Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
“Hey, eyes on me,” he commanded, waiting until she raised her gaze to his. “Never say sorry for your needs, Addie. Understand me? All I want to know is how to help you.”
Right, because he was a great guy.
“I can’t believe that no one helped you get away from that abusive woman,” he said angrily.
“She never hit me or anything. In fact, there were days she barely spoke to me at all or noticed I was alive. I guess it depended on how she was feeling that day.”
“She was neglectful and abusive, Addie.”
She nodded sadly. “What was your mom like?”
He’d mentioned a few things about his family but she wanted to know more.
Cash sat on the floor, resting his back against the end of the bed. “I think I told you that my mom worked a lot after our dad died in a car accident. She had to in order to pay the bills and keep food on the table. And my older brother, Aidan, he looked after Greer and me.”
Without thought, she reached over and placed her hand on his. If he’d moved away from her, she would have been so upset. But he simply turned his hand and took her hand with his. That felt amazing.
“I remember that my mom used to sing and dance a lot. That she’d twirl around the kitchen and laugh. Then after dad died, she lost that spark. That joy. I don’t think it was just having to work all the time. I think she died a little when he did. Sometimes, when she wasn’t too tired, she’d tell us stories about our dad. About what adventures he got up to before they got married and had us.” He shook his head. “I got into trouble with Ralen. I fucking hate that now. That I caused my mom, Aidan, and Greer so much grief. I don’t know what my problem was. I think I was just acting out, frustrated that Dad had died and Aidan was trying to boss me around. He was looking out for me, but in my mind, he was just being a bossy older brother, and I didn’t want to listen to him. I really should have. Soon after I disappeared, Mom died. She died thinking that I was dead.”
Oh God. That was terrible.
“I should’ve found a way to contact her. I was so dumb. I thought that if I did that my family would be harmed, because the Devil would figure out that we were alive somehow. Maybe he would have. Maybe I was right to keep quiet to keep Greer and Aidan safe. But I just wish that Mom could have known I was still alive.”
That must have been so hard for him. And she didn’t know what to say to make him feel better.
“You did what you thought was right,” she told him, typing it out. “And I’m sure that she knows that now. I’m sure she never stopped loving you either.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I also wish I’d been there for Greer. She was attacked by her boyfriend. Aidan beat him up and was charged with assault. When I found out, I sent a . . . a friend to watch over Greer. He took things a little seriously, let’s say, and helped her out in more ways than I thought he would, which I am grateful for. But poor Greer thought she had some sort of helpful stalker.”
Her eyes widened. Oh, no, poor Greer.
“I just feel guilty that I was never here for them when they’d always been there for me. That’s why I’m glad I’m back here, so I can help them as much as possible.”
“Does that help, including giving Hack a hard time for being Greer’s fiancé?”
He grinned. “Got to make up for lost time. I’m just worried that one day I’ll get moved on, and I’ll have to say goodbye to them again. I mean, at least this time, they’ll know I’m alive. They’ll know where I am. But it’s hard having someone else call those sorts of shots for you.”
“You think Bonnie would make you move?”
“Not Bonnie. But if her stepbrother wanted her back in Mexico, then we’d probably go too.”
Oh, well, that would really suck. It must feel like he wasn’t in control of his life at all. Was that part of the reason why he enjoyed being in control of her?
It made sense. It wasn’t really about her. She was a convenient outlet for his need to be in control.
Not that she thought he was being mean or anything. It just was what it was.
“What shall we do now? We could watch a movie and eat some lunch that I can reheat.”
She nodded. Zoning out and watching a movie actually sounded perfect.
“You need to eat some more, Little Stowaway,” Cash said to her as she set down her sandwich. She’d barely touched it or her soup.