"What do you mean by that?" Shane Sterling's voice was grim.
"I got my bonus today, so I wanted to pay you back for part of my mom's hospital bills."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it. What else would there be?"
Shane Sterling went quiet on the other end. After a few seconds, he said, "I have to get to a meeting. We'll talk tonight."
The line went dead.
Staring at her dark screen, Isla Prescott found the whole exchange baffling.
Isla didn't have any classes that afternoon. Her whole body was sore, so she couldn't practice dancing anyway. After finishing up some odds and ends, she headed home.
She hadn't been home for long when she heard the sound of the keypad lock at the front door.
BEEP BEEP. The lock clicked open, and Shane Sterling pushed the door open and walked in.
He rarely came home this early.
Isla got up from the sofa and walked over to him. "What brings you home so early?"
Shane Sterling loosened his tie without a word and simply pulled her into a hug.
