Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
My head stabs at his mention of the beautiful Latina PA Caleb mentioned when he dropped off an invitation to Chains to him four weeks ago, but I play it cool. “It might have saved the flyaway hair and food-stained shirt greeting, but as you said, what the hell.” I gesture my hand to the hanging open front door of Alexander House. “Would you like to come in for a drink?” As recollection of the last time we stood across from each other filters through my tired head, I add, “Of coffee.”
Jack peers at the windows of Alexander House for a couple of seconds before returning his eyes to me. “Is there somewhere else we could talk?”
“Umm… sure…” I rack my brain for almost thirty seconds before saying, “There’s an all-night coffee shop a couple of blocks up. We could walk… if your security guys are okay with that?” I don’t recognize the person manning the door of the sports car Jack motioned to earlier, but it is obvious he is a bodyguard of some kind. His stance is a dead giveaway.
“I’m sure they’re fine with it. They do what I pay them to do.”
Ignoring my shocked excitement about the unexpected confidence in his tone, I advise that I’ll be back in a minute before racing into Alexander House to grab my purse. Like a loser who can’t get a date, I lick the pads of my fingers before using the spit to wrangle my messy locks into a half-appealing state before switching out my dinner-stained shirt for a clean one.
Once I have my purse hooked under my arm and advised Mel and Nathan that I’m popping down the street for a coffee with an old friend, I race for the door. I almost bolt through it before I realize no one wants to play chase with a woman who throws themselves at the first available suitor. Furthermore, I don’t know the reason for Jack’s sudden return into my life, and although I’d rather be optimistic, my pessimistic side has been rearing its head more often in the past couple of months than its less evil counterpart.
Good things come to those who wait. It is proven without doubt when Lewis asks from the top of the stairs, “What is Mr. Carson doing here? Jace said our group counseling sessions were anonymous. That we could talk about them freely but not mention any names.”
“They are anonymous,” I ensure before pivoting around to face him. Lewis has been attending counseling sessions for sexual abuse survivors for the past three weeks. The sessions are meant to teach survivors that there is no shame behind their abuse and that by speaking out and being honest about what happened to them, they could encourage others to do the same. “Mr. Carson isn’t here for you, Lewis. I met him a long time ago. He is a friend of mine.”
As he clambers down the stairs, his blond brows furrow together. He only looks confused for a couple of seconds before his face lights up in surprise. “You’re the girl who saved him. The one who spoke up.”
“Sorry?” I’m torn between bursting into tears and racing out to grill Jack. The only reason I don’t is because I know as well as anyone that forcing victims to talk isn’t the right thing to do. They need a safe environment to do that. A place that feels like home.
“He told us last week in counseling about a girl who saved him by speaking out and that he had no idea she’d do it again several years later. You’re her, aren’t you?”
Too choked up to deny his claims that Jack knows how I learned of his scars, I instead remind Lewis of the pledge he made not to speak about other people’s confessions without their permission.
“I have his permission. He said if his story would help us speak up, we could share it.”
My heart rate soars as pride floods me.
I shift my eyes back to Lewis when he admits, “It hurt to hear what happened to him, but it was also good.” He licks his lips before murmuring, “He’s a brave man to overcome what he did and achieve what he has.”
“He is,” I agree, still on the verge of crying. “As are you, Lewis. You are very brave.”
My eyes shoot to Mel when Lewis unexpectedly slings his arms around my waist and buries his head into my neck. He’s not normally affectionate. He usually bullies the other kids to get his way. I hope this is the start of him trying something new.
After returning Lewis’s embrace long enough for him to push me off him with a groan about me ruining his street cred, he asks me to say hello to Jack on his behalf before he enters the living room to join the rest of the kids his age watching the movie.