She glanced over her shoulder and forced a grin. “Ok, good.”
She hastily made her way toward the door, grabbing a pair of jeans and a sweater on the way, desperate to take a shower and get out of her pajamas.
She felt relief wash over her as he appeared to be ok with leaving things as they were and nothing else. She grabbed the doorknob and was about to turn it when Sully’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She glanced over at him.
He watched her carefully and he held up his hands. “I’ll go willingly.”
He then propped himself up onto his elbows and met her eyes. “But don’t forget it was me you called when you needed someone. I was the first person that popped into your mind when you wanted soothing… when you wanted comfort. Me, Kit. You’ve told me for years that you wanted me to take care of you, yet you never let me. There have only been two times recently, one when you were in the hospital and two was last night. Me, it was me you asked to take care of you.” He pointed to himself as he stared at her.
His steel-blue eyed gaze was cutting right through to her soul as he continued. “That’s because you love me and I love you. We’re still in love, Kit. There’s no denying it. I love you more than anyone or anything and I’d do anything for you. Including cleaning up my act completely and stepping up—being the man you always wanted. Hell, being ten times better than that.” He nodded. “And I think you know that I can do it.”
She sighed, closed her eyes and gently placed her forehead on the door. “Sully, please don’t do this. Not right now.”
She stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him. He was getting to her. Her heart was screaming to give him another shot, yet her mind kept broadcasting the pain she felt over of the groupie incident and rampant drug use.
She swallowed hard. The only solution she could find was to get him out of her space. That was the only way she could get back to clarity.
She spoke firmly. “Please leave.” She opened the door and burst into the hallway with a start, quickly making her way to the bathroom and not looking back.
CHAPTER 16
Alexa offered Kit a compassionate look. “If you need anything, call me. I can be there in a matter of minutes, ok?”
She nodded and then sighed, her eyes filling with tears. “This feels like shit, Lex.”
Alexa nodded and squeezed her hand. “I know.” She was about to continue when her phone rang. She offered a friendly grin to Kit. “It’s probably my driver telling me the car is outside. I’m sure he’s returned from dropping off Sully.” She answered the phone.
Kit watched her carefully and immediately realized it wasn’t the driver. She tilted her head to the side and wondered if it was Jonathan based on the conversation Alexa was having.
Alexa hung up the phone and grabbed her purse. “Looks like I’m going with you after all.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Huh? No offense, Lex, but I thought this was a family thing.”
Alexa shrugged her shoulders and ushered Kit along. “I guess Lew said something to Sherri last night that she wants to share with all of us. Jonathan said it was related to your career. It was one of the last things Lew said, so Sherri is viewing this as a dying wish.”
Kit let out a long sigh. “Leave it to Lew to leave a dying wish for me. Jesus, no pressure. Fuck. Even from the grave he’s nudging me. Am I right?”
Alexa chuckled. “Lew went out true to his style. Let’s go.”
When Kit and Alexa arrived at the Diamond home with Spencer in tow, they were shocked at how Sherri was buzzing around, coordinating efforts. The foyer and front room were overflowing with expensive floral arrangements from countless admirers, friends and colleagues offering condolences. Jonathan approached them, looking like he hadn’t had one wink of sleep.
Kit met his eyes as she motioned to Sherri. “Is she ok?”
Jonathan glanced over at her. “No, she’s not. This is her way of coping. Chris is holed up in the study making calls too, but his are more business related. He’s tuned out from us and is burying himself in work. He has a meeting in midtown in five minutes. He’ll be heading out. As I’m sure you’ve figured, the emergency board meeting is postponed. Chris will reschedule it next week and it will be in L.A.”
Spencer looked at Jonathan. “To be honest, we all feel a little uncomfortable being here. We don’t want to impose at such a difficult time.”
Jonathan chuckled. “This is what my dad would have wanted.” He shook his head. “It’s not easy, no, but I almost feel like he’s egging me on to do it. He was very clear about some things last night before he went to sleep. He had a long talk with Mom and well, Kit, you were part of the conversation.” He motioned to the formal dining room. “Let’s hole up in there. I’ll go grab Mom.”
Kit exchanged a look with her brother and Alexa. “I have no idea what any of this means. I’m confused.”
Spencer nodded. “That makes two of us.”
Sherri entered the dining room and grinned at all of them. “Thank you so much for coming. Jonathan expressed your concern and I thank you for that, but right now we’re trying to get through each moment. Lew was very clear with me about a lot of things last night. He had such tremendous clarity and some of it involves you, Kit. It involves you and your new career as an artist and your team.”
Kit frowned, noticing Jonathan had left the room.
