Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“I really don’t know why you’d want me to stay, Cammie,” she replied wearily. “All I seem to do is cause issues between the two of you.”
Faith realized now that she had to be careful about what she said to Cammie unless she wanted it to get back to Eric.
“Why did you tell him that I tried to convince you not to marry him?” Faith whispered. “I said that to you in confidence. I never expected you to relay it to him.”
“He’s my husband, Faith,” Cammie replied in a cool voice. “Listen, just stay, please. I’ll get Eric to apologize. You’ll stay if he does that, right?”
“I don’t know, Cammie. He really seems to hate me.”
Since she’d been here, Cammie hadn’t really acted like her friend. They’d obviously drifted apart, and while Faith was grateful to her for helping her . . . she felt like a burden and unwanted.
“He doesn’t. Come on, Faith. After everything I’ve done for you, you owe me this.”
Ouch. That hurt.
But she needed to keep the peace. “Fine.”
“Will you come upstairs?” Cammie asked. “Keep me company. I’ll make you one of those sweet jelly bean drinks that you like.”
Faith closed her eyes as she realized that was the first time Cammie had asked her to come upstairs and spend time with her.
Well, other than when she’d helped her get ready for the charity dinner.
And the sad fact was that Faith would rather stay in the basement than have a drink with her friend.
Opening her eyes, she stared up at Cammie. “I’ll come up soon.”
“Right. Sure. Okay.”
Cammie disappeared upstairs, and Faith lay back on the uncomfortable bed.
She should call Reuben. But he’d come storming in. And she didn’t want him to ruin Eric or Cammie. She just wanted to leave.
A tear dripped down her face. She wiped it away.
So she and Cammie had grown apart? It didn’t mean that they couldn’t still be friends. It was just that they had different priorities.
Faith was focused on paying back her debt.
And now . . . on her relationship.
And Cammie was focused on her relationship too. She couldn’t blame the other woman for that.
But it was definitely time to move on. Even if Eric apologized, and that was a big ‘if’, she still didn’t think she could stay.
And frankly, she couldn’t understand why Eric and Cammie would even want her to. It was a miracle that she hadn’t become seriously ill while living down here, and she really didn’t want to experience a winter in this basement. There wasn’t even a source of heat.
The sound of a door slamming again made her jolt. How long had Eric been gone? Where had he gone?
Almost immediately, there were raised voices. She winced at the sound. Standing, she grabbed her large bag and her handbag and headed up the stairs.
If Eric was going to apologize, and she highly doubted it would be sincere, then he could do it upstairs.
Because Faith was done with hanging out like a bad smell in the basement.
45
“Eric, you have to!” Cammie screamed as Faith got to the top of the stairs. “We need the money!”
“I don’t care about the fucking money, Cammie! I’m not saying shit to that slut.”
“Then maybe you’re the one who should leave, Eric! You fucking waste of space!”
There was silence, then a slap before someone cried out.
Her stomach dropped as she fumbled for the door handle.
Cammie!
Faith heard a thump and another pained cry.
“Cammie, Cammie, I didn’t mean to,” Eric cried as Faith ran through the door and came to a stop.
Cammie was on the floor, cradling her cheek while Eric stood above her, staring from his hand to Cammie.
He reached out to touch Cammie, who let out a pained whimper and scuttled back.
“Cammie, that wasn’t . . . I didn’t mean to hit you.” He took a step forward.
“Stay away from her!” Faith yelled.
Eric turned. It felt like everything was happening in slow motion, yet at the same time, so quickly that she couldn’t think.
Couldn’t figure out how to react.
His eyes narrowed. “You. This is all your fucking fault!”
“Faith, run!” Cammie screamed.
No, no! She couldn’t leave Cammie. But as Eric lumbered toward her, she could see his need to hurt her. Racing to the right, she picked up a vase and threw it at him. It made him pause long enough for her to reach into her handbag which she had strapped over her body.
Where was her mace? Oh God. Oh God.
He was moving toward Faith again, but Cammie got up and ran at him. “Stay away from her!”
“Cammie, no!” she cried.
Finally, there was her mace! Grabbing it out, she stumbled backward, falling on her ass before she could spray it.
No!
Eric had either shoved Cammie off or she’d dropped off his back. And now he was focused on Faith again. She attempted to back away, sliding along the floor.