Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
A tear rolled down my face. When I read his text, he was my Cale for a moment and I really missed him. But when my brain took over, I also remembered that he’d kidnapped me three years ago, successfully ruining me for life. It wasn’t fair.
Leaning over into my purse, I fished out the picture from the pumpkin patch. We had been so unbelievably happy. The smile on my face was huge. I was jealous of the girl in the picture because she had the man I loved.
I fell asleep with my phone in one hand and our picture in the other.
Breakups suck.
ON SUNDAY MORNING, I finally called Anj using the number Pops had texted to me.
“Hello?” she asked, probably not recognizing the number.
“Anj, it’s me, Cale.”
“I would ask you how you’re doing, but I don’t care. Ben said you and Lia broke up yesterday. Who the hell breaks up with someone after they were nearly raped?” She was completely pissed at me.
“Look, Anj, you don’t know all the details and I’m not going to tell you either. Just know that I love Lia so much and want to make things better. Ben said she’s gone to New York to be with her mom. She isn’t responding to my texts or answering my calls. I need her back, Anj. Please just find out where she’s staying. I’m going to New York to be with her. You can’t tell her though because she’ll avoid me at all costs.” If I had to beg on my knees, I would. I would do anything for Lia.
“Ugh! She’s gonna kill me for this if she’s that pissed at you. But since that girl has been the happiest I’ve ever seen her since you came waltzing into her life, I’m going to do this for you. So help me, Cale, if you don’t get my girl to being happy again, I’ll claw your eyes out.” Her tone was simple but the threat was real.
“You’re the best Anj. I promise, I will do everything in my power to make things right again.”
I arrived in New York late Sunday evening. My mind was on one thing only: getting to Lia. I was completely nervous when I thought about how pissed she would be when I showed up. Selfishly, I was hoping she would see me and miss me as much as I missed her.
When the cab driver dropped me off, I went into the hotel and checked in. Anj had pulled through and gotten the name of the hotel. She couldn’t ask her what room she was staying in without being conspicuous, so I was on my own there. Anj did, however, find out that they would be out all day shopping.
I let myself into my room. The hotel was pretty posh to say the least. I hoped Lia was enjoying her stay with her mom. She still hadn’t responded to any of my texts. Several times today, I’d texted her, but I hadn’t been rewarded with a response. It really sucked to be disconnected from her like this.
Figuring she’d be asleep anyway, I decided I would call her phone. At least I’d hear her sweet voice over the voicemail. On the last ring, I expected her voicemail to kick in, but a very groggy Lia answered.
“Hello?” she murmured.
“Lia. I love you,” I whispered to her through the phone, not wanting to break the spell so I could selfishly hear her voice.
“I love you too, Cale.” That response was music to my ears. Her breathing was rhythmic, meaning she was still out of it.
“I miss you, Lia. Please don’t hate me anymore. I want your forgiveness more than anything in the whole world. This life isn’t worth living without you,” I told her quietly.
“Mmmmm.”
“I’ll find you tomorrow so we can talk things out babe.” I know she won’t comprehend what I’m saying but I had to tell her anyway.
“Room service for room 417.” Her voice still thick with sleep.
“Noted, babe. Enjoy breakfast in the morning.” I hung up so she could continue sleeping.
I should have felt guilty for having had a conversation with her while she was half asleep, but I didn’t. Not even a little bit. Her sweet voice was what I’d needed to hear.
THE KNOCKING ON the door pulled me from my slumber on Monday morning. “Room service,” the woman’s voice chirped on the other side of the door.
After jumping out of bed and tightening the robe around me, I answered the door. “I’m sorry but I didn’t order any.”
“No worries, ma’am. It was ordered by another hotel guest for you.”
I stepped back as she wheeled in the cart with the covered platter and carafe. She set to work arranging it on the table for me. Once she left, I shut the door behind her and sat down at the table, eager to see what was under the lid. My stomach was growling, completely agreeing with me. I lifted the lid to find my favorite kinds of donuts. Mom. She was really doing what she could to pull me out of my funk.