Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
It angers me that Paul is dead. Heather Mills’ family should have justice after holding out hope for the past six years. He got off lucky, not having to face the music for his crimes. All I can do is hope he’ll get what’s coming to him when he meets his maker on the doorsteps of hell.
I haven’t seen or heard from Tate, and I’m fine with that. I know it’s selfish to put all the blame on him. He didn’t make Paul do the things he did, and I do carry the guilt of my actions. He was upfront with me right from the start. He couldn’t do his job and be what I wanted him to be. And he was right. There was no denying the fire between us, but somewhere along the way, the blurred lines became very clear to me. My heart knew what it wanted.
Maybe I didn’t factor in all his baggage. I knew he carried a darkness inside him. But none of it mattered to me. What mattered was how he made me feel. The way he looked at me. Unlike him, I did see a forever and foolishly thought he felt the same.
So many times over the past two weeks, I wanted to break down and demand Fay tell me what she meant about him being a wreck. Decipher every little detail she was willing to give. Does Theo still talk to him? Has she seen him? Does he miss me? Is he wracked with guilt?
Too many what-ifs fight for dominance inside my head, but the facts all lead me down the same sad path. I was a fool. He always planned to walk away in the end.
I sigh into my cup of coffee, not realizing Theo is in the kitchen. He leans against the counter, his arms crossed, and stares at me.
“Penny for your thoughts? Or possibly coffee? I’m not a great cook, but I can make you coffee.”
“No, thanks.” He doesn’t move.
“I swear, I didn’t give her anything last night. She’s just a late sleeper if you haven’t figured it out yet. That girl is ratchet in the morning.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“About how about ratchet she is? Hell no.”
“You know what I’m talking about, Mindy. As much as you think you’re doing a stellar job of hiding your emotions, we see you struggling. Maybe it’s time you give up the too-cool-for-school act and let us help you.”
My brows go up. “Did you just use ‘too cool for school’ on me?”
He rolls his eyes. “Your best friend has rubbed off on me.”
Go, Fay!
“Mindy, I’m serious. This isn’t healthy for you. It’s okay to be fucked up about everything that happened. But it’d probably help to talk to somebody.”
“Honestly, all I need is to get out of your personal space. I’m going to tell Fay when she gets up that I’m going home today. It’s time.”
He gazes at me briefly, then asks, “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“I do.” He doesn’t call me out on whether he can hear the lie in my words.
“And Tate?”
“Feel free to feed him after midnight for all I care.”
His eyes narrow, and I’m shocked he cares. It’s not like I didn’t overhear the conversation between them the other day.
“I told you to stay the hell away. And I don’t give a fuck. You think that’s going to fix what you broke? Yeah, she’s fucking broken. No. I said no. She clearly doesn’t want to see you. If it were up to me, I’d make sure you never get near her again—I don’t care. You had a job to do! I’m going to smear your name so far—is that a threat? Give me a break. Next, you’re going to tell me you have the money to do all this. You think I’m going to help you after everything? Don’t you fucking dare question my loyalty to her. Fine. I’ll do this. In return, you stay the hell away from her. She’s been through enough. Send over the contract. I’ll look into it. I’m not doing this for you, though. I’m doing it for her.”
I practically fell off the couch trying to hear all the bits and pieces of their convo. What was he going to do? What was Theo willing to help him with? Probably finding a job in Egypt. Theo is kind like that. Really goes the extra mile for my well-being.
Whatever it was, Tate’s stayed gone. I’ve felt him at times. His lingering presence in the back of my mind. No matter how hard I tried to push him out. But he was gone. Just like I requested and Theo demanded. Sometimes, I hate when people listen. Even if, this time, it’s for the best.
I need to move on and pretend he never existed. A figment of my imagination. Tate who?