Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Nothing happened between us.” She interrupts me, already knowing where I was headed.
“It’s okay if something did,” I lie. It would kill me, but I would live with the pain. “I deserve that.”
“Cole.” She places both of her soft hands on my face, and her eyes search mine. “I’m not lying. Nothing happened,” she repeats. “Is that why you did this? ’Cause you thought I was sleeping with him?”
I take a deep breath and cup her cheek. “I did this the night Kellan shot you.”
“Oh,” she says.
“After I found you lying on your dad’s kitchen floor. Dead. We took care of Kellan, then we came back here to shower before I turned myself in.”
“You what?” She gasps, her hands dropping to her sides.
We haven’t really had the opportunity to discuss how things went down. Once she woke up in the hospital, things became hectic. Nurses and doctors in and out of her room. If Becky wasn’t visiting, Deke was. Then Bennett was there often. The police questioning her. They never did ask to speak to her again once Jacob and I showed back up. When he told them they were not allowed to speak to her without him being present, they said they had enough information. Which was bullshit. The only question is why? Did my father get to them? I’m not sure why he would do anything to save her unless he thinks she’ll roll on me. And we all know that he’ll do whatever he can to keep my ass out of prison. As far as Kellan, all she knows is that we killed him.
“Turn yourself in for what?” she demands.
“It’s a long story.”
“Cole—”
“I have plenty of time to tell you.” I interrupt her. “Just give me ten minutes, and I will have this cleaned up for you. Then later, I’ll fill you in, okay?”
Her eyes search mine for a long time before she finally nods. “Okay.”
I come out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later to find her sitting at the end of the bed. Her head’s down, and she’s inspecting her fingernails, but I can see her mind working. I can almost smell her fear. Like when I took her to watch Jerrold with me. But this time, it’s different. It’s not what will happen to her; it’s what will happen to us. Where do we go from here? The threat may be over, but what does that mean for us now? Can we move on so easily? Can I keep her and Lilly safe?
I know this ’cause I’ve asked myself these same questions over and over.
I come to the end of the bed and kneel before her. She lifts her eyes from her hands to look at me. I see unshed tears fill her green eyes, and she looks away. She obviously doesn’t wanna talk about whatever it is she’s thinking. That’s one thing about Austin; if she wants to know something, she’ll ask. So I won’t push her right now. When she’s ready, she’ll let me know.
She stands and walks to the bathroom without saying a word. I go to walk past it to head downstairs when I hear her hiss in a breath. I peek in to see her trying to get out of my T-shirt she’s wearing. Becky brought it for her. Shelby suggested she wear something that opens up in the front for her to get in and out of easily, but she ignored her and chose one of my shirts. The girls had helped her dress at the hospital.
“Let me help you,” I suggest, entering the bathroom.
Her arms fall to her sides, and she sniffs. I reach into my front pocket and grab my knife. Flipping the blade open, I hold it up. Her eyes go to it and then to mine. Those green eyes that I first saw in the middle of the night in a cemetery stare back at me. They look different now. Less lost yet more terrified than I’ve ever seen them. I reach up and grab the collar and then slowly cut down the front, making sure to stay away from her skin.
“I liked that shirt,” she says in a soft voice once it’s cut in half, exposing her bare chest and stomach. I can see the bandage that covers up her scar, and my fist tightens on the knife. I wish I could stab Kellan with it. “It smelled like you.”
I smile at her, ignoring the rage that wants a release. I have to change for her. I can change for her. “I have plenty more where it came from.” Putting the knife away, I reach out and place my hand in the waistband of her black yoga pants and slowly push them down her legs. It reminds me of prom; only I won’t be tossing her onto the bed once they’re off. After she steps out of them, I straighten to my full height. I lean in and kiss her on the forehead. “Take a shower, sweetheart. I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.”