Chapter 13

13

T he next week was uneventful, with Apollo going in to the office each morning while Paige slept in and caught up on work emails. Then they would get on his motorcycle and ride to a different beach, baking in the sun until they were exhausted, hungry or both, before going home to make love and shower. They spent one evening with Maria, Dimitri and Thespina, and another with Melina, Xristos and Thanos again, sitting up talking until late in the night. Apollo and his father had done a lot of talking as well and seemed to have come to an understanding, but Paige got the feeling neither of them were happy about it .

"I've booked a seat on your flight," Apollo said as they lay in bed that night .

"What?" She turned onto her side, staring at him. "I'm leaving in two days—you can't possibly pack up your life in such a short time !"

He smiled. "I'll have to come back to do that, but for now, I thought I'd come home with you, meet your family, start putting out feelers for jobs. Once it's set I can come back and handle all of this ."

"Apollo?" She rested her chin on his chest and let her eyes find his in the moonlit room .

"Yeah, babe ?"

"I'm worried… I don't think you're going to be happy working for someone else. You're used to being the boss ."

He smiled. "The thing that makes this different is that I'm not starving or in desperate need of work—I can quit if it's not working out. I can always come home. And the same goes for you. If you wind up getting a job you hate, you can quit and either find something else or you can stay home. I don't plan to take a job that doesn't pay enough to support us ."

She nestled against him. "You make everything sound so easy ."

"It won't be easy, but we've decided it will be worth the struggle." He paused. " Right ?"

She nodded against his warm chest. "Oh yeah. It just seems like it was all about convincing me to move here and then suddenly you switched gears. I know what happened with your dad upset you, but I think you're going to wake up in six months and want to come home ."

"In six months, maybe you'll be ready to give Greece a try ."

She lifted her head to meet his gaze. "I think it'll make a big difference once you meet my family and friends ."

"What about Tom?" he asked dryly .

She giggled. "You want to meet Tom? It'll be a pretty boring event ."

He snickered. "I don't want to, but I think it'd be a good lesson for him—understanding that you can be a responsible adult, be in love and still have adventures ."

She laughed, nestling even closer against him. "And that's why I love you ."

"It's going to work out, koukla mou . Trust me. I'm not letting you go again ."

"You'd better not ."

P aige woke up alone the next morning and stretched lazily. Apollo had gone to the office early to get his father up to speed on any deals that hadn't been solidified or were in the early stages. His friend Mick was arriving today, so he also wanted to make sure he was done relatively early so they could go to dinner after Mick got settled at the house. Apollo had offered to put Mick up at a hotel, but Paige had said that was ridiculous and she didn't need the spare room just for her clothes and makeup. Besides, he would only be there two days before heading to Santorini, which would be right around the same time she and Apollo left for Las Vegas. Apollo wouldn't have a lot of time with his friend and Paige could sense how close they were .

It was still early, but she wanted to get to Apollo's office so she could use the computers there. His personal computer was good, but the ones at the office were faster and she needed to send artwork to a client for an ad and the file was too big to send from here. She showered and did her hair, putting on minimal makeup since it was so hot outside. It was only June and it was almost as hot as Vegas, but with a sea breeze, she found she didn't mind the heat. She pulled on a pair of shorts and a sleeveless top, grabbing her phone off the nightstand. She was about to drop the phone in her purse when she noticed she'd gotten several texts. She opened them and was surprised to see Tom's name pop up over and over .

Are you there ?

I need to talk to you. It's about Raegan .

Raegan's been in a car accident—where are you ?

I don't know if you have internet but I'm also going to email you. Your phone isn't working and you're not answering texts. It's bad, Paige. I need you to call me ASAP .

With her heart pounding in her chest, Paige ran downstairs to get on the landline in Apollo's office. She called Tom with her heart in her throat, pacing as she waited for him to answer .

"It's about time!" he growled as an answer .

"What happened?" she demanded, ignoring his outburst .

"They think she fell asleep at the wheel," he said, his voice quieter. "She's in surgery now. We won't know anything else until she gets out ."

"Oh, my God." She took a deep breath. "I'll get on the first flight I can find ."

"I can buy you a new ticket — "

"No, that's okay, I got it. Thank you." She disconnected and ran back to Apollo's room, yanking her suitcase out of the closet and throwing her clothes into it haphazardly. She left Melina's fancy red dress and matching shoes in the closet, along with the bathing suit Apollo had bought her and the pretty white dress she'd been wearing when she'd gone to see him her first day in Greece. She would get them next time she came or he could bring them with him when he met her in Vegas .

Working on autopilot, she finished packing as she used the phone to call the airlines. Since she could call the U.S. without long-distance charges, she called them directly, tearfully explaining the situation to the ticket agent who answered. There was a flight leaving at 1:00, just under four hours from now, and for a fee she could get on the flight. She quickly agreed, giving the woman her credit card number and throwing the last of her things into her carry-on bag .

Pulling her suitcase and carry-on to the street, she was grateful to see a taxi at the corner and gestured wildly until he saw her. She got in and told him where to go. She had to explain to Apollo what had happened and let him know she was leaving; after their abrupt parting three years ago, she didn't want there to be any misunderstandings. She was upset, though. The idea that Raegan had fallen asleep at the wheel bothered her. She knew her friend worked too many hours but nothing like this had ever happened before. She wondered if something had changed, if Raegan had run into trouble financially. Raegan was the best friend a girl could ask for, but she was terrible with money. Paige had finally gotten her to a point where rent and groceries became a priority. Paige forced Raegan to give her money every night she worked so that her share of the rent would be covered, and for a while things had gone well. Paige had been distracted the last few months, though, and with her being gone for two weeks, she could only imagine what Raegan had been spending .

The cab slowed to a stop in front of Lakkas, International, and Paige asked him to wait, just in case Apollo was too busy to take her to the airport. Between meetings with his father and the staff, and Mick's arrival, she didn't want to interrupt his day. She would see him in two days, after all, when he got to Vegas .

She walked in and smiled at the staff who recognized her now and called out greetings .

"Is Apollo in his office?" she asked Melina, who was working today .

"Yes, he's—" Melina didn't even finish talking before Paige disappeared down the hall. She hated being rude but she had no time today .

Paige heard muffled voices as she approached the office and paused when she heard Apollo saying, "…and I had to do something ."

"So you never planned to live in the States ?"

"Not really." Apollo's sigh was barely audible .

Paige's hand flew to her mouth and she froze, unsure whether to walk in or keep listening .

"Dude, if you love her — "

"Of course I love her—that's why I don't want to lose her !"

"And you think starting your marriage on a lie is the best way to not lose her ?"

Paige's thoughts were reeling and she felt a little sick, but she couldn't do this now. Raegan needed her and there was only so much she could sacrifice for Apollo; if he truly loved her, he would understand. Whatever he was discussing with Mick would have to be dealt with after she was sure Raegan was okay. If she confronted him now, it could turn into a long, heated discussion and she would barely make this flight as it was, even if she left right this minute .

Frustrated, she turned and hurried back to the front, calling out to Melina as she breezed through the door. "I have an emergency at home—my roommate was in a bad car accident. I'm on the next flight so I have to go! Tell Apollo to call me !"

"Paige!" Melina stood up in alarm. "Wait! How are you — "

"Taxi!" Paige called out, rushing out the door. She glanced back at her sister-in-law and gave her a soft smile. "Thanks for being my friend through all of this—you're a wonderful sister-in-law. I really hope I see you again." Then she was gone .

F or a moment, Melina was too confused to move. By the time she got to the front of the building, all she could see was the back of the cab and she stared for a moment. Then she turned and hurried back to Apollo's office. She didn't want to spend any more time with Mick than necessary, but something had obviously happened for Paige not to talk to Apollo and run to the airport in a cab .

She stalked into her brother's office scowling. "What did you do?!" she hissed, putting her hands on her hips .

Apollo paused mid-sentence, his mouth opening slightly as he knitted his brows together. "Lena, what are you talking about ?"

"Paige was just here. She came running back to see you and then turned around and ran back out, yelling that someone back home had been in an accident and that she was taking a taxi to the airport. What were you two talking about that would have made her do that ?"

Apollo groaned and Mick grimaced .

"I told you lying wasn't good." Mick shook his head .

"What did you lie about ?"

"Nothing!" Apollo got up. "Shit, did she say what flight she's on ?"

"No, and there are probably a couple leaving in the next two hours or so ."

"Is she going to make it?" Mick asked dryly. "I mean, it's an hour to the airport ."

"She'll make it," Apollo grunted. "Dammit, I can't even go after her until the day after tomorrow when — "

"Day after tomorrow?" Melina stared at him. "Have you lost your mind? Do you love her ?"

"I feel like I've spent the last week answering that question!" he grunted. "Yes, I love her! What did we say? Anything she heard was out of context! I have a lot of different things going on and I'm trying to figure out which one will allow me to make the most money, eventually wind up in Greece and have her too!" He looked completely bewildered .

"You're a dumbass!" Melina rolled her eyes. "You better be on the first flight to the U.S. tomorrow. I don't know exactly what you said or what she heard, but instead of telling you her plans, she hauled ass out of here—which can only mean you've done something that hurt her!" She turned on her heel and went back up front, shaking her head. Her brother could be so stupid sometimes, and he was spectacularly stupid when he was with Mick; the two of them were terrible influences on each other when it came to women. It wasn't that Mick was a bad guy, but when he and Apollo were together, they were a train wreck. They'd broken hearts all over Yale and then—she stopped, shaking her head. No way was she going down that road. Her history with Mick was nothing she wanted to think about ever again. She'd let him break her heart once; she would never let him get that close to her now that she'd already experienced it. He'd ruined her for all men anyway; she was damned if she'd let him hurt her again too .

P aige went straight to the hospital when she got off the flight, grateful she'd left her car parked at the airport. It was just after 8:00 in the evening and she was exhausted, but all she could think about was Raegan. She'd texted Raegan's mother, Nora, when she'd landed and found out the room number, so she was headed there now. Nora had said she would wait for her in the lobby outside the elevator on the fourth floor since visiting hours were ending soon, but instead of Nora, Tom was there. Paige frowned when she saw him, awkwardly patting his shoulder and turning her face when he tried to kiss her .

"Welcome home," he said quietly .

"Where's Nora?" she asked abruptly .

"I offered to wait ."

"Tom, I don't have time for this right now—I just want to see Raegan ."

"I thought maybe you'd missed me," he said after a moment .

"Honestly, I didn't." She bit her lip as she looked at him. "I'm sorry, but you're the one who said you didn't know if we would see each other again, and the truth is that I am married. I'm sorry—I can't do anything until I sort that out ."

"But you're going to divorce him, right ?"

Paige felt a wave of discomfort as Mick and Apollo's conversation flashed through her mind: So you never planned to live in the States? Not really .

What kind of game had he been playing? Had he really been leading her on? She couldn't think about it, though, and she met Tom's worried gaze. "I don't know yet. We're working on things ."

"You're working on things?" His eyes widened and he looked truly baffled. "Are you kidding me? I didn't waste the last two years with you so you could run off to Greece !"

"You didn't waste the last two years!" she shot back angrily. "We had a relationship that was lovely most of the time. It just happens that it's not meant to be—I'm sorry you find that a waste of your time! I learned a lot from our time together, and I don't regret it at all ."

"Probably because you needed someone to keep you warm while you waited for your husband to decide whether or not he wanted you!" he snapped, his eyes blazing with anger .

Paige had never hit anyone in her life, but her hand seemed to move of its own volition when she reached out and slapped him. "You need to leave!" she hissed. "This is why I couldn't marry you. You're all pretty and polished on the outside but petty and mean on the inside. Please don't ever contact me again." She turned on her heel and hurried down the hall, so angry she was shaking. But then she saw Nora and waved .

"Paige! Oh, thank goodness you're here!" Nora hugged her tightly. Paige and Raegan had been friends since they were 17 and knew each other's families well .

"Is she okay?" Paige's eyes filled with tears .

"She's not out of the woods, but she's resting and stable." Nora sighed, rubbing her eyes. "She fell asleep at the wheel. She's been working two jobs—did you know that ?"

"Two jobs?" Paige frowned. "No! She was taking extra shifts at the casino but I didn't know about anything else ."

Nora nodded sadly. "She took a job… stripping ."

"Stripping?" Paige couldn't stop her mouth from falling open. "Are you sure? I mean, really ?"

"Yes." She looked away. "I know she's never been great with money, but she's been doing so well since you two graduated… I told her she should wait on her MBA, but she didn't want to ."

"But how…" Paige tried to wrap her mind around it. "I don't understand !"

"The only reason we know is because she was driving another one of the girls home and she wasn't hurt very badly…just Raegan ."

"How bad?" Paige met her eyes .

"Her leg is broken—they put her in a cast for that, but they had to operate to remove her spleen and repair a punctured lung. She broke several ribs and one of them punctured the lung, which collapsed, so she was in surgery for hours. She was asleep when I came down to meet you but she's slept on and off all day, so she'll probably be awake again soon ."

"Damn." Paige sighed, trying to imagine how Raegan would get up the stairs to their apartment .

"The car was totaled, but I haven't told her yet. She's asked several times—I know she's thinking about work—but I told her we didn't know ."

"She's going to be upset," Paige said quietly. "What can I do ?"

"I think she just needs her best friend right now. She's freaked out and scared, thinking about everything except getting better. You're going to have to convince her to come home, Paige. She can't stay here in Vegas ."

"She doesn't want to go back to Phoenix," Paige said softly .

"I know that, but her father and I can't afford to pay her expenses while she's healing. I'm so sorry to say this, but it looks like you're going to have to find another roommate ."

"I'm not worried about me," Paige said quickly. "I just want her to be okay ."

"I'm going to go get some coffee—do you want some ?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll go see how she is ."

Paige walked into Raegan's room and sighed when she saw her friend. One leg was in a cast and she looked terrible. There was a bandage on her forehead and bruises on her arms and what she could see of her chest .

"I can't leave you alone for five minutes," she said softly, trying to force a teasing lilt to her voice .

"Oh, God, Paige, what am I gonna do?" Raegan looked defeated and Paige hurried to her side .

"Don't worry—I'll figure something out !"

"I can't go home !"

"I know !"

"My mom doesn't — "

"I know. Don't worry. You're not going home. I'll figure something out ."

"If you go to Greece, I won't have any choice." Raegan's blue eyes filled with tears .

"Why didn't you tell me you were in trouble?!" Paige demanded. "I might have been frustrated with you, but I could have helped !"

"It's not what you think!" Raegan whispered. "It was the car. Over a thousand dollars in repairs and then I didn't have the money for the books for my next class !"

"Oh, Raegan." Paige sighed, but reached out to stroke her friend's hair .

"I know ."

"Let me think about it. It'll be okay." Paige sank into the chair next to her friend's bed and tried to focus. So many things had happened in such a short time, she was overwhelmed. She couldn't even start to worry about Apollo right now; her first priority was Raegan. Technically, they could move in with Paige's parents. It would be a huge inconvenience and miserable for everyone, but that was the safest place they could afford. Paige could swing the rent at their apartment for a couple of months but the logistics of getting Raegan up and down the stairs would be a nightmare .

Where's Apollo when I need him , she thought miserably. The thought came out of nowhere and she realized how much she'd come to rely on his quiet strength and stability. She refused to jump to conclusions about what she'd heard, but she'd needed to get to Raegan and she had to have faith that he loved her. His only motivation for maliciously leading her on would be sex, and that was ridiculous. A guy like him could have a different woman in his bed every night, so luring Paige into bed seemed unnecessary; she would have slept with him even if he'd signed those divorce papers and they both knew it. She regretted not talking with him, but aside from her panic about getting to Raegan, she'd also been a little shell-shocked. What had she heard? Why had he felt it necessary to lie about anything? Moving to the U.S. had been his idea, so she didn't understand any of it .

She'd have to think about it later, she realized. Right now she had to take control of Raegan's situation. Nora was bipolar, and although she loved her daughter, she was oblivious to things that had gone on while Raegan was growing up. She was finally correctly medicated, but still had bad days and Raegan's father took care of her; no one could say anything negative about him to Nora so they didn't even try anymore. However, Paige would take out a personal loan rather than let Raegan back in that house .

Apollo could help . The thought flashed through her mind and she glanced at her phone longingly. She was desperate to call him, but part of her wanted him to come after her. She hadn't done that on purpose—her only thought had been getting on that flight—but now it felt like it was his chance to make it up to her for whatever he'd been lying about. Lies were rarely black and white, as she'd learned through this experience. She hadn't lied about being married while dating Tom; she'd simply chosen to bury her head in the sand because she was afraid. Since Apollo had done the same thing, it was clear that they'd been young and foolish, despite having genuine feelings. They just hadn't been able to figure out what to do about them. Because of all that, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. He had to be the one to reach out, though. Otherwise, whatever he was hiding would sit between them and fester into something ugly. Something that would force her to ask for those divorce papers… She sighed .

"Paige?" Raegan was staring at her worriedly. "I have to tell you something ."

"Don't worry, I'll call my mom," Paige said abruptly. "You can move into my old room. Our lease is up in August, so I'll manage the bills until then and move out as soon as I can. It's only about eight weeks ."

"Aren't you moving to Greece ?"

Paige shook her head. "I have no idea, to be honest. I left Greece like a bat out of hell and Apollo and I had a little bit of a misunderstanding…but no matter what happens with him and me, I'm not leaving until you're on your feet again ."

"What kind of misunderstanding?" Raegan frowned .

"It doesn't — "

"Hi, honey!" Nora came in with two large coffee cups, handing one to Paige absently .

"Thanks." Paige glanced up at her. "You look tired. Why don't you go get some rest ?"

"Oh, I'm fine. You're the one who's been on a plane for hours and hours !"

Paige nodded. "I'm okay, I slept on the plane. I just want to stay with Raegan ."

"I could use a little nap," Nora said, yawning .

"Why don't you go to our apartment and sleep?" Paige asked softly .

"I suppose I could do that." Nora looked uncertain. "Are you sure ?"

"Of course." Paige pulled out her keys and took the key to the apartment off her keychain. "Go relax. I'll stay with Raegan tonight and go home to shower and change in the morning ."

"Thank you—you're a good girl." Nora hugged Paige, kissed Raegan and left .

"She's going to fight us on this," Raegan whispered, glancing at her friend .

"Don't worry about anything except getting better," Paige said, squeezing her hand. "Really. I'll take care of your mom ."

"I'm sorry," Raegan said after a moment. "This isn't your responsibility ."

Paige cocked her head. "Responsibility? You're my bestie—like my sister—this is what we do ."

"This is an epic fail, even for me. I can't work with a broken leg, Paige—what am I going to do ?"

"You're going to get some short-term disability and then find a job you can do sitting down ."

Raegan just sighed, her tear-filled eyes meeting Paige's. "We really have to talk about — "

"We don't have to talk about anything tonight. You look exhausted, so just relax, okay?" Paige held on to her hand tightly. "I'll be right here ."

"You're, like, the best bestie in the world ."

"I know." Paige grinned at her .