Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Mom has tears shining in her eyes, but I can tell she understands. She nods and I feel like I can finally breathe again. “I’ll talk to your father,” she finally answers.
“Thank you, Mom! Thank you so much,” I gasp, holding her tight.
“You will have to check in every day, and I want to know everything. You hide nothing from us and if this doesn’t work out—”
“Then, I’ll come back home,” I agree, before she can even say it.
“You also have to promise to come home for holidays and every break.”
“It’s a deal!” I agree, my heart feeling lighter than it has in years. Ignoring the pain of Dom’s rejection, I bury it deep inside of me.
No one will know but me and I won’t acknowledge it except when I’m alone at night and the tears refuse to stop falling…
Chapter 1
Thea
I can feel him walking up beside me. How can a grown woman be so stupid over a man? Despite the time passed, something still attracts me to Dom. I don’t love him any longer. I’ve moved on. I haven’t even seen him but twice in six years. You would think that’d be enough to get him out of my system. Apparently, I’m wrong because I’m as attuned to him as I was before. I just exited Kayden’s room after seeing her and her new baby. Dom holding a baby in his arms was not something I was prepared for. It shouldn’t hurt me—shouldn’t make me ache—and yet, it does.
I shrug away the thought and sigh as Dom’s voice rings out just before I make it to the elevator to leave. If he had just been a couple of more minutes, I would have had the button pushed and could have made my escape. Instead, I turn around to face him.
“Why come back to Kentucky? Thought you said unless it was a holiday and your mother made you, then you’d never step foot back in this state again,” Dom asks, looking at me, his face full of anger.
I don’t know why he’s mad at me. I also don’t care. I just need to face him, and then get out of here. It has been six years since I made a fool of myself with him. Dom is not part of my life any longer.
“I heard you and that she-bitch from hell hurt Thomas. I wanted to see him.”
“Always running to my little brother’s side. Why didn’t you just tell Thomas how much you loved him? If you had, maybe he would have stopped trying to be with Gabby.”
“God, you’re not just dumb, you’re blind,” I snap.
“And you’re just as sweet as ever,” Dom laughs, although there’s no joy detectable in the sound.
“Thomas is like my brother, my best friend. It was never anything else. I just didn’t want Satan and his whore hurting him.”
“I guess you’re calling me Satan.”
“If the horns fit, although from what I’m hearing, whore fits these days, too. Word is you’ve plowed your way through so many twinkies that you have cream coming out of your ears.”
“That’s not where the cream is, Thea, but I could show you if you wanted,” the fucker literally purrs.
I should feel disgusted. I shouldn’t look at him and want to take him up on his offer. For a minute, I just want to kiss him. Maybe if I did, I could finally convince myself the kiss we shared in the past wasn’t as good as I remember. There’s a loud noise down in the waiting room behind us. It sounds like someone dropping something or something crashing onto the floor. I’m thankful because it helps my brain to start functioning again.
“Sorry. You’re no longer my type,” I mutter, turning around to push the button for the elevator.
I really need to get out of here.
“Oh, yeah? You into men in suits now? Fancy assholes from New York?”
I stare at the door, doing my best not to rise to his baiting. Instead, I let out a sigh because the elevator still hasn’t made it to me.
“Well?” he prompts, and I turn to look at him.
“Why do you care?”
“We both know I used to be your type. So, I’m curious how your tastes changed so drastically.”
“I grew up, Dom. My time is reserved for men who prioritize me. In men that see my value. I also want to know they want me and not just any fucking woman who spreads her legs for them.”
“Breaker said you were dating some dude that was in medical school. Got your eye on money now, Thea?”
“Are you trying to be an even bigger asshole than the one I remember? What does it matter to you who I’m dating? It doesn’t concern you.”
“Breaker says you’ve been dating this dude for a year, yet you haven’t brought him around. Are you ashamed of him? Or are you embarrassed to introduce him to your club family?”