Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I don’t think Jillian has ever called me in my life,” he says and I grab the phone. He closes the door as I answer, pressing the red button.
Chase: I’m on my way, see you when I get there.
Jillian: Okay.
He gets in and looks over at me. “That was fast.” He starts the car.
“I didn’t answer her.” I put the phone in the middle console, turning to look out the window. “If I hear her voice, I’m going to crack, and I can’t show her.” He doesn’t say anything to me the whole ride there. My eyes burn from being up all night, my stomach tightens from the nerves or maybe not eating. My head throbs from everything that is going on inside of it. We pull up in the driveway and I see there are only two extra cars here. “How many people are in there?”
“I have no idea.” He looks over at me as he turns off the car. “I mean, it’s my family.”
I laugh now, trying to push away all my feelings. “Only your family would have a party for someone who just got bailed out of jail.” His jaw gets tight and I take a deep breath before grabbing the handle of the car. “Here we go.”
I have enough time to close the door before the front door is swung open and I see Jillian. She stands there with tears streaming down her face. She runs to me and I see that her nose and eyes are both red. “Julia,” she says, throwing her arms around my neck and I hug her as she cries. I push away the tears, knowing that if she sees me in tears, it’ll be worse for her.
“I’m okay.” I rub her back. “I’m okay.” I look over her shoulder seeing Michael there, and if I know him the way I know him, he’s freaking the fuck out. He’s a tough guy to his core but if he sees Jillian crying, it’s his kryptonite.
“We should get inside,” Chase says softly from beside me and I feel his hand on the base of my back.
“You’re a jerk.” Jillian lets me go to snap at Chase, who just looks at her. “What took you so long?”
“We literally came right over,” I say, laughing as Chase shakes his head.
“Can we get some food into her?” Max yells from the door. “She hasn’t eaten all day.”
Jillian puts her hand in mine as she pulls me away from Chase. I look over my shoulder at him, wondering if he is going to follow me in or just leave. “Are you okay?” Jillian asks, and I turn to look at her.
“I’m fine.” I pretend and I know that even if I say I’m okay, she probably feels what I feel. It’s the strangest thing with us.
“It’s not fine,” she mumbles when I walk into the house seeing Allison there with Dylan and Alex.
“There she is,” Allison says, coming to me and hugging me. I feel her tears fall onto my shirt.
“Guys,” I say, putting my bravest face forward. “I’m fine.” I look at everyone. “Look, no bullet holes.”
“She’s in shock,” Alex concludes and I can’t help but laugh as Allison lets me go and pulls me toward the food they had catered. There is enough food to feed fifty people. “We ordered all your favorites,” Alex says softly from beside me.
“Not you, too,” I whine when I see she has tears running down her face. “I expected better from you.” I point at her and she laughs. “Especially you.”
“I know,” she huffs outs, “I’m blaming the hormones.” She throws up her hands and then I look at her shirt.
“You’re leaking.” I point at the round wet spots. She gave birth two months ago to their second son, James.
“Eeww,” Michael says from behind me. “Get away from the food.”
“Shut up,” Alex tells him. “It’s natural. I need to borrow a top, Jillian.” She turns and walks from the room toward the bedroom.
I grab a plate of food and start to bide my time. Sitting at the table, no one sits with me but Jillian and I know they are probably giving the two of us our time alone. “Where is Mom?” I ask while I cut my piece of chicken.
“I didn’t tell her,” Jillian replies, her eyes down on her plate. “I didn’t know what to say.”
“True that,” I say. “You could have just gone with, ‘Mom, I better be your favorite because Julia is in the pen.’”
“Stop,” Jillian says in her mom voice. “Stop pretending you are okay.”
“I’m not okay,” I admit to her, “but there is nothing we can do.” She glares at me because there is nothing we both hate more than that saying. “I’m going to go see Mom tomorrow.” I look over at her.