Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
“I don’t wanna stay here.” I finally speak, not able to keep thinking on the shit that’s going through my head right now.
Emma’s wrapped up tight in a thick, hooded black coat with a scarf around her neck. The tip of her nose is peeking out. She looks up at me, blowing hot air into her hands and then holding back onto my arm.
“We can go whenever you want,” she says softly. I’ve been coming here every day for the last three days. So has Emma. She’s missed the first few days of school, but she’s not willing to leave yet. She hasn’t left my side. If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is. I know with everything in me that I can’t let her go.
“That’s not what I mean,” I tell her as I turn to face her. I wrap my arms around her waist as the light dusting of snow falls into her dark brunette hair. She’s so fucking beautiful. She’s more than a sweetheart. She’s everything to me. “I wanna go with you.”
“You wanna go to school?” she asks with disbelief.
A humorless laugh leaves me, and I look behind her before finding her eyes again. I don’t need school. I’ve got more money than I’ll ever need.
“Nah. Just go with you. I know you need to get back.”
Her features soften as she realizes what I’m saying.
“I wanna be with you, Emma. I’m not letting you go this time.”
She smiles softly and leans into me. “Come with me,” she says softly. “I need someone, too.”
I don’t wanna leave Ma, but I can’t stay here.
I give her one last kiss and start leading her to the car, walking through the graveyard and not looking back.
CHAPTER 19
Emma
We just got to my tiny apartment, and it's strange seeing Derek here. He looks so at odds among all my cozy, chic accessories. I watch him as he picks up the small bird candelabrum in his hand. It's cast iron, and heavy. He holds it up and stares at it for a moment, then his brow furrows before setting it back down.
He takes in every item of the room slowly, processing this new environment. It’s almost comical. His broad shoulders and tall stature seems out of place in my living room. My chairs are so tiny, I’m not sure how he'll even fit on them. I have a small IKEA sofa, and if he lay down on it, his legs would be hanging off the end.
He's picked up every picture frame I have on the shelf above my couch to look closely at each picture. He doesn't seem to know what to do with himself. He looks so lost.
I wish I already had a place for him here, but I don’t. I will though. We’ll make it work.
“We can go shopping,” I offer. We’re definitely going to need to go shopping. I forgot how girly and small my apartment is. He’ll really freak out when he sees the bedroom. I still have the small single mattress from when I was growing up. Not that I wanted to keep it. I had to make a choice in what I could spend my money on. I decided that a queen mattress wasn’t worth having over actual kitchen utensils and a dining room table to eat at. Besides, I'm petite.
“Yeah, I think we should definitely go out today,” he says. The look on his face makes a small laugh come from my lips. I cover my mouth, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks. He smirks at me, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, I just never thought I’d see you here.”
“Did you really think it was over between us?” he asks, walking toward me. The way his hips are moving and his eyes are piercing into me make him seem like a lion hunting his prey.
I try to breathe, but it’s hard with him looking at me like that. Like he wants me. Like I’m his to take.
And I am.
“I never know what to think when it comes to you, Derek,” I say. That’s the truth, and I’m not sure that’ll ever change.
We drove down together this morning. I still can't believe he wanted to come back to school with me.
He’s giving up everything and starting over. No drugs. No secrets. I’m his and he’s mine and together we’ll get through this. I know we will.
He lets out a small laugh, but it doesn’t seem real. “It’s a nice place you got here, Sweetheart.” He looks past me, at the kitchen. “You definitely put your touch on this place.”
“And you haven’t even seen the rest of it,” I say sarcastically. My apartment is about as big as his living room was. He’s definitely downsizing.
“Want to go get something to eat? I'm starving,” I say to him while grabbing my keys off the hook by the door. Eat, shop. We’ll take each day at a time. Just get through each one. It’s difficult for him sometimes. But just one step at a time is all we need.