Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“I promised him.” I shout, slamming my hands against his chest, my chest heaving and my body sagging. “I promised him I’d stay away from you.”
This time he does let me go. He takes two staggering steps backwards. “What?”
“He made me swear.” I explain, my eyes burning as they look into Nathan’s. “And I swore that I wouldn’t.”
Nathan nods, his tongue and teeth worrying his lower lip. “He made you swear?”
“Yes.”
“And what did he say exactly?” His voice is a growl, one that tells me if Caleb were alive, he wouldn’t be for much longer.
Does he really need to know the specifics? “I don’t remember exactly what was said. Just that I made him a promise and I’m not going to break it.”
“Fine.” His voice is no longer a growl, but deceptively calm. “I should go.”
“Nathan.” I reach for him, his blank face hitting me deeper than it would if it weren’t blank. When it is blank, it tells me he’s hiding his feelings, and when he’s hiding them, he’s dealing with them alone. He’s done enough of that in his life. “We can be friends.”
He laughs coldly like he did earlier and moves away from my reaching hand. “Friends? Gwen, I have no interest in having friends. Nor did I ever have an interest in having a girlfriend until you came along.”
“Nathan…”
“Do you honestly wish to torment me in such a way? Knowing how I feel? Knowing that I know how you feel? Yet you’ll allow me, as your friend, to see you with another man. I never knew you to be so cruel.”
Great, the formal talk is back out. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He spits. “I lost you once already. I can deal with it again.”
“And what about Dillan?” I shouldn’t ask, but I need to know.
“I…” He closes his mouth and looks over at the cot where Dillan lies peacefully sleeping. “I don’t know. I’ll be in touch.”
He nods his head, telling me to move out of the way. I do so and watch as he pulls open the door. He stops in the frame, his shoulders tense. I wait for him to speak. “If only you knew what kind of man my brother was, you wouldn’t be so quick to turn me away.”
“What?” I charge after him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He continues forward, opening the front door without speaking a word before slamming it shut behind him. My hair whips across my face with the draft formed by the power of the slam. I stare at the door for a long while. What did he mean? Caleb was perfect. He never did anything wrong, not to me.
Did he?
CHAPTER NINE
“Hey, are you listening?” Eric throws a cheesy puff at me and it bounces off my forehead. “You’re proper spacing out on me this morning.”
I blink myself from my thoughts and give him a weak smile. “Sorry, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
He slides closer to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. “It’s cool. You space out; I’ll just stare at you.”
Giggle.
“So, what has you spacing out?”
Wince. “It’s a long story.”
“I have time.” He checks his watch. “So do you.”
This is true. “My mum will be back with Dillan soon.”
“Good, I want to meet him.” I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off. “I think it’s time.”
“What?” I laugh incredulously. “We’re not serious or anything. We haven’t even kissed yet.”
He grins wickedly. “I could change that, right now.”
Using my hand flat on his face, my palm over his comically puckered lips, I push him away. “You’ve been eating cheesy puffs for breakfast. I think I’ll pass.”
He throws his head back and laughs, then his eyes come to me. “Now I have to kiss you.”
“You really don’t.” I scoot away but he moves closer. “Stop.”
“You’re laughing, which means you’re not serious.”
My phone rings, effectively cutting off my laughter and his shoving. “Hello?”
“Did you pay off my credit card this morning? I forgot to ask and you were in a foul mood when I woke up.” My mum asks.
“Hello to you too.” I joke.
“Well, after the grunts I got from you when I woke at noon, I wasn’t sure whether or not I should get straight to the point or try for nice.”
“Yes Mum, I paid your card off for you. Are you bringing Dillan back soon?”
“Is Eric still there?”
I glance at him and respond. “Yes, he’s still here. He wants to meet him.”
“Okay, we’ll be home in about half an hour.” She pauses for a moment. “You made your decision then?”
“Mum…”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“I made it; it’s settled. I’m hanging up now.”
I hear her sigh before the line goes dead and turn to Eric, who immediately asks. “Settled?”
“It’s nothing.” I smile and stretch my arms above my head. “Do you need something to wash that crap down with?”