Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
After hours of running his hands through his hair and tugging on it out of worry and frustration, he knew why her gaze settled onto his head for several seconds before sliding to his eyes.
“Where the fuck have you been? Why isn’t the location turned on, on your phone? And why have you been ignoring my messages and calls?” Those weren’t the words he rehearsed in his head. The rehearsed words came from worry and the perceived relief he’d feel when she walked safely through the door.
But his heart only took seconds to feel relief and gratitude before his brain and ego jumped in to grill her.
She stared at him, looking numb from head to toe. The look she used to have in her eyes after Mr. Fisher took her to his room. Only this time, Ian—G didn’t rush to comfort her.
“It’s in the past, Ian. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“If you went and fucked some other guy tonight …”
“What?” Jersey crossed her arms over her chest. She wore a dress. Jersey rarely wore dresses.
He felt certain she only had maybe one or two that Max bought her for a few parties they attended on tour. It ate at him that she looked so fucking beautiful and it wasn’t for him that night. Ian hated himself for leaving that night … he should have stayed. His list of “should haves” was long.
“I’ve used my body for many things. Sometimes it’s fun to actually use it for pleasure. And thanks to technology, that pleasure is just a screen swipe away.”
“You cheated on me because I wouldn’t take my clothes off for you?”
She laughed. “Cheated on you? Are you serious? Did we get married when I wasn’t looking?”
“You know what I mean!” He stood, balling his hands.
She inched her head side to side. “No, I don’t know what you mean. I know that I used to sleep in the same bed as Chris, and he’d hold me at night, but I wasn’t his girlfriend or wife. I know we don’t go to movies. I know you’re not here very much. I know I eat most meals alone. I know I play with Lola and Foxy. So … maybe there’s a title for all of that, but it sure as fuck is not a girlfriend.”
The ache in his chest multiplied with each word she spoke. It hurt less when she cut his ear and put a knife in his leg.
“Yes or no? Did you fuck someone tonight?” His words came out jagged and harsh. Desperate … so damn desperate.
“Yes.”
Ian rested his hands on his hips and dropped his chin. His heart felt out of control, ready to explode into a million pieces as he chased each breath, burning with anger. “Max will arrange for you to go back to Newark tomorrow.” He pivoted and headed up the stairs.
A few minutes later, Jersey appeared at the door to the bedroom. He finished tucking her belongings into her bag and shoved it into her chest. The impact made her stumble back a few steps. Without giving her a direct glance, he closed and locked the bedroom door.
Early the next morning, Ian slipped on shorts and a tee to take the dogs for a walk. At the bottom of the stairs, he heard noises in the kitchen. He took slow steps in that direction and peeked around the corner.
Jersey shoved as much food and bottles of Ian’s water as she could into her bag. When Lola barked by his ankle, Jersey froze, glancing up at him.
“Max will be here at nine,” he said past the ache in his throat.
“No need.” She tried to zip her bag, but it was too full.
He never got around to getting her a new bag.
Jersey hooked the strap over her shoulder. “I’m leaving now.” She brushed past him and opened the front door.
“Where are you going?” A toxic mix of pain, anger, and concern gripped his words, making them break apart as he said them.
She paused at the door with her back to him, staring out at the driveway. And then as if none of the thoughts in her mind deserved to be heard, she stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
For a solid five seconds, he fought the urge to chase after her. The sixth second … of course six … he opened the door just as she reached the end of the drive. “You have nowhere to go. Why are you doing this?”
Jersey kept walking.
He jogged after her, planting himself in front of her to stop her movements. She stared at his chest, jaw set, eyes unblinking.
“I love you, but you fucked another man last night.”
“Sounds like a good topic for you to discuss with your shrink.” She tried to step around him.
He stopped her again, and she pushed out a sharp exhale.