Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I want him to find me.
There. I admit it.
Even though I know I’m making a huge mistake, I reach over and unblock his name in my phone, and before I can even set it back down again, it begins chiming with a non-stop string of alerts. They just keep coming, one after the other.
My heart jumps, and my lips twist up in the corners.
I look down and see an endless chain of texts from Parker, stretching all the way back to the night I left.
Where are you?
Ali, you’re scaring me.
Did you leave me? Please, tell me why.
I’m worried. Just let me know you’re safe.
I know it’s wrong, but a warm feeling soaks into my heart as I scroll through two weeks’ worth of texts. It’s clear he’s hurting, and I feel bad about that, but him expressing desire for me like this…
It makes me feel just like I did before when he would watch me from across the street. Or when he would sneak into my bedroom at night.
Even just through texts, Parker has the ability to make me feel like the only girl in the world.
Please text me.
I love you…
You’re scaring me.
Are you okay?
I’m nearing the end when the phone shakes in my hand.
Incoming Call: Parker.
I nearly drop it as I quickly ignore it. If he knows he’s been unblocked, he’ll never stop.
Please, just tell me if you’re alive.
I can feel his anguish through his texts. I feel suddenly awful. This is all my doing. I could have handled this like a mature adult and broken up with him, but I just ran off and left him wondering what happened. That’s no way to treat someone.
Janice was lying, baby…
His text causes my heart to leap.
I knew it!
The phone rings again, sending a jolt through my body like an electric shock. I stare at his contact name, fighting an internal war with myself over which course of action to take. I know the right one. I know the decision I need to make, but it’s just not that simple…
“Do it,” I mutter at myself. “You know you want to.”
One more ring and it’s going to go to voicemail.
But Parker knows now that I’m alive. My phone actually rang and didn’t go straight to voicemail. Not answering now would be even more cruel.
So with the deepest of breaths, I slide my thumb across the glass of my screen and take the call.
I lift my phone to my ear but can’t find the resolve to say anything.
We sit in the most terrifying silence before Parker finally speaks.
“Ali…?”
His voice is hollow and shaky, nothing like the Parker I’m used to. He almost sounds sick, or like he’s been taking shelter in the cold for days. His despair spears straight through my chest, and my eyes snap shut as I retreat back into myself.
“Parker.”
“You’re alive.” I can hear the immense relief in his voice as he takes a deep breath. “Thank God. Where are you?”
My rational mind knows I shouldn’t tell him. But I’m not being rational right now. I can’t be. Not with him. My instincts have taken over. My lust. My desire. Everything driving me now is innate. And the truth is, I am desperate to be back in Parker’s arms.
“Illinois,” I tell him. “Where are you?”
“In front of your apartment.” He coughs, and I hear the sound of boards moving as he shifts around. “Where I’ve been waiting for you…”
Tears well up in my eyes.
Look what I’ve done to him.
“Five hours,” I say as I grab my things and slip into my parka. “I can be there in five hours. Can you wait that long?”
“Don’t toy with me, Ali,” Parker replies as I step out into the rain. “We both know you’re not coming home.”
“I am, Parker. I am.”
He says something back, but his voice is too low to hear as the rain pours down on me and I slip into my car. “What?” I shout. “What did you say?!”
Click.
The call goes dead.
“Shit,” I curse as I peel out of the motel parking lot. I dial his number again, but this time, it’s me that gets sent straight to voicemail.
“Parker, don’t shut me out,” I cry into the phone. “I’m coming back. Stay where you are. I promise I will see you soon!”
The door to the vacant house across from my apartment is hanging open, ready to fall off its hinges. I pull up out front and double-park as the rain crashes down like it’s the End of Days.
The water doesn’t bother me as I step out and race into the building.
In a moment, I’ll be seeing Parker again. That’s all that matters.
The stack of boards where I hid the sensor is gone, and it’s nearly pitch-black inside. The only light I see is a shaft of glowing blue spilling out of a doorway leading right off the hall. My heart is absolutely quivering in my chest as I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what I might find when I step through that door.