Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
I didn't lose my job, either. But I did resign from Grover Johnson after the fall term. Seeing Bryan every day was too awkward after everything that happened. He says he didn't have a clue about Erin and assures me that he doesn't have feelings for me either. I believe him. We're still friends, but I needed a fresh start, and I couldn't find that there. There were just too many memories.
In that way, my life is a lot harder now. Everywhere I look, there are reminders of Erin and our friendship. She was a part of every important moment in my life for so many years. When something exciting happens, I still find myself reaching for the phone to call her to share the news, and then I remember what she did to me. It feels like losing my sister all over again. I break down and cry every single time, both because I'm still devastated that she did it, and because I managed to forget, for even a moment, that my best friend is in prison.
"I need closure," I whisper to Cam. I still don't understand why Erin did what she did. I don't think I ever will. There's nothing she can say to me that will make it hurt any less, but I'm ready to forgive her. Cam and I deserve to be able to move on, but I can't do that until I see her.
He sighs and then kisses me again.
"You'll come in with me, right?" I ask, turning around in his arms as anxiety churns through me. He has no interest in ever speaking to her again, but I don't want to go alone. He's my strength. He has been since day one.
"I'll be right beside you for as long as you need," he promises, kissing me on the forehead.
I burrow into his arms for a moment, relieved. "Thank you."
He holds me close, his chin resting atop my head. And then he pulls back, tilting my face up to his. "I want to take you somewhere when this is over," he says, running his fingertip across my bottom lip like he always does.
"Where?"
"Away," he says, smiling at me.
I narrow my eyes at him, but his smile grows.
"Fine," I grumble, hiding a smile. "Don't tell me then. I don't care."
When I start to slip away, he jerks me toward his body, putting his lips right up against my ear. "Told you a million times about that smart mouth," he growls, nipping my lobe. "Don't fuck with me or you won't be leaving this room today."
"Promises, promises," I say, burying my face in his shirt to hide a smile.
He growls at me again and then smacks my ass. "Stop fucking with me and get ready to go. I've got plans for you later."
"Mrs. Lewis?" a middle-aged female guard calls, stepping through the sally port door into the visitation area where Cam and I are seated. She glances around at the visitors scattered around the room before her gaze falls on us. "We’re ready for you, hon."
My gaze flits between her and Cam, my stomach churning.
"You can do this," he whispers, squeezing my hand. He lifts me to my feet and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll be right here."
I lick my lips and glance over my shoulder at the guard and then back at Cam. "I love you."
He smiles, leaning forward to brush his lips against mine. "Love you too, kitten."
I glance at him one final time, letting the confidence in his gray eyes steady me, and then I turn and make my way to the guard, wringing my hands together. I'm still so nervous I feel like I'm going to throw up.
"This way," the guard says politely, pushing the buzzer for the door. Once the control room buzzes the steel door open, we step inside a small empty room about the size of a closet and wait for the door to close behind us before they buzz us through the next door. My heels click against the floor as we make our way down the empty hallway before being buzzed through another set of sally port doors.
"She'll be on the opposite side of an inch of wire-reinforced, bulletproof glass," the guard murmurs to me as if sensing my nervousness. "There will be someone stationed right behind her the entire time, and I'll be with you. You can leave at any time; all you have to do is say the word and I'll get you out of there."
"Okay," I whisper, not sure if this is what visiting someone in prison is always like, or if Cam set up my visit this way. After having spent a week in jail without guards listening in, I have a feeling Cam demanded their presence here today. He wouldn't have let me come back here alone otherwise. Even though Erin is in prison for the next twenty-five years, he still doesn't trust her. I can't say I blame him for that.