Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“Zoey!” Benjamin shouts, standing as I move toward the door. “Do not walk away from me! You’re my fiancée. You’re mine.”
“No…” I say comically, turning around and facing him. “I was never yours. Proposing to me in front of a room filled with family and knowing I’d have no choice but to agree makes you a coward. We went on a handful of dates, and you never once asked me any important questions. You don’t even know who I really am. What I like. What makes me happy. You don’t give a fuck about me.” Then I face my parents, who look as if they’ve seen a ghost. “And shame on you, Mom and Dad. You’d rather marry me off to some man you approve of than ask me what I want. I’ve only ever wanted to make you proud, but I’ve finally realized it’s not worth my own happiness to live the life you want for me. So I hope it was worth it…risking never seeing me again because you’ve pushed me too far this time.”
I slide off the engagement ring and slam it down on the table. “Wedding is off. Goodbye, Benjamin. Forever. Eat shit.”
With my head held high and my heart racing, I stomp up the stairs and don’t breathe until I’m locked inside my bedroom. I’ve never stood up to my parents like that before, but it’s been a long time coming.
No one bothers me the rest of the night, and I manage to sneak out the next day without anyone noticing. I take an Uber and meet Summer for lunch at a nearby cafe. I know she’s dying to know all the details.
As soon as we spot each other, I stand, and she pulls me into her arms. “Zoey! I missed you.” She squeezes harder, and I choke out for air.
“You act like I went to the moon or something,” I tease as we sit.
“Three weeks is a long time for us not to hang out or at least chat,” she says before the waitress arrives and takes our drink order.
“Have you talked to Mom or Dad today?” I ask.
“No, why? Everything okay?”
I look down at the table, feeling like everything’s about to change. “I don’t think so. Benjamin came over for dinner last night, and I told him I wasn’t marrying him. Told Mom and Dad I was already married, and he’s who I went to visit in Texas.”
Her eyebrows fly to her hairline. “Oh.” Summer blinks a few times and clears her throat. “I imagine that didn’t go over very well. What did they say?”
“That I was a child…Benjamin said he’d pay to get it taken care of…basically to sit down and shut up.”
“Zoey…”
“I didn’t file the annulment papers,” I blurt out. “That’s why I left. I needed to see if Riley and I had a true connection or not. I knew marrying Benjamin would be a mistake either way, but I needed confirmation.”
“Was Riley surprised to see you?” she asks as our drinks are delivered. The waitress takes our order and then leaves us to continue our conversation.
“Yeah, at first. Then once I explained why I was there—minus the Benjamin part—it was like we just continued right where we left off in Vegas. I don’t know…it felt so right. So natural. I didn’t have to pretend to be anyone. He likes me just the way I am,” I say with a sad smile.
Summer nods, but I know her mind is racing at my confession. “So everyone lost their shit at dinner, I suspect?” She takes a sip from her drink as if we’re discussing the weather. Summer’s proper most of the time, especially in public, but I know the real her. The one she let loose in Vegas. “How’d the night end?”
“With me telling them all off and leaving the room. Haven’t talked to any of them since,” I reply, shrugging.
“So where does this leave you? What are you gonna do?” she asks, narrowing her eyes as if she’s trying to figure me out.
“I’m not sure, honestly. Benjamin came to the ranch, Riley punched him, then Benjamin hauled my ass back home. I didn’t want to leave Texas, but I knew I had to make things right here first. I had just told him the night before that I loved him and wanted to stay there. He said he loved me too.” I choke back tears and sigh. “Then I broke his heart.”
I close my eyes, not wanting to get emotional, but it’s no use. I miss him so much already.
“Wow…” Summer inhales a deep breath. “Did you talk to Riley and explain your situation?”
“Yes, I told him everything. He basically told me the ball was in my court, and that I knew where he lived. I explained I had to go and straighten things out with my parents, but you should’ve seen his face. I hurt him. Betrayed his trust. His family was so wonderful to me, Summer. Showed me what it was like to have people in your life who support and love you unconditionally.”