Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
I try not to let her words affect me, but they do all the same. I have been wondering if he lied about that to me. I keep thinking back to when he told me he was a foster child. It was that story that made me want to hold his hand. Since I’ve found out who he really is, I’ve wondered if he told me that sob story because he knew it would break me.
“And…” she starts and then stops.
“And?” I ask her.
“And, well, he obviously regrets what he did.”
My mouth falls open. “Cassie, he lied to me.”
“I know it doesn’t make it right, but why did he lie to you… did you ask him?”
I shrug. Maybe I did ask him, but that whole meeting on the porch is a blur. I barely paid attention to anything after he dropped the little bombshell where he said we wouldn’t be fucking, we would be making love.
She leans forward. “Look, I know he did you wrong, but it’s been a week. He’s called you a hundred times, texted you, sent flowers to you, and all I’m saying is that maybe you should hear him out… that’s all.”
I set my sandwich down and take a drink of my water. The truth is, he is wearing me down. I have missed talking to him, and I’ve spent so much time replaying his messages and rereading his texts. I shouldn’t forgive him… but maybe I should hear him out.
“Okay,” I say.
Cassie’s mouth drops open, and she shakes her head. “Okay? Really? There’s no way it was that easy… I even left the best for last.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember a few months ago I told you that someone bought that huge empty building across from the elementary and junior high schools?”
I think back, and I do remember that. “Yeah, but no one had any idea who it was or what the building was going to be turned into. Even the planning commission was keeping it hush-hush, and it’s crazy that it hasn’t hit the Whiskey Run grape vine yet.”
She claps her hands excitedly. “Right, well I know.” She rolls her eyes. “Well, actually Baker figured it out.”
I can already guess, but I ask anyway. “Who is it?”
“Ridge Beckett. The word is he bought it, and he plans to put in a community center for kids.”
I sit back in my chair with a thump. This makes it all even more confusing. He can’t be that bad of a guy if he’s planning something like that. “Well, hell….”
Cassie laughs because she knows exactly what I’m thinking. “See, I told you. Hear him out, Haven. See what he has to say.”
I press my lips together and finally give in. “All right. I’ll listen to what he has to say.”
12
KING
I’m sitting on Haven’s porch waiting for her when I get the text.
“I think we need to talk.”
I text her back immediately. “I’m at your apartment. Tell me where you’re at and I’ll come to you.”
Her response is slow, and I’m staring at my phone waiting for her to text back. “I’ll be there in ten.”
I put the phone in my pocket and then rest my elbows on my knees. I can’t see Callan through the tinted windows of my car, but I can imagine the look he’s giving me. He’s had pity on his face since I fucked everything up last week.
I reread the first text from Haven, and I can’t tell if it’s a good text or not. Of course, her finally wanting to talk to me is a good thing, but I’m hoping it’s not to tell me to fuck off.
I pat the papers in my pocket, and I hope I’m not about to fuck this up even more. An idea came to me last night. It’s crazy, hell, I know it is, but there’s no talking me out of it. When I had my attorney draw up the papers, he tried to tell me how crazy it was, but I ignored him and told him to do it.
Ever since then, the more I think about it, the more I want to do it. I’m going to try and not blurt it out to her until I plead my case.
I see her pulling into the parking lot, and I’m on my feet, striding to the driver’s side of her car before she’s even fully parked. I open her door and then stand back so she can get out.
“Hey, peaches.”
She shakes her head, but at least it looks as if she has a little bit of a smile on her face. “Hey.”
She walks past me and up the steps of her apartment. I follow behind her and can’t help but watch the sway of her hips. As soon as she gets to the door, she unlocks it and walks in. Since she left the door open, I follow her in and stop in the center of the room. She is putting down her purse and bag and then takes a deep breath as she looks at me.