Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“Yeah. I’d like a mini-me or two.”
“What if you have girls?”
“I’ll still teach them how to kick ass and shoot a gun.” She makes a face and I shrug. “I have nieces, you know.”
“I do,” she quips. “I saw them on Instagram. You’re the only one of your siblings that didn’t go into medicine.”
“Thanks for reminding me, Mom.”
“Ohhh!” She puts the phone down. “Did I hit a nerve?”
“It’s been brought up at family gatherings more than once.”
“But you’re a special agent. That’s cool!”
“Right?” I playfully nudge her and grab an apple slice, dipping it in the peanut butter and honey mixture. “This is actually pretty good.”
“It is.” She eats a few apple slices and gets back to work. Violet goes to the door and bumps a string of bells with her nose. “She needs out.”
“I’ll take her,” I offer, not wanting Mira to go outside just in case someone is out there.
“I can come with you.”
“Finish your work.” I grab a leash that’s hanging next to the door and Mira gives me her key fob to get back into the building. Violet leads me to the courtyard and we go right to the back. There’s nobody there, but the underbrush is pushed down. I shine the flashlight on my phone on the ground and see a little worn path.
Mira did see someone, and whoever was standing here has been here before.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
MIRA
“Did she go potty?”
Mason unclips Violet’s leash and she comes over, wagging her tail and jumping up at me with excitement like she hadn’t just seen me less than ten minutes ago.
“She did. Good thing too, because that storm is rolling in.”
“Guess I’ll be riding inside tomorrow.” I close my laptop and stretch my arms up, yawning. It’s crazy how fast I switch back into survival mode when I get triggered like that. But enduring years and years of abuse will do that to a person. Sometimes it’s frustrating to think that it’s been two years since I left and I’m still dealing with the fallout. But then I have to remember just how far I’ve come.
Needing the police to come and escort my violent husband out of the house in the middle of the night so I could safely pack a bag and leave was the single most terrifying experience of my life. And not just because I truly thought I was going to die, but because it was the moment where I could no longer deny the fact that the man I married—the man who was supposed to love me and provide for me and keep me safe—was just an illusion. The person I thought I married isn’t and wasn’t real. I fell for a fake version of him that he made up, and it’s terrifying how well he sold those lies.
No wonder Noel is wrapped in his iron grip. I feel so incredibly sad for her, but what can I do? She’s already decided that I’m an evil witch, which is actually hilarious because Cory tried to accuse me of witchcraft in court because I’m kinda into new age stuff and paranormal romance is my favorite genre.
“Does it gross you out to know I consider this the prewash cycle?” I ask Mason with a smile as I set the plate on the ground so Violet can lick the remaining peanut butter off.
“Maybe a little, but as long as you wash it after, I suppose it’s fine.” He takes his shoes off and comes back to the couch, sitting in the middle. Violet jumps up on his side , worming her way into his lap. He chuckles as he pets her and scoots closer to me so she has room.
“Want to watch a movie?” I ask.
“I do, mostly so I can judge you based on your Netflix suggestions and what you’ve previously watched.”
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaim, getting excited. “I totally have this theory about how you can find out so much about a person based on their Netflix preferences! I’m trying to figure out a way to work it into my dating advice, but the whole Netflix and chill thing is more hookup culture. It still would make a great podcast episode.”
“I’m going to have to listen to a few of those.”
“Skip the ones where I give out sex advice.”
His brows go up. “You have episodes about sex advice? I’m listening to those first. You’re speaking from experience, right?”
“I am but I also have guest hosts and we answer questions.”
He looks at me curiously. “You’re not afraid to be yourself. I like that.”
“Thanks. And no, I’m not. This is me and I don’t see the point in sugar coating anything. Not everyone would go on a podcast and talk about sex, but we’re all adults and for the life of me I don’t understand why it’s taboo. The majority of people like it, and we like good sex.” As soon as I say it, I get a mental image of Mason in bed with me.