Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I snicker to myself. When Marek dumped us here and took off to the beach, I put his credit card to good use outfitting Lilly’s room. I figured a professional hockey player had no limit on his credit, and thus I bought her a new bedroom set that was fit for a princess, plush bedding, fantastical pictures for the walls, and a shitload of toys, stuffed animals, and books. Marek never said a word to me about it.
“Well, I’m not sure if we’re going to stay here or not,” I told Lilly. I didn’t want her to see this as a permanent place for us, because my gut instinct said we should get our own home sooner rather than later. My only problem was that I didn’t know how in the hell I was going to swing that without any income or savings.
My iPhone—which I’m still holding in my hand as I look out the kitchen window—rings loudly, which startles me into almost dropping it. My lips break apart into a huge grin and I answer, “Hey, Mom. You and Dad just getting back from church?”
Warm and comforting, my mother’s voice fills me with peace. “We did, and I’m making a meat loaf for lunch. Just getting started and thought I’d give you a call first.”
Mmmm. I love my mom’s meat loaf, and maybe I should make it this week.
“How are things going?” she asks, her voice dropping an octave with built-in mom concern. She’s not worried about my safety, or Lilly’s for that matter. She’s not worried that I’m plunged into a new world five hundred miles from the comfort of home. In fact, I’m sure she was so relieved I wasn’t marrying Owen, she’d have almost sent me to the doorstep of hell, as that would have been preferable to Owen in her mind.
No, my mom is worried about Marek making me suffer for my past sins. After five years of our hard-core dating, my mom knows Marek almost as well as I do. He spent as much time at our house as he did at his own. But then again, I spent a hell of a lot of time at his parents’ house too. They are amazing and I missed them the way I missed Marek when he left.
“Things are fine,” I tell my mom, but then again, Marek could be beating me and I wouldn’t worry her with it. She’s done enough worrying about me over the last few years and deserves a break. “We told Lilly last night that he’s her daddy.”
“What did she say?”
“Not much. I think she gets it somewhat, but it will be a process.”
“I miss my Lilly Bug,” my mom says wistfully. “I miss you too, of course.”
My laugh is soft and sad. “We miss you a lot.”
“Will you be staying there?” she asks, trying to hide the tiny sniffle on the end of her question.
“At least until I can help Lilly understand who Marek is and give him an opportunity to solidify a relationship. I owe him that at least.”
“Oh, honey,” my mom murmurs into the phone, and her sympathy makes my eyes water. “You did what you thought was best at the time and with the information you had. I think it’s time to stop beating yourself up over it.”
I cough to clear my throat and change the subject to something that’s even more depressing to me than thinking of all the ways I’ve wronged Marek. “Have you heard from Owen?”
My mom gives an exasperated harrumph sound. “He’s been by twice.”
It never crossed my mind that Owen would go by to check on my parents to see how they’re doing, because Owen would never do that in a million years. The only reason he would go by is if it benefits him, because he’s selfish that way.
“Wants to know where your head is at and if you’re coming home,” my mom continues, her disdain for Owen evident.
“And you told him exactly what I told you to tell him, right?” I ask her.
“I did. That I didn’t think you’d be there long and hoped to have you back within a few weeks. He seemed satisfied with that.”
I let out a tiny sound of temporary relief. As long as he stays off my parents’ backs for a while, it will give me time to figure out what to do.
Owen Waller is the biggest mess I’ve ever made of my life. I don’t love him and never did. I did, however, rely on him for reasons that were far more important than my happiness. What started out as a casual dating relationship because he seemed so damned charming at first snowballed into a situation where I didn’t have any way out but to marry him.
“Don’t come back, Gracen,” my mom says quietly but urgently into the phone. “I know you think you are obligated to marry Owen, but you’re not. I promise you you’re not.”