Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Levi’s mouth curves into a heartbreakingly beautiful smile. “I like that maybe a lot.”
I climb to my feet, and when Levi straightens out, I take his hand and pull him toward my bedroom. When we step inside, I glance around at everything that’s so familiar yet so foreign after being away for a year and a half.
Levi pulls his hand free from mine and walks to the wall that’s decorated with floating shelves. My most prized and sentimental wooden pieces are on display, and he takes his time looking at every single one. “You made these?”
“Yes. I made half of them with my dad’s help.”
I move closer to the five oval-shaped pieces that have an intricate pattern carved into them. “These took me a year to make.” I twist off the top piece, and as I lift it, it reveals a miniature statue. “This is Sage.”
“Jesus, Kelcie.” Levi leans closer, admiring the detail. “Your work is amazing.”
I show him the statues of Dad, Mom, and Jordan, and I love how he inspects every inch of wood.
Levi locks eyes with me, then asks, “Will you ever whittle again?”
“I’m going to make our kitchen cupboards and take it from there.”
“Will you show me your workshop?”
Nodding, I walk out of the room. I glance at my parents’ bedroom, the door standing open. I pause for a moment before I go inside.
“It doesn’t smell like them anymore,” I whisper to myself.
I move closer to the dressing table, and picking up a half-full bottle of perfume, I squirt some into the air and inhale deeply.
Mom.
I keep the bottle and go look for Dad’s cologne in the bathroom. Again, I spray in the air and take a deep breath.
“That’s what home smelled like,” I tell Levi as I meet his eyes. “Now home smells like cedarwood and citrus.” Seeing he doesn’t understand, I add, “Your scent.”
His features soften, and he closes the distance between us, engulfing me in his arms. “You’re my home too. Flowers, bright light, and beautiful smiles.”
I shut the front door of the rental behind me and glance around the space where I licked my wounds.
Levi dropped me off, and he’s heading to the motel to pack his belongings, then he’ll come back to pick me up.
We’ve decided to temporarily move into my family home because I want to slowly work my way through every room and decide what I’m keeping and giving away.
I’ll tell Jordan when I see him and hear if he wants to come through to look at everything as well. I think he’ll be very happy to hear about the progress I’ve made.
Time to pack and say goodbye to this place.
Heading toward the stairs, I remember to lock the door and quickly turn around. I reach for the deadbolt, but the next instant, the front door opens.
For a second, I think it’s Levi, but when I see Colby, I’m instantly angry and scowl at him. “You can’t just barge into my house.”
He doesn’t listen and comes in before slamming the door shut behind him.
“Leave right now. I have nothing to say to you,” I snap, my body starting to tremble from all the anger I feel.
“I just want to talk to you, Kelcie,” he says, but when he engages the deadbolt, fear slithers through me.
“We can talk outside.” I take a step toward the door and reach for the lock, but Colby grabs hold of me.
God!
I let out a startled shriek when he lifts me off my feet, forcing me deeper into the living room, before he throws me down on the couch.
I hiccup from shock, and twisting, I scramble to get away from him as my mind struggles to catch up to what’s happening.
“Just fucking stop!” Colby shouts as he grabs hold of my hips, hauling me back onto the couch and beneath him.
I begin to hit every surface of his body I can reach while screaming bloody murder.
He manages to grab hold of my forearms and lock them to my chest. “Why, Kelcie?” he roars in my face. “What does he have that I don’t? I fucking did so much for you. Do you know what it took to find that bitch mother of his and convince her to come here? I showed you what kind of monster he is, and still you fucking picked him.”
When he stops yelling, our rushed breaths are all that can be heard for a few seconds before I buck my hips up in an attempt to get Colby off me. My heart thunders against my ribs, and it feels like I’m having an out-of-body experience.
I twist my arms, fighting to free them, and when I get my right hand loose, I don’t hesitate and punch Colby as hard as I can on the jaw.
His head whips to the side, and I fight like crazy to wiggle from beneath him. When I drop onto the floor, I dart to my feet and run for the back door, while I dig my phone out of my coat pocket. My attention is split between running and finding Levi’s number.