Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 34938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Blaze it is.” He tips his glass, saluting the small kitten. His phone rings, and my heart sinks. Kent pulls it out and looks at the screen. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.” He gives me an awkward half grin and steps out on the back patio.
Sliding the glass doors closed behind him, I watch him as he walks further away and peeks back at me over his shoulder.
I don't like this. I don't like these secret conversations. There's no reason for it, unless he. . .
Has another girlfriend. . . No, he’s not cheating.
We've spent every day together since he moved in, it's not another woman.
So what is it?
Tapping my finger against the glass, my brain struggles to come up with a solid reason.
Holy shit. It hits me like a ton of bricks. He's probably reporting all of this back to my father.
It all makes sense. His insisting that I do things I shouldn't. Enticing me to break the rules. He's manipulating me to give my father reasons to fire me.
How could I be so blind? I'm so stupid!
“Here comes the rain,” he says as he comes back inside. A huge gust of wind almost blows in behind him, making the curtains fly out, and some loose papers scatter across the floor.
The rain is coming down in sheets, and thunder is booming closer and more often, each one louder than the last. Walking to his side, we both stare out as the rain pounds the back patio and causes ripples in the pool. The tide is rising, and the waves seem to be crashing even closer to the house.
My body jolts as a giant bolt of lightning crackles across the sky. Kent laughs. “Don't worry. I'll keep you safe from the storm.”
I smile, but my smile is less happy and more sarcastic. “Oh yeah, is that right?” I know there's a tone to my voice, and I don't really care. “Keep me safe the same way you're trying to take me down?”
I caught him. I figured him out. His little game is over.
Kent flicks his eyes in my direction and raises a brow. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Don't pretend like you don't know. I know what you're doing, I can see it clear as day now. I was so damn stupid, I really was.”
“Perri, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about right now.” He tries to reach for my hand, but I pull away quickly. “What has gotten into you?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.
“Me?” I ask, laughing loudly as I roll my eyes. “What has gotten into me?” Leaning forward, I point up at his face. “Don't act like you're innocent. I know what you've been doing, and I'll never forgive you for it.”
“Perri, I honestly have no idea what you think I’ve done.” His brows dip in, lips turning down. “Can you just tell me what you mean? Talk to me.”
“You still want to stand here and act like you don't know? As if you and my father didn't hatch this little plan together? Everything that's happened, all of this,” I snap, flipping my finger between us, “it was a god damn show.”
“What?” he balks, setting his glass down on the coffee table, and attempting to grab both of my wrists. “Per—”
“Don't touch me,” I demand, throwing up both my arms and taking a long step back. “You make me sick. You seduced me, you led me on, you let me believe you actually cared about me. . .” Pausing, I shake my head. “I thought you actually liked me, but all you wanted to do was get me in the palm of your hand to manipulate me.”
“I do like you.” His voice deepens as his expression hardens. “Why would you ever think I faked all of this just to set you up? For what?”
“Who just called you?”
“It was only a business call, that's it.”
“Business call, yeah, right. And what about at the grocery store? Was that business too?”
“Perri, I don't—”
“Was it my father?” I snap, not letting him finish.
“What? No.” He shakes his head, his eyes huge.
“Bullshit, Kent. I need you to be honest with me. Who called you tonight? It had to be someone you didn't want me to hear you talking with. So, who the hell was it?”
“Perri, come on, this is crazy.” Kent laughs nervously as he rakes a hand through his hair. “You're being paranoid.”
“No, Kent, crazy is me thinking any of this was real.” My nails drag through my hair, pulling it tight against my scalp.
“It is real, Perri, that's what I'm trying to tell you.”
“Then tell me who called you. Was it my father?”
“Perri—”
“Forget it,” I say, waving the white flag. I don't want his answer anymore. “I'm not sticking around for this shit. I won't put myself through this if you're not willing to be honest with me.” Tears stream down my cheeks, falling to the floor. I'm not even trying to stop them, because I don't care. Let him see what he's making me feel because I don't think he even cares at this point. “You're such a dick.”