Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Last night, I drove home, trying to ignore the sick feeling in my stomach, the cold circling through my veins. I picked up the phone a dozen times to call Lexi then hit “end” before it rang. What would I say that I hadn’t already said? I don’t know how to change her perception of what had happened.
When I wake in the morning, I check my phone to see if she’s called. She hasn’t, but of course, I have three messages from the fucking mayor about the investigation on his phone. I cannot even begin to deal with his petulance at this moment.
I skip calling her, opting to drive over as soon as I shower, a pressing sense of urgency moving me forward.
As soon as I get there, I know: she’s gone.
Fuck.
I should never have walked out. I should have stayed and figured out the right thing to say to make her stay.
The phone I gave her lays on the table, along with the keys to the apartment. I jog into the bedroom. Everything’s gone. No clothes, no boxes. Nothing in the bathroom.
Fanculo.
I punch the wall, the plaster caving under my knuckles.
I try her number on my phone, but, of course, she doesn’t answer.
I take the elevator to the basement to check the storage area. Her furniture’s still packed in the storage area where my guys moved it. At least I have this small connection to her. She’ll have to contact me to get her things. The glimmer of satisfaction doesn’t even come close to burning away the ice cold that’s filtered through my body. I need to track her down long before she comes for her furniture. I need to find her and fix this.
The trouble is, I have a terrible feeling it’s already too late.
Lexi
I wake with a crick in my neck from sleeping on Gina’s couch and an ache in my chest that won’t go away.
I try to tell myself I made the right choice.
I couldn’t stay with Bobby. If I saw him again, I’d fall for his charisma and that powerful personality. Even when I asked him to leave, I half hoped he’d refuse—maybe chain me to the bed. Give me orgasms until I lose my mind and agree to stay.
I get up and wash my face, being quiet so I won’t wake Gina and Leo, who returned home from work at three a.m.
I skip breakfast, too tied up in knots to get anything down. I search for apartment listings with my phone.
Around noon, Gina wanders out of the bedroom wrapped in a fluffy pink robe. “Good morning.” She sounds groggy.
“Hey,” I say softly, in case Leo’s still asleep. “Thanks for letting me stay here. I promise it won’t be long.”
Gina waves a hand. “Stay as long as you need to. We’re happy to have you here.”
“I know that’s a lie, but thank you for saying it. I’m looking for my own place right now. I have money for a deposit, and with the new job, I should be able to rent a place right away. I’ve already been making appointments.”
“No worries. You can stay as long as you need. Honestly.” Gina gives a careless wave.
“Thanks. Listen…” I draw a breath. “I’m sure Bobby will be looking for me…”
Gina nods, studying me with sympathetic eyes.
“He might ask about me. And he’ll probably be persistent. You know—he doesn’t usually take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“You don’t want him to know where you’re staying?”
My stomach twists at the thought of seeing him again. I couldn’t. I’m not strong enough. “No.”
“Are you afraid of him? I mean–”
“No, no. Nothing like that. I’ve just made up my mind, and I don’t want him trying to change it.”
“Okay. I won’t say a word. Won’t he just go to the salon, though?”
“Probably. So I’m not going back.”
“What? That’s crazy!”
“Well, I got the new job. I’m going to see if I can start right away. I have enough money saved since Bobby paid for everything and gave me a lot of cash on top of it all.”
“What about your medical bills? Did he pay those off, too?”
“No. I didn’t tell him about those. But I can keep chipping away at them. The new job will help a lot.”
Gina sits gazing at me, saying nothing.
“What?”
She shrugs. “I just don’t quite understand why you can’t work it out with him. But that’s okay. I don’t have to. You’re my friend, and I support you one hundred percent.”
I try but can’t manage a smile. The tears that somehow stayed at bay last night spring to my eyes, then stream down my face.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” Gina gets up and comes around to wrap me in a hug. “This is all my fault. I never should have set you up with him.”
“No, it’s okay,” I sniff. Because honestly? I wouldn’t have missed out on being Bobby’s girl for the world.