Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Chantelle,” Boston says, his voice rough and gravelly.
“No,” I say, putting up a hand. “No, you don’t get to speak. How come she deserves respect, and I don’t? You know what? I don’t want the answer to that damned question. I’ve given you enough of my time, I’ve hurt enough, I’ve done what you wanted. But you know what?” I look to Penelope. “You can have him. He’s all yours. And please, don’t think I have anything against you, because I absolutely do not, but I deserve more. God, I deserve so much fucking more than to be some mans ‘I wonder if she’s the one’.”
My voice finally cracks, and tears roll down my cheeks. Dammit. I hate that I’m crying. I fucking hate it. Worse, I hate that they’re both seeing it. I swipe my tears away angrily and take a shaky breath.
“I’m worth it,” I say, holding Boston’s eyes, trying to focus on him through my blurred vision. “I’m so fucking worth it. I shouldn’t have to question that. You did the right thing, but tonight, you fucked up. I deserved, at the very least, a little damned respect. I’m too good for you, Boston. Too damned good. And you’ll look back one day, and you’ll wish to fucking god you kept me. But it’s too late now. Don’t talk to me. Don’t call me. I don’t want your help or involvement in anything that is happening, and I’ll make sure Malakai knows that. As far as I’m concerned, as of this moment, we are nothing to each other. But, don’t worry, there is a man out there who is going to look at me like I’m fucking heaven. There will be no choice.”
I’m crying now, and he’s slowly moving toward me, but I take a step back. My eyes swing to Penny, and I say softly, “You’re an incredible woman, Penny. I have the upmost respect for you, and I like you, and I hope we can be friends, but it can’t be right now. I wish you all the luck with him, I really do.”
Then I turn, and I walk off.
“Chantelle!” Boston barks, but I don’t stop.
I’ve said what I needed to say.
There is nothing else.
~16~
NOW – PENELOPE
I watch Chantelle walk off, and my heart aches. It literally aches for her. That was the most awful moment, and there was nothing I could do or say. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t, and I’m ashamed that I’m part of her hurt. I turn to look at Boston, and he’s watching her go. The pain in his eyes, makes everything inside of me just come to a standstill. I watch him, watching her, and I know.
I just know.
She’s what he wants more.
I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that, but I can see it now. Almost too clearly. He cares about me, we have a connection, but if you strip it down to basics, I think it’s a warm, comforting connection. Something that bonds two people, but not necessarily as lovers. Sometimes, it makes the best of friends. Maybe that’s all Boston and I were ever destined to be.
Friends.
Great friends even.
But I’ve never seen him look at me the way he’s looking at her right now. The way he’s watching her disappear down the street, fists clenched, jaw tight, eyes not moving off her, not even when she’s out of sight.
It hurts, but it’s almost as if I knew it all along, too.
I reach down and pick up my purse, just as Boston turns around. His eyes go to my purse, and he murmurs, “You goin’ to run from me, too?”
I hold his gaze. “There comes a time in every woman’s life where she sees a certain look in a man’s eyes, tonight, watching you watch her, I see that look. It’s her, Boston, I can see that clearly now.”
He shakes his head and murmurs a low, “Fuck. Don’t do this to me right now, Penelope. My mind is a fucking mess.”
“Do you want to go after her?”
He looks to me. “Penny...”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“And if I walked away right now, would you want to go after me?”
He holds my gaze. “Yes.”
“Boston,” I say, my voice soft. “You hurt her, and you’re hurting me. I know you’re not trying to, but we’re all caught up in this, and we all have feelings that are going to keep growing, because that’s what feelings do. Staying away from each other, it isn’t going to change anything, it’s only going to make the ache worse. You have to make a choice. Her or me. Or, you have to say neither of us, which means I need to move out of your house, stop caring for your sister, and leave your life completely. Same goes for Chantelle. It’s the only way. And you know it.”