Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
The only time that her fixation with me was toned down was when she met someone that filled this hole inside of her.
Her first true love, Benji, she’d met when Hades and I were studying for school.
She’d met Benji when she was twenty-one and had become obsessed with him.
Later, when Benji had broken up with her and she’d gone into a downward spiral of texts, calls, random appearances, and physically stalking the poor man, we all realized she needed help.
The professional we took her to for help said that she had obsessive love disorder.
She willingly entered into a six week long evaluation where they helped her find healthy coping mechanisms to deal with her issues. She was also on some meds that were to help her control those behaviors.
My eyes scanned the article, skipping over the picture that was sure to make me sick to my stomach again.
Defensive end Slone Day was seen out this weekend with none other than old flame Tamara Rhodes, celebrity heiress that recently starred in Survivor and brand-new sitcom Traces.
Day and Rhodes spent the entire night dancing and entertaining guests of the Buckner Ball. Buckner Ball is an annual ball for the elite of the elite that sponsors the children of Buckner House. A local nonprofit that is near and dear to Slone’s heart.
Overall, the charity raised a hundred and ninety thousand dollars for the children of Buckner House.
The ex-lovers were seen leaving early in the night, both of them going to the same vehicle where they disappeared into the night.
Slone plays for the Longview Liners, who are well on the way to being contenders for the Super Bowl.
“Hey,” Simi called, pulling me out of the article before I could read to the end. “Are you okay?”
I felt my stomach roil as I stared at my sister.
“I’m alive,” I said softly.
And so tired that I could literally go right back to bed.
But tigers wouldn’t feed themselves. And I had to learn Simi’s routine, which was why she was here.
“I brought you something to eat.” She held out her peace offering, as if food alone would help with this hole in my heart.
“Thanks,” I said quietly, taking the tinfoil-covered plate. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, her eyes serious, as she said, “I wish I hadn’t had to ask you to come home.”
I wished she hadn’t, either.
“Do you like it here, Simi?” I asked morosely.
She eyed the circus that was quickly coming to life all around us.
“I like being here with y’all,” she said softly. “But I think if we all lived in the same town, I would be just as happy.”
Same.
So much same.
My entire soul craved the stability that putting down roots gave you.
Yet…that wasn’t in the cards for me.
Not any time soon, anyway.
“Where to?” I asked, taking a peek under the tinfoil.
“Coffey set up the silk near the food truck because he wanted me to help keep an eye on you,” she said softly. “And the cats are around here…” she trailed off. “There’s Coco.”
I looked up to find Coco in the tree above the food truck. There she was, staring at a piece of steak that, from what I could smell, was grilling away on Coffey’s flat top.
“I feel like maybe I should tell him,” she said softly. “But then it wouldn’t be anywhere near as entertaining. He should know better.”
I couldn’t even crack a smile, I was so depressed.
“How would he?” I asked. “He’s been here for a very short amount of time. And he’s yet to experience how mischievous they are.”
“You’re right…” she trailed off. “Do you want to grab breakfast before we start? I know that you do better when you eat first.”
It wouldn’t matter if I ate or not. I was so tired that it was an inevitability—the going to sleep thing was my reality on days like today.
“I guess,” I muttered, watching Hades talk with Val.
The fact that she was just so normal right now really ticked me off. Like…how the fuck? Why was she the way that she was? Why was me being home the sign she needed to be okay?
That’s when we realized that her behavior with me was also obsessive to the point of worrisome.
When we were separated, I finally realized just how hard it was to breathe when she was around. Not that I didn’t love her, but she was suffocating sometimes, and we allowed it to happen.
“Well,” I said as I held the plate up. “Didn’t you already bring me breakfast?”
She smiled. “No. I brought you a cookie from last night. Coffey made them to try out, and they were so delicious I couldn’t stop myself from eating them all.” Her face scrunched up into a tortured expression. “Then I threw them all up.”
I huffed out a humorless laugh. “Then let’s eat, then I’ll have my cookie for dessert, then we’ll get started.” I paused. “Did the cats get fed yet?”