Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
A man she shares a past with.
I close my eyes at the thought. I can’t bear it and I feel sick to my stomach.
I’ve never been in love before. I’ve never even been close to feeling what I feel for Ashley.
And this is how she treats me. This is the amount of respect she has for me.
I have absolutely no control over my emotions and I can’t stand relying on someone else for my happiness. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.
I’m done. She can go to hell.
I won’t be here when she gets back.
She can find someone else to be her puppy.
I wake Owen. “Come on, mate. We have to go home to LA.”
He frowns as he wakes up. “I thought we were going to the zoo?” he mumbles.
“Change of plans. I will take you to the zoo another time,” I reply flatly as I pack the last of the things into my overnight case.
I pick up my phone and check it once more. No calls, no messages.
What if she’s been hurt in an accident? The sick, nervous feeling in my stomach churns again. I go over to the window and stare out over the city as the sun comes up.
Where are you?
With him, my subconscious replies.
I look back over at Owen as he tries to wake up. It’s only 6.30am.
She’s fallen asleep after they had sex—it’s the only logical explanation.
I close my eyes in pain. I hate this.
I hate feeling like this. “Owen. Up,” I snap.
He goes to the bathroom as I line the bags up near the door and he gets dressed. I fish out Ashley’s plane ticket from my bag and put it onto the desk. With a heavy heart, I write her a note.
We’ve flown home early.
You may as well stay here.
I just wish I knew she was safe before I left. What if something has happened to her?
God, I hate this shit. I put my head into my hands in disgust.
“I’m hungry.” Owen yawns.
“We can have breakfast at the airport.”
“Where’s Mom?” He frowns.
“Um.” I try think of an answer. “She’s with Andrew. She’ll be home later.”
Owen frowns as he processes the information.
I blow out a breath and continue packing until everything is done. I just wish I had confirmation that she was okay before I left.
What if something has happened to her? My heart asks.
It hasn’t, you fool, my head replies.
“Let’s go, Owen.”
I grab the suitcases and he follows me out and down the corridor. When we get down to the lobby, I hold my phone in my hand and the doorman hails a cab.
We climb in. “Where to?” the driver asks.
“The airport,” I reply flatly.
He pulls out into traffic and begins the journey when my phone rings. Ashley.
I frown as I stop myself answering it. I’m not losing my shit at her while Owen is with me.
It goes to voicemail and when it’s complete, I listen to it.
“Fucking voicemail,” she shrieks in a panic. “Oh my God, Cameron. I’m so sorry. I took some headache tablets and they must have knocked me out. I just woke up on Andrew’s mothers couch. I’m so sorry. I’m coming now.” She hangs up.
My blood pressure rises. The fury I feel is beyond belief and boils my blood.
Does she think I’m stupid?
“Was that Mom?” Owen asks.
I nod, lost in my thoughts.
“She’s going to be very angry that we left without her.”
I glance over at him and then back to the road.
“She might not come home. She might stay here.” He frowns, speaking with a worried little voice.
I take his hand in mine as I stare out the window. The phone rings again and I let it go to voicemail before I listen to it.
Ashley’s voice is frantic. “Oh my God, Cameron, forgive me. I love you. I’m on my way.”
I get a lump in my throat as I stare out the window.
Every ounce of my being wants to be as far away from her as possible, yet I know if I go and take Owen, it will be over for us.
“Can’t we just wait for Mom?” Owen asks. “She won’t be long. You know she’s slow all the time.”
I stare out the window as my mind goes into overdrive. Do I believe her?
Do I trust her?
I think back to everything we’ve been through. Despite it all, she’s somehow learned to trust me again.
I took her child and she forgave me.
I lean my elbow up against the door as I hold my head, deep in thought.
I don’t want to see her…but if I don’t go back…
Ashley
The elevator finally opens out into the foyer and I run out, dragging my suitcase behind me when I get to the doorman. “I need a cab, please,” I blurt out in a panic.
The doorman frowns as he looks me up and down. “Are you alright?”