Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“You were going to tell me that a baby was mine, knowing that it wasn’t?” He goes from being concerned for me, to wanting to rip my head off, in less than a second.
“Yes,” I confirm, shame settling deep in my stomach as I do.
“I can’t fucking believe this, you…” He shakes his head, running his hands through his thick brown hair like he is thinking about what to do next. Unfortunately, he’s not fast enough, so I make the decision for him, turn and walk off. I don’t need this added stress. I don’t need him. I keep telling myself as I waltz through the crowd, trying to put as much distance between us as I can.
“Daisy,” my father calls my name, and I come to a sudden halt, spotting him only a few feet away from me. Because we are in public, his anger is subtle, most people wouldn’t see it. But I do, I know that he is livid on the inside, raging like a volcano that’s about to erupt. I can tell from the small vein that’s bulging out of his forehead, and the way his jaw is set in a tight line. He wants to throttle me, but again, we’re in a public place, so I suppose he’ll have to save the beating for later.
Against my better judgment, I walk over to him. I can sense the danger I’m in. He is going to punish me somehow tonight. If I’m lucky, he’ll just lock me in my room for a few days. If I’m unlucky, it will be a much crueler fate.
As soon as I’m close enough, he leans in, his voice a harsh whisper against my ear, “Where the fuck have you been all this time?” He smells like scotch, and I wonder how many he’s had to drink since I disappeared.
“I-I was with Carter… dancing like you told me to.”
“Don’t lie to me. Whatever you were doing, I’ll find out, and I hope for your sake you didn’t spread your legs for Carter because I promised Malcolm a virgin.”
I’m so shocked at my father’s confession, I’m literally speechless. My mouth pops open, and I snap it closed a second later.
“God, stop embarrassing me,” he huffs as he smooths a hand down the front of his suit, “let’s go home.”
Grabbing onto my arm, his meaty fingers sink deep into my flesh as he starts pulling me toward the exit. My legs are barely able to keep up with his large strides, and I can’t help but wonder if I just made the biggest mistake of my life by pushing Carter away.
Maybe I do need him, after all.
10
Carter
Her words are playing on repeat in my mind like a broken record. “I’m already pregnant… I wanted you to think the baby was yours.”
She’s pregnant, and she wanted to pin the kid on me. That’s the only reason she slept with me. This has to be a dream, a nightmare, actually. Maybe the connection I felt earlier was all in my head. It has to be, she said she hated me… not that I really blame her, our past isn’t great, and I should’ve been there for her, but I thought after what we shared, things would be different. I thought she felt what I was feeling.
All these thoughts swirl inside my head like a tornado as I wait for my driver to pick me up. I check my watch again. It’s been fifteen minutes since I called him, he should be here soon. I’m about to get my phone out and call him again when I see the black SUV coming around the corner. He pulls the car up to the curb, right in front of me, and I open the back door.
I sink into the leather seat and slam the door shut behind me. What a fucking nightmare.
“Sorry it took me a little longer, I was expecting you to stay the night.”
“Plans changed.” There was no way I could go back to that room, back to where I held her in my arms and made love to her. I’m sure it still smells like her. The sheets, the pillow, the fucking air.
Daniel, my driver, gazes at me in the rearview mirror, “No problem, sir. Where to? Home?”
“Yes, home,” I confirm.
The car pulls out onto the road, and I let my head rest against the window. The glass is cool on my forehead as I stare out onto the streets, watching happy couples leave the gala, getting into their cars and driving home to their happy families.
I’m about to close my eyes, unable to look at other peoples’ happiness any longer when my eyes catch on something in the side alley.
“Stop the car!” I order, and the vehicle stops suddenly, jerking my body forward. Daniel looks back at me with panic in his eyes. I don’t bother to tell him what’s going on. Instead, I open the back door and slip out of the car, not bothering to shut the door behind me.