Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Once again, Rose is on the front porch, and the look on her face tells me she’s already been told Em’s half of the story. I respect this woman as I would a mother, but her rush to judgment, when she's known me for years, doesn’t help my mood one bit.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I say as I walk toward her.
“Bunny? Seriously?” She whisper-yells at me.
I narrow my eyes and address her with restrained anger. “You know me better than that. I don’t have to explain myself to you, but you should know firsthand that there is nothing going on between Bunny and me.”
She looks over my face and steps aside, clearly believing me. “Well, go get your girl then.”
I nod at her and walk past.
“She’s in her room,” she informs me as I reach for the handle on the screen door.
Her room. I hate the way that even sounds. She should be in our room, in our house. She shouldn’t be hiding from me at another family’s home.
I angle my head at Doc briefly as I make my way to the stairs. He just looks at me and shakes his head. I can tell by the slightly amused look on his face that he’s very entertained by all of this, but at the same time grateful it’s not something that he’d have to deal with since he’s been with Rose for so long.
I envy him, but at the same time wonder if Rose was ever this stubborn before they were married. I’d like to think I’m not the only one who has these kinds of growing pains in a new relationship, but then again Emmalyn is one of a kind.
I don’t bother knocking on her door when I reach it. Chances are if she’s given a choice of letting me in, I’d be standing at the door begging her. That’s not really my style, and I won’t start changing who I am today. I twist the doorknob, stepping into the room, and close it behind me. I lock it for good measure. I anticipate quite a bit of yelling. Doc and Rose know I’d never do anything to hurt her, but just in case they feel the need to intervene, I’d rather not have the interruptions.
“Leave me alone,” she says with her face buried in her pillow.
The loud roar of my motorcycle would’ve alerted her to my arrival, so I’m not surprised when she addresses me without even looking.
“We need to talk,” I tell her but stay near the door.
“I have nothing to say to you.” Her voice is strong, but the hitch in her shoulders betray her misery.
“Then you can listen while I talk,” I tell her. I hate seeing her upset. I hate even being indirectly responsible for her pain. Bunny has hurt her twice now, Wrench damn near raped her, and if it weren’t for my involvement in her life, none of that would happen. I try to tell myself, the emotional pain that she’s suffering right now is much better than the physical torture she’d been living with daily, but when she turns over, and I see her tear stained, puffy, red face, I’m not so sure.
Chapter 35
Emmalyn
On the drive to Rose’s I seriously contemplated having her take me to the bus station, but I realized all of my money is at the bank, and they’re closed until Monday. I told her exactly what I’d found in his room when I went to look for him. She listened intently and thankfully didn’t try to defend him this time, but I could tell that she couldn’t believe that the man she knows would pull something like that.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard the roar of his bike pull up to the house not twenty minutes after we got here. I came straight up and lost it. My back hurts from sobbing so hard. I thought the way he’s treated me since we woke up this morning was bad, but it’s nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart from seeing Bunny, freshly fucked, in his bed.
I’m ashamed of myself for even thinking for a second I could trust him. I don’t even know if staying in Farmington is going to be a good idea even though I have a job here. I can get out of town on Monday and have nothing else to worry about. I can find a job anywhere.
Of course, he doesn’t listen when he steps into the room and demands that I listen to what he has to say. I ask him to leave and he doesn’t. Once again he’s going to dictate to me what’s going to happen. If he wants me to listen to his lies, I will, if only to get him out of here quicker. I roll over on the bed to face him. Even upset, the sight of him takes my breath away.