Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97409 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Theo,” she says my name in sort of a warning, “I could have just left while you were in here and gone to my house.” I glare at her. “So if it’s not too much trouble, I would like to go get a change of clothes.”
“Will you pack more than one outfit?” I ask her as I slip my T-shirt on. “You should pack enough clothes for the week.”
“We’ll see,” she replies.
“That means no. My father would always say, ‘We’ll see,’ but it’s code for no.” She laughs, and I walk to her, wrapping my arm around her waist and kissing her.
“Let’s go, or we’ll be late,” I urge, but I don’t release her, staying in the same spot.
“You need to let me go,” she says softly. I feel a twinge in my chest with the words. I look into her eyes, seeing a lightness in them I didn’t see when we first got together. I don’t think I will ever let her go.
“Not a chance in hell.” I hope she gets the meaning. I don’t know when it happened, or how it happened, but there isn’t a day in my life that I remember or want to remember with her not in it.
“Theo . . .”
“Don’t say my name like that, or else I’m going to call my cousin and cancel the fucking thing and we’ll eat dinner in bed,” I warn her. She looks down, and I can see her blush. “Save that thought. I want to take you out.” I slide a hand in hers as we walk to my truck.
We make our way to her house. Caleb and I were here this morning to take a look at her box, and it is plain as day that the wires were cut. I pull into her driveway. “Why don’t you go ahead without me?” she suggests, putting her hand on the handle. “And I’ll meet you there.”
“No,” I reply, not willing to leave her here alone when I can’t see her. I get out of the truck and look around for Claire. Every single time I arrive somewhere or leave, the first thing I do is scan the area. “If anything, we can come and get your car tomorrow after work.”
“Am I going to get any say in this?”
“I’m compromising by coming back here tomorrow.”
She looks over her shoulder as she opens her door. “So kind of you,” she deadpans. “Stay out here, it’s too hot for you in my house. You might melt since you’re sugar and all that.”
“I’m all that with some spice thrown in there.” She snorts as she walks toward her bedroom.
I take a look around to see if maybe someone tried to break in while she was gone. When I walk into her room, she’s slipping on a sundress that hits her mid-thigh. It’s a light-yellow color and has thin straps that are taunting me. The bra area is tight with an elastic material that is under her breasts, and it flares off a bit, then it ruffles around her legs.
“You look beautiful.”
She looks over at me, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. “Thank you.” She avoids looking at me as she takes some clothes from the dresser. I don’t push her about taking more clothes, knowing we are coming back here tomorrow. I also don’t want her to just say no to staying at my place.
“Okay”—she picks up her bag—“I’m good to go.”
“Where are we going?” she asks from beside me as I drive down Main Street.
“Thatcher’s,” I tell her, and she looks out the window. “Is that okay?”
“Um,” she hesitates, “it’s fine. It’s just—”
“Hey, you want to leave, you tell me, and we leave.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about,” she mumbles as I pull into a parking space. “It’s people pointing at you and then feeling sorry for you.” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer before she gets out of the truck.
I walk around, joining her on the sidewalk and slipping my hand in hers, even though hers is stiff. I hate that she walks down the street with her head down.
When we enter Thatcher’s, she tries to let my hand go, but I won’t let her. My jaw clenches, and anger fills me as I look around. I spot Caleb and Sierra in the corner, sitting together side by side. Their heads are close to each other as he looks into her eyes. I make my way around the table toward them.
“Hey,” I say, as we stop in front of the table.
“Hey,” Caleb greets, getting up. “This must be Collins.” He smiles big and hugs her. I can see the surprise on her face, mixed with something else I don’t understand. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
“It’s nice to see you too,” she replies, and I can see she’s holding her breath.