Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Walking over, I took the spot in front of the second computer, seeing it had the spread already pulled up on it. Score updates were on the iPad screen between us for every basketball game currently happening. They had all just started, it seemed. He had told me to meet him in here at six, and I was a few minutes early. There must have been some games that started early.
“Oz is handling most of the ones right now over at Ransom and Noa’s outside setup,” he told me, pointing to the scores on the iPad. “They have their back patio finished, and the couples are all over there tonight.”
Winslet had mentioned today how excited Noa was that things were almost completed at their house. She had lived in Manhattan before moving in with Ransom. Living with all these other people must have been an adjustment for her. Although I didn’t hate it. Not the way I’d thought I would. I did miss getting to go and come as I wanted. Not having to stay inside the gates of this property, but I was alive.
“Are the Davidsons still here?” I asked.
He cut his eyes at me. “Just Lula Mae. Why?”
“Uh, because I was wondering if they’re going to be able to help me,” I replied.
His jaw ticced, and he nodded. “Yeah. They went back to see what they could do. We are waiting. Lula Mae is here while they deal with things. For her safety.” He paused. “But even if they get confirmation that you’ll be left alone, it won’t be okay for you to just go out into the world again. You’ll need protection for a while.”
My stomach knotted up. “Protection?”
“Yeah. And Calvin doesn’t count. You can’t be alone. You’ll need to stay here until we can be sure the son of a bitch wasn’t lying.”
“And I will be locked inside these gates for how long exactly?”
He shook his head. “Not locked inside. You’ll be able to leave. Just not alone. Like I said, protection.”
This was the first I’d heard of this plan. No one had said I would be followed around by someone. Did I have to hire a bodyguard? Because I wasn’t so sure what my parents’ life insurance left behind since I was unavailable for contact with the outside world. I had no idea what they had set in place for the event of both their deaths.
“Let’s not talk about this,” he said, his tone softening. “It’s upsetting you, and I don’t want you worrying.”
That was easy for him to say, but he didn’t have to face what I did. Once I was free to face it. Right now, I was living in this limbo. One where I woke up every day, focused on just getting through it. And, well … lately, focused on when I was going to get to be around Forge. He had distracted me from so much that was going to have to be dealt with when the time came.
“That’s a little easier said than done,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the screen.
He didn’t say anything for a moment, but I could feel his eyes on me. Then he reached over and closed the screen on my laptop before doing the same to the one in front of him.
“What—” I started to ask when he stood up and put his phone to his ear.
“Not gonna be able to work tonight. You got help there. Besides, the games aren’t that heavy. Yeah. Possibly. Yep. Right.”
Turning back to me, he stuck his phone in his back pocket, then held out a hand to me. “Come on.”
I looked at his hand, then back at his face. “What are we doing?” I asked hesitantly.
He gave me a crooked grin. “Going out. I mean, not out, out, but out. The best I can do for now.”
I put my hand in his, and he tugged me up very close to his body.
“A little chill in the air tonight. I’ve got a hoodie down here you can slip on,” he told me, then released my hand and ran it over my hip before walking toward the door that led to the game room.
Excitement bubbled inside me, replacing the fear and worry. Just that easily, he could fix things. I couldn’t even wish it away—this thing he did to me. I knew I’d leave, and it was going to be hard to let him go, but for now, I could just enjoy it.
He went into the room, then came walking out with a black hoodie that I’d seen him wear just yesterday. I hoped he hadn’t washed it. I wanted it to smell like him. He’d pulled on a navy sweatshirt, too, that had Carver’s Bootleg Whiskey on the front.
I held out my hand, thinking he was going to give it to me.