Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
A massive TV is mounted on one wall, with an array of neatly assorted gaming systems. Several pieces of black leather furniture decorate the living space.
The kitchen is a gourmet kitchen. I don’t picture Drex as the cooking type, but he’s in there right now, cooking something for my growling guts. And it smells so damn good.
He’s also distracted. He’s spent most of the time we’ve been here on his phone after the brief tour. There are two bedrooms, but he said I’d be in his. Which means I’ll be able to sleep. Sadly, I don’t feel safe without him. Yet he seems to think I’m a tough girl.
His presence gives me false bravado, because somehow, I know he’s got my back.
He did something weird with some machine the second we got here. He flicked it on, but it never made a noise or did anything. But he said he didn’t want to take chances of bugs in the house. Apparently it has something that jams those sorts of devices.
I feel like I’m living in an entirely different world.
Drex walks into the living room with a frown on his face.
“You need to call your mom and let her know you’re good. She’s been at the police station looking for you.”
My stomach sinks and my heart plummets. Shit.
“Okay,” I say hoarsely, pulling out the phone he gave me a while back. I’ve never even used it before.
I chance a glance at him to see he’s studying me.
“Why don’t you want to talk to her? You know by now I don’t want to hurt her? Why would I?”
There’s a hint of an accusatory tone in there, as to say, “What are you hiding?” He doesn’t understand.
Instead of answering the unspoken question, I take a deep breath and steel myself for the call.
She answers on the second ring with a confused, “Hello?”
“Hey, Mom. It’s me. Sorry, I had to get a new number because—”
“Damn it! I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Eve!” she shrieks, emotion choking her words. “Do you have any idea how terrified I’ve been? Where the hell are you?”
I have to pull the phone back because of her volume, and I wince as Drex arches an eyebrow. I don’t know if he’s amused, confused, or just intrigued.
Mom is so loud, that I decide to go ahead and put it on speaker. Drex is going to ask what all she said as soon as I’m done anyway. Or one of his guys is listening to the call as I speak. It’s not like I have privacy.
“I’m with a friend. I told you I was leaving town for a while. I’ve been—”
“Get home. Now! You have a family. Your two brothers are worried to death about you. Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through? How selfish can you possibly be, Eve?”
Drex’s jaw tenses, and my lip trembles. Somehow, I manage to keep the sting of her words from affecting my voice.
“I can’t come home right now. I love you, and tell the twins I love them. But I got a job. I can’t just come back. I’m trying to make some money.”
She curses, which is highly unusual for her. “Eve, I have plenty of money. Apparently your father had a friend hold back money for him. He found me the day you took off, and I paid the bills. I guess your father wasn’t the asshole I thought he was after all. There was enough left over that I was able to quit one of my jobs. But I still need you to help with the twins.”
My father becomes the hero and I become the villain in this moment. I feel it. Benny told her dad had left her money. While I’m really the one paying the debt.
“I can’t come home, Mom. I told you. I have a job—”
“I can’t believe you’re being this way. I have a job, too, Eve. The twins need both of us. I can’t do this on my own. Find a place to work around here. Stop thinking about yourself and remember we’re a team.”
A tear creeps out, and Drex comes over. He stops short, running a hand through the longer strands of hair on top of his head. Then he turns around and stalks back to the kitchen.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
I sound like a broken record.
“Unbelievable. Fine. Do whatever. I never thought I’d see the day where you stopped caring about your family and only worried about yourself. Here I was thinking your father was the selfish one.”
I saw that coming, yet even knowing she was going to go there doesn’t stop the punch to the gut I feel. She has no idea what I’ve done for my family.
I just hang up. There’s nothing left to say. And she doesn’t call back to try and talk me into coming home or apologize for assuming the worst in me.