Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 92422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“That’s a difficult situation to be in when you’re just a kid yourself.”
“Yeah. They really applied a lot of pressure. They threatened to go to the news outlets if we didn’t give them more money and set a date. Anna missed a lot of school, and I didn’t see much of her. I figured it was because she didn’t feel good. Morning sickness and stuff like that. So, one night, I decided to stop by her house. Her parents weren’t home, and she didn’t really want to let me inside. But I said that we had to talk. I needed to see her and get everything hashed out. I was tired of her parents calling all the shots and making unrealistic demands. Even though she was scared, she agreed. She looked terrible. Pale and thinner than I remembered. After I told her that I’d marry her if that’s what she really wanted, she broke down and said that she wasn’t pregnant. That she’d never been pregnant.”
My eyes widen as my hand flies to my mouth. “No!”
Air leaks from his lungs until he looks deflated. “Yeah. Her parents put her up to it. They saw it as an easy way to make some cash and set their family up for life.”
“Oh god, Colby. That’s so terrible. I can’t believe something like that happened to you.”
“It was a really fucked-up situation. After that, I pulled back and evaluated everyone in my life and whether they could be trusted. It was a tough lesson to learn.”
It’s so tempting to come clean and admit that I understand exactly what he’s talking about. People have tried to use me, and it always hurts because, in the end, it only reinforces that your worth is tied to what you’re able to do for someone. How much you’re willing to give them. It’s disheartening.
Instead, I slip around the table and pull him into my arms. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“Thanks. I spent some time after that working with a therapist because I was really pissed off and depressed. It just felt like my trust had been broken and I wasn’t sure there was a way to repair the damage.”
Guilt mushrooms up inside me.
“It’s understandable that you would feel that way. It’s so important to talk about what’s going on deep inside instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.”
“Yup, that’s what I learned.” There’s a moment of silence as he pulls away enough to search my eyes. “This isn’t a subject I’ve ever discussed with anyone else besides my family and therapist. But I wanted you to know. It just felt…important.”
His brutal honesty is like a gut punch.
I need to tell him the truth.
My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. Before I can work up the nerve, the timer beeps, interrupting our conversation.
I take a step in retreat as he rises to his feet before snagging two mitts from the counter and pulling the pan from the oven. The cheese is perfectly browned as he sets it on the stove to cool.
As delicious as the aroma is, my appetite has vanished. I don’t think I could eat a single bite. “It smells really good.”
“I promise that it’ll taste even better,” he says, the heaviness of our previous conversation fading.
I slip back onto my chair before squeezing my eyelids tightly shut. It’s only when I sense his presence that I force them open and find him hunkered down in front of me. He reaches out and cups my cheek with one large palm. Solemnity fills his blue depths.
“I’m going to take such good care of you that you’ll never want to get loose.”
After what he just divulged, it’s shocking that he’s not the one searching for a way out.
Even though he hasn’t admitted it, my guess is that he’s still affected by what happened in high school.
In only makes me feel worse than I already do.
When I remain silent, he searches my eyes. “Nothing to say?”
I shake my head. A thick lump gets lodged in my throat, making it impossible to breathe.
He presses close enough to ghost his lips over mine. Neither of us close our eyes. Instead, they stay locked on each other.
“You have no idea how much I’m looking forward to coming home tonight.” His voice drops. “To my wife.”
Warmth blooms in my chest before spreading outward. There’s no way to stop it from seeping into every cell of my being.
“I better get moving. If I’m late, Coach will have us skating suicides.” He grimaces before pressing his mouth against mine. “After I get back, I’m going to enjoy that lasagna. I’ll also enjoy hearing you tell me how damn good it was.” His lips hover over mine again. “And then I’m going to enjoy eating your pussy before sliding deep inside it until you shudder around my cock, milking it until there’s nothing left to give.”