Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Your family would have been so proud of you, Dylan. If only they could see how wonderful you turned out,” I whisper into the darkness. “Look at you, you’re a cop.”
I feel him smile above me, “I probably would have busted their ass.”
“Or changed their tire.” I smile.
We fall silent for a while, and I want to change the subject, he doesn’t have to explain himself any longer, I get the whole traumatic picture now, and I don’t want him to think about it.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said to me,” I whisper.
“About what?”
“About living a lie and doing a job I hate.”
“And?”
“And I think you’re right.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to think about going back to school.”
He smiles proudly as he brushes the hair back from my face, “Look at you.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For coming to find me tonight.” I kiss him, my lips linger over his. “I feel like I know you a lot better than I actually do.”
“Same.”
I smile broadly, “Maybe we were destined to meet.”
“I don’t believe in destiny, but I am glad that you got a flat tire.”
“I’m glad you had to search my premises.”
He chuckles, “I’m glad about that too.”
I hug him tightly, “This Christmas will be different.”
“I’m working.” He kisses my temple as if to soften the blow. “I always offer to work on Christmas, I’d rather the people with families get the day off.”
I stare at him in the darkness, always putting others first.
“You don’t work all day, do you?”
“I usually do a double shift.”
“Just do the day shift this year and then we can have dinner together.”
“Zoe….. I just,” he cuts himself off. “Trust me, my company is not good on Christmas day.”
“But mine is.” I smile hopefully up at him. “Maybe I can blow you under the tree. Give you some new memories to keep.”
He chuckles, “Now you’re talking.”
I smile as I lie on his chest and eventually, I feel him relax, “Good night my beautiful Dylan,” I whisper.
He kisses my temple, “Goodnight, baby.”
How do you describe the best week of your life….. when you’ve hardly left the house?
It’s the strangest thing, Dylan and I have done nothing special and yet it’s been everything special. We’ve cooked, we’ve laughed, we’ve watched movies. He’s grumbled about Christmas while I put up more decorations.
But more than anything, we’ve listened to each other, and for the first time in a relationship, I feel seen.
My opinion matters. My feelings matter to him, and dear god, how did a man who had such a hard upbringing, turn out to be so beautiful?
He is the opposite of what he should be, or perhaps he’s so good because he takes nothing for granted.
Either way, there’s one thing I know for sure.
It’s him, it’s always been him. Even before we met….. it was always going to be him.
And that’s why tonight, I’m going to the wedding with Rodney to end it forever. I need to walk away with dignity, and a shitty phone call can’t end a six-year relationship, I owe it to myself and his family to end this the right way. In person, with the truth.
“You have that family dinner on tonight, don’t you?” Dylan says as he dries himself.
Guilt fills me, I should tell him. Tell him what…. that I’m going out with my ex. No, I don’t want to make him feel insecure. “Yes, but I’ll be home here by ten, you’re coming over after, aren’t you?”
He kisses me, “Try and stop me.”
I hear the car pull up and I cringe, I just want this night to be over. I really don’t want to go, but I feel that after all these years I owe it to Rodney to finish us forever with dignity.
I’m going to tell him on the way to the wedding that I’ve moved on, and he will tell me he has too, and then hopefully, we can go tonight as friends.
If he doesn’t want to take me as his date, I’ll completely understand. But at least I can hold my head high because I stayed true to my word, I did promise to go with him after all and I’m not one to break plans for something shiny and new.
Dylan is so shiny and new.
“Knock, knock.” Sounds at the door.
I exhale heavily and open it; Rodney’s eyes drop down my body. “Well, hi,” he says all sexy like.
Huh?
“Hi.” I fake a smile.
Oh no, I know that look.
“You look fucking hot.” He steps forward and makes a grab for me, and I take a step back. “What are you doing?”
“Kissing my girl.”
“I’m not your girl, we should get going.”
He leans in to kiss me, and I quickly turn my head, I’m not kissing you.
“Now, now, look who’s playing hard to get,” he teases.
I stare at him, shocked. Is he kidding me right now? It isn’t an act, asshole. Why the fuck am I going to this wedding? I’m beginning to regret it already.