Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He snatches my left wrist and I suck in a shocked breath. Janet gives a little yelp from where she’s sitting and watching with her hands up to her mouth. Finn gives her a dirty glare but she barely notices.
Kellen looks at the ring on my finger. He holds it up in front of his face and takes a long, slow breath, before focusing on my eyes again.
“You’re wearing it.”
“Yeah, I’m wearing it, so what?”
He holds up his hand. On his ring finger is the simple gold band he put on that night. “I’m wearing mine still. I haven’t taken it off.”
My stomach twists and my anger evaporates. “I haven’t taken mine off either.”
“Please, Tara. I need to talk to you. I didn’t come all this way to hurt you again. I came to say I’m sorry.”
I blink rapidly, tears filling my eyes, because I’ve been dreaming of this moment since the day I left and came to this hellhole. Now he’s standing in front of me in a frozen yogurt shop and I feel like such an idiot and my stupid dad’s awful girlfriend is watching like this is a live-action soap opera.
“What do you want to say?” I whisper.
“Alone.” He releases my wrist and looks back at Janet.
She jumps to her feet. “Oh, hey, my name’s Janet, I’m Tara’s father’s—Uh, I know Tara.” Janet sashays over, batting her eyes at Kellen. He frowns and squints at her. “You must be the most attractive man in all of Florida right now, did you know that? God, you’re incredible. Did you say you’re married to Tara? I think that’s got to be a mistake, right? A sort of weird joke?”
“Why the fuck would it be a mistake?” His tone is sharp and dangerous. I know what it means, but Janet’s oblivious.
She gestures at me, waving a hand. “I mean, look at her? All she does is dig in the dirt? So anyway, my name’s Janet, and—”
Kellen leans down and stares into her eyes. “Fuck off, you little corpse-licking maggot. Go suck on your old boyfriend’s balls and pray he keeps providing you with your pathetic little middle-class existence. You are a horrible speck between my teeth and I’ll rip you to shreds if you so much as waste another one of my moments on this planet. Go.”
Janet staggers backward as if struck. She’s trembling, her face pink, tears in her eyes. She turns and Finn opens the door for her as she flees, leaving her phone behind.
I sigh. “That was a bit much.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t love that. I bet she’s been terrible.”
“You’re right, but still.”
“Finn, you’re out too.”
Finn groans. “I wanted to hear you grovel.”
“Fuck off. Make sure nobody comes in.”
Finn sighs, but does as requested. He stands out in front of the door, back to the windows, arms crossed and looking mean as hell.
Kellen turns back to me, hesitates, then walks around the counter. He hops over the far end and comes behind. I back away from him until I bump up against the wall, breathing fast as he approaches like a demon from hell. He’s hotter than an incubus and more gorgeous than a model, and I’m afraid all he has to do is touch me the right way and I’ll accept any half-assed apology he might lob in my direction.
“I thought you poisoned my mother.”
I was not expecting that.
“You thought I did what?”
“It turns out, someone was giving my mother mercury in small amounts for years. That’s why she deteriorated. It’s not Alzheimer’s or dementia, but long-term mercury poisoning.”
My jaw drops open and so much clicks into place. “That’s why, when you heard I poisoned your father, you thought I did it to your mother too.”
“That’s right. I fucked up.”
“Where would I even get mercury? And why would I want to hurt your mother? She’s a victim of your father like I am, I never hated her.”
“I know that.”
“I can’t believe you thought I’d poison her with mercury. God, that’s so freaking horrible.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, his eyes blazing with passion as he stands inches in front of me. “I’m so fucking sorry I ever doubted you. Eunika confirmed the truth, even though I shouldn’t have needed her to. I know you didn’t hurt my mother. I forgive you for killing my father. Fuck him and I hope he rots. Please, Tara. I want you to forgive me for making the worst mistake of my life.”
I chew on my lip, watching his eyes, and wondering if I can really make myself forget the hell I’ve been in for the last three weeks and go back. I want to desperately, and I can even understand why he did what he did—in his position, I might’ve done it too—but something holds me back.
“I’m starting over here,” I say quietly. “How do I know you won’t do this again?”