Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
When you’re ready.
You can go in.
As if that last ten odd years of my life I haven’t fucking prayed for this moment.
Hand stretching out, I turn the door handle and push the door open.
A chair by the window is washed in sunlight, and I can see her hair before anything else. The same straw-colored locks that I loved so fucking much. As she turns, I know that everything happening in this moment is real. It’s real because I know those eyes, I lived for those eyes, they were everything to me. The soft blue depths have lost some of their sparkle, but that doesn’t take away from her sheer beauty.
I’m fucked.
I’m completely fucked.
“Hi, stranger,” she whispers, and my entire body jerks in response. “Long time no see.”
What the hell am I going to do now?
5 – Janine
HE HASN’T COME HOME.
Ever since the police officers came to our door, he hasn’t returned.
I’ve called the club.
I’ve called everyone I can think of.
Nobody knows where he is.
Nobody knows what’s happening.
I’ve never felt a fear like it in all my life. An unwavering clenching of my chest that I can’t escape, no matter how much I pace the house, my eyes on the door, waiting for it to open. What if he’s had an accident? What if he’s hurt? Or worse? Jackson has the guys out looking for him, but that does nothing to calm my nerves.
The front door opens, and my head whips in that direction, eyes on the opening, praying he’ll step inside. He doesn’t, instead, Serenity and Addison step in, their faces washed with concern as they close the door behind them. My shoulders sag and my head drops, the emotions inside me almost bringing me to breaking point.
“Oh, honey.” Serenity rushes over, throwing her arms around me. “We’re going to find him.”
I should tell them the truth, because if I don’t, they could spend hours looking in all the wrong places. Something happened when he was delivered that envelope and whatever it was, it has sent him into a frenzy. I don’t know how much the club knows about it, but if it really is club business, then they should be aware of it. Right?
If they’re not, then I know he lied.
The thought that he lied to me is crushing.
“There’s something I didn’t tell you,” I croak, pulling back, fighting the urge to cry.
Serenity glances at Addison, who steps forward, offering me a warm smile. “Talk to us.”
I tell them about the police officers coming by and how they delivered an envelope to him. I tell them how his mood immediately changed and his eyes became haunted, like he had seen a ghost. Both girls glance at each other when I’m done, and I can see the concern in their eyes. They’re thinking what I am – that whatever was in that envelope is something bad.
“Maybe it’s club business and they just aren’t telling us. You know how crazy they get with that stuff,” Serenity points out.
“I feel like they would have told her if it was club business, though.” Addison frowns. “They know how worried she is.”
“You’re right.” Serenity purses her lips. “Has he said anything, anything at all?”
I shake my head, staring down at my hands.
Max cries from his rocker on the ground and Addison immediately rushes over, pulling him up into her arms and showering him with kisses. I don’t know where I’d be without these girls, they’re literally my lifeline.
“Let’s just focus on finding him, then we can worry about the next part,” Serenity says, before turning me toward the couch. “You sit, I’m going to make some dinner. Where’s Eb?”
“At my mom’s,” I tell her. “I didn’t want her to see me so upset.”
“We’re here now,” Addi says, bouncing Max. “You just leave this cute bundle of joy to me; I’m going to make sure he’s perfectly taken care of.”
I give her a weak smile, but I’m so damned grateful for them.
Serenity makes dinner, and we all eat. I try my best to keep conversation, but with every passing minute, it becomes harder and harder. Eventually, I have to put Max to bed and the girls promise to call me if they hear anything. The moment I’m alone and Max is sleeping, I sit on the edge of the bed and drop my head into my hands. I don’t know what to think, how to feel, but I do know that I hate these sensations running through my body.
The front door slams, causing my head to jerk up.
I don’t move as heavy footsteps come toward the room, it’s as if my body is frozen in place, my breath stuck in my lungs as I wait to see if it’s him.
Then a moment later, the door opens.
Muff stands in the opening, his eyes glassy, a beer in his hand.