Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
I couldn’t agree more.
Reaching across the table, I start gathering the papers as Mom turns and starts walking out of the dining room with her glass in hand. I find myself calling to her, every last piece of me torn to shreds, though if this is how I’m feeling, I can’t even imagine what it’s like for her. “Mom,” I murmur, hoping to God she still loves me. She turns back and meets my eyes, the usual spark absent from her gaze. “Are we okay?”
She presses her lips into a hard line and truly considers her response. “I’m hurt, Tanner. Every step I take, my world crumbles just that little bit more. First your father, and now this. It’s a lot to process, but just know that I love you. You are my son, and I am so proud of the man you’ve grown into, but your actions and deceit have hurt my heart.” She pauses for just a moment, gathering herself. “I just need time to process, Tanner. I’m sure you can understand that.”
I nod and let her go, desperately wishing things could be different.
Chapter 30
BRIELLE
The thought of leaving Tanner to deal with his mother’s wrath kills me, but this is something he needed to face alone. They needed a private, deep, and personal conversation. I just hate how I left him there in the garage. I felt like I was betraying him in some way, like I was leaving him to face down the flames of hell by himself. I just hope to God he doesn’t get burned.
I skip over the small hedge between our properties and stare up at Orlando’s house. The last thing I want to do is stay the night here, but what choice do I have? I’m sure climbing the tree and scaling Tanner’s roof isn’t in my best interest tonight, not when his mom has so much going on that needs to be worked through.
Walking up to the door, I let out a heavy breath before reaching up and feeling the top of the doorframe for the spare key. It looks like all the lights are out inside, so maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get through the night undetected.
Turning the key, I unlock the door and slip inside, trying to be as quiet as humanly possible. It’s pitch-black inside, and I grope along the wall, searching for the railing for the stairs.
My foot hits the bottom step and just as I go to make my way upstairs, a voice cuts through the silence. “What do you think you’re doing sneaking in here in the middle of the night?” my mother questions.
I pause, whipping around and searching the darkness, and if I squint just enough, I can make out her silhouette in the living room, sitting in the dark with nothing but the glow of the streetlight through the window.
I cut across the foyer to the entrance of the sitting area, my brows furrowing as I take her in. “Why are you sitting here in the dark?” I question, hesitation thick in my tone. I creep a little closer, my gaze sweeping the rest of the room, making sure we’re alone.
Mom turns to face me and I gasp, falling back against the wall as I see the dark bruises and swelling around her eyes. “Oh, Brielle,” she cries. “My sweet, sweet angel. I am so sorry I got us involved in all of this, but you shouldn’t be here. You can’t be here, do you understand me? I can’t have you here.”
“I know,” I say, my heart breaking as I rush deeper into the sitting room, dropping to my knees before her. I take her hands and look up at her, my heart breaking seeing the state that asshole has left her in. Despite the bullshit that’s lingered between us over the past few months, I still love my mom, and I can’t bear to see her like this, nor will I sit back and do nothing about it. “You need to get out of here. You can’t stay. I won’t let you, not when he’s hurting you like this.”
She rests her hand against my face and gives me a tight smile, her eyes expressing every emotion passing through her. “It’s not that easy,” she tells me. “If there was a way, I would have packed us both up and taken you away a long time ago, but there’s no where I can go where he won’t find us.”
“Mom,” I say, using a firmer tone. “I don’t care what he wants or thinks, you are not staying here.”
“I’m sorry, my sweet girl, I know you don’t like seeing me like this. I know our relationship has been strained over the past few months, but just know there has been a reason for everything I have done. All I want is to protect you, even if it means hurting you. Just trust me when I tell you that you need to get out of this house. You need to get as far away from this place as you can. Go and be free, enjoy your life with Tanner and be happy.”