve, particularly if I've been the cause of so down onthis a priority

CHAPTER 9

Renner

I checkto belife on the wild side

But who needs the wild side anyway? There are benefits to having order, and surprises are way too stressful There's not anything lacking from my life, I'm sure of it

However, if that's true, then why can't I get Cillian's last words out of my head?

He told e the other night I h er, frustration, hurt, sorrow That list just doesn't seem to be what I need I've had plenty of that in the not-so-distant past

There were other things that happened to hed the bad, but not quite Besides, I' about He's arrogant, for sure, but he's confident enough in himself that he wouldn't need to point that out

No, it's so more And I feel like I should knohat it is, yet it's just beyond my reach

Without thinking twice about it, I pull my phone out of my purse and dial my mom She answers almost immediately

"Renner, baby! How are you?"

My heart swells and expands, just hearing her voice Nora Caldwell is rowing up, my mom and I developed a closeness these last few years that surpassed the bond I have with my dad

"I'reat How are you and Daddy?"

"We're just fine, honey Your dad and Flynn are outside trying to fix the laer You should hear the curses co out of their mouths"

I grin, thinking about those two CaldwellI knoithout a doubt, they'll tinker with it for about an hour before they give up and call a repairman Still, I have to admire their tenacity

"They'll be so glad to hear from you," she says

"Actually, I don't have much time My shift starts soon I just wanted to hear your voice"

"Is so, Ren?"

I s hard Do I lie to her or do I seek her advice?

Advice, definitely It's always been good

"ActuallyI' in ure out what it is"

"Is this because of Corhtens my stomach, and the extra disdain in her voice just reinforces my shame over what happened to , Renner What happened is his shame, not yours"

Holy hell, my mom freaks me out sometimes It's like she can read my mind She and Cady are the only ones that know the true story about what happened with Cormac and she's not a fan of his

"No, it's not exactly about Corht and it just got "

"You know I can't help you unless you spell it out for me So dish"

S about Cillian, froo, until the o I gloss over the sexy details, but I give her enough so she can get a clear picture of what he's doing to my insides

"So, he says I got soe He hshod over ant, bossy, stubborn, and mean-tempered"

My ht "He's Irish, Renner Get used to it That's not going to change"