Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
My fists are clenched so hard I can feel my knuckles pressing against my skin.
“What. Did you. Say?”
He backs up, even more, knocking more candy. The cashier says something, but I don’t hear. I think it’s maybe let’s settle down.
But I don’t want to settle down. I want to tear this prick’s head off.
“I told her I was busy and needed to buy these things quickly.”
“If the next fucking word out of your mouth isn’t the truth, I swear to God, you bastard, you’ll regret it. Tell me what you called her.”
He opens his mouth, looking like he’s about to say something clever.
“I’m not fucking around,” I tell him. “The next word you say. Think about it. Really think about it.”
He pauses, swallowing. He doesn’t look remotely tough anymore.
There’s a shiver of adrenalin inside me, preparing me for the fight. I’ve been in my fair share over the years, but only when I’ve had no choice.
This is the first time I can remember going out of my way to look for one.
But it’s his goddamn fault for disrespecting my woman.
“I called her a prissy slut,” the man says. “But it’s not like—I wasn’t thinking like, oh, what can I say to really upset her? It just came out. I don’t….”
“It’s time for you to go,” I snap. “Right now.”
“I just….”
“Leave, or I’m going to throw you through this fucking window. Now.”
I roar the last word, unable to contain myself anymore.
The man looks like he’s about to cry, his eyes glassy. I can tell adrenaline is pumping through him, too, both of us on edge, close to violence.
But he backs down first.
He knows how it would end. He’s too much of a bully to swing on somebody his size.
“You’re in my way,” he murmurs, lowering his gaze.
I step aside, glancing at the cashier. “Did he get gas?”
The cashier shakes his head.
“All right then,” I snap, turning back to the man. “There’s nothing keeping you here. Fuck off.”
I stare hard at him as he skulks from the gas station, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. I keep thinking he’s going to say something over his shoulder, try to get the last word.
I move in front of Faye, keeping myself between her and the window, as I watch him return to his car.
His pride is hurt. If he has a gun….
But he drives away, tires screeching.
I sigh, part of me disappointed it didn’t come to blows.
“He had no right to call you that,” I say, turning to Faye.
“Nobody’s ever stood up for me like that,” she murmurs.
I reach down, take her hands, feel them trembling and hold them tightly, so she knows she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.
She squeezes my hands in return as if telling me I don’t have to be angry anymore.
I’ll always stand up for you, I almost say, but then the cashier clears his throat.
It’s good. He’s stopped me from going too far.
As if there’s any such thing with my Faye.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Faye
We’re walking through the woods, down a country lane, the trees keeping us in the shadows. Felix still looks like he could snap any moment, his fists clenched, his jaw tight.
He’s been like this ever since we encountered that douche lord in the gas station.
Reaching over, I softly touch his arm. One of his spare cameras is around my neck on a strap, matching the bigger one around his, but we’ve been walking for a couple of minutes without taking any photos.
“It’s okay, Felix,” I murmur. “It’s over now.”
“I know,” he laughs dryly, looking at me with that savage twist to his lips. “It just makes me sick, the thought of him talking to you like that without anybody there to stop him.”
“At least you protected your girlfriend.”
I make my tone as light and teasing as possible. But when he used that word, it was like he was sending warm and tingly love surging around my body, all through me, making my heart sparkle.
“I know you didn’t mean it,” I go on, wondering if he can sense the unbreakable need inside of me.
Felix shrugs the rucksack. It’s packed full of stuff, some food, and water. There must be more, like maybe a picnic blanket, a towel, or something.
“I did mean it,” he says firmly, causing the sparkling to shimmer even more. “If it weren’t for….”
Lola.
“You’d be my girlfriend already,” he goes on. “No doubt about it. I want you so badly. And I’m not letting anybody else have you.”
Ever, I add silently, because we’re going to be together forever and ever.
“So this is it, then?” I say, smiling shakily. “We’re boyfriend and girlfriend?”
He stops, turns to me, reaches over, and grabs my hips. I’ll never get tired of the way his touch sends sensation dancing across my skin, through me, touching my body and my soul with the same possessive want.