The Boxing Champion Called Me His Caregiver Chapter 02

The Boxing Champion Called Me His Caregiver Chapter 02

Alyssa Vaughn stood in the doorway in silk pajamas and slippers.

She didn’t look the least bit surprised to see me. Instead, her lips curved into a perfectly composed smile.

“Oh my God, Tess. You made it.”

She waved the renovation sample book in her hand.

“Help me choose, would you? Champagne or dusty blue for the living room tile?”

I went still.

My gaze dropped to her silk pajamas.

She looked completely at home in them.

I turned to Logan.

He avoided my gaze.

“Champagne. It looks better.”

Faded height marks still ran up one corner of the backyard wall.

Grandpa had carved each one himself.

Alyssa wrinkled her nose.

“This old wall’s disgusting. It smells like mildew.”

“I’ve already hired a renovation crew. They’re repainting the entire wall tomorrow.”

Then she pointed at Grandpa’s old wicker chair tucked beneath the porch.

“And that broken chair can go out with the trash tomorrow.”

My eyes locked on it.

My nails dug painfully into my palms.

When Logan was first paralyzed, he’d smashed nearly everything in the house during one of his rages.

I had held him down in that wicker chair.

Again.

And again.

I’d told him he would walk again.

Now he could stand again.

Now that chair was nothing but trash to him.

“Logan.”

My voice came out raw.

“Why is she here?”

He stepped toward me and reached for my hand.

I sidestepped him.

He let out a quiet sigh and lowered his voice.

“Tess, I did buy your childhood home back.”

“But…the title is temporarily in Allie’s name.”

My head snapped up.

“What?”

“We’re legally married.”

His tone stayed maddeningly calm.

“Since it’s marital property, putting it in her name saves us a lot of unnecessary tax complications.”

“Once I’m back from the exhibition bout overseas, I’ll have Allie transfer the title to you.”

My voice shook.

“That’s the only thing I ever wanted back.”

“You’re worth millions now.”

“And you’re worried about a little extra tax?”

His brows knit together.

He reached over to wipe away my tears.

“Tess, I’m under a lot of pressure too.”

“Besides, the name on the deed doesn’t change anything.”

“You can move in whenever you want.”

“Allie lives downtown most of the time. She won’t be here enough to bother you.”

Alyssa leaned against the doorframe and gave a soft laugh.

“Exactly.”

“I’m turning the south-facing bedroom upstairs into Logan’s trophy room.”

“We’re installing a floor-to-ceiling display case.”

“It’ll be perfect for his world championship belt and glove collection.”

I stood in what had once been my backyard.

They planned their future.

Right in front of me.

I was nothing more than a stranger they had graciously allowed through the door.

How thoughtful.

On the drive home, Logan reached over and fastened my seat belt for me.

He even took a detour to buy my favorite roasted chestnuts.

He peeled one and held it to my lips.

“Come on. Don’t be mad.”

“Once I’m back from the exhibition, everything will go back to normal.”

“I’ll cook tonight.”

“Cajun fish stew. Your favorite.”

My favorite?

Right.

Logan cooked in the kitchen while his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

A message from the title company.

[Mr. Barrett, your wife’s closing and title transfer are complete.]

Almost without thinking, I reached for his phone.

The passcode was still my birthday.

I opened the closing documents.

The closing date stared back at me.

Three months earlier.

September 16.

Alyssa’s birthday.

He carried the dishes to the table just as his phone rang again.

Alyssa.

He listened for a moment, then looked at me with carefully rehearsed reluctance.

He grabbed his jacket.

“Allie sprained her wrist.”

“I need to go check on her. She can’t miss tonight’s rehabilitation demonstration or the interview.”

“Tess, eat first.”

“Later, bring my custom-made gloves, mouthguard, and the rest of my gear backstage at the sports network studio.”

I sat alone at the table.

I had never liked fish.

Alyssa did.

The fishy smell filled my nose.

I bolted for the bathroom.

I couldn’t stop throwing up.

My knees buckled beneath me.

The room spun.

Then everything went black.