Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Easton’s hands rub up and down my back. The familiarity takes me back to a time that seems so long ago. I still can’t believe he’s here. I never thought I’d see him again. To be honest, I never wanted to see him again because I couldn’t bear the thought of him rejecting me because of what my father had done.
I don’t know if I’m overcome with emotion, but when I lift my head I’m no longer in Easton’s lap. I’m lying on a sofa. A low humming sound fills my ears. My eyes lock with Easton’s, who is sitting across from me. He has no tables or laptop in front of him. He’s only watching me. I can tell from the nice leather seat he’s in that we’re on an airplane. He’s even got a new suit on. This one is not soaked with coffee.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my mind and body feeling exhausted.
“I told you what was going to happen, Neverland,” Easton states as though earlier we were both in agreement with whatever plan he’d thrown out. This is insane.
“You did not seriously put me on a plane. You can’t just do whatever you want.” I swear that small smirk forms on his face again, making me wish I had another coffee to dump on him. “Where are you taking me? I at least should be privy to that.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Inside, there’s a war waging between me being mad that he strong-armed me and me loving the fact that he wants me so much that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to have me. Even if it means kinda kidnapping me in a sense.
“I did, and I will continue to do what it takes until you come to your senses.” I scowl at him, but it only makes his smirk grow. I feel the plane touch down on the ground. “And to answer your other question, I’m taking you home. The place I’ve built and dreamed of living a life with you.”
I’ve waited for this moment for a long time. To take her to our very own Neverland.
12
EASTON
She tries hard to mask her reaction to my words, but I see it in her eyes. I don’t care how many years it’s been since I’ve seen her, I know my girl. She’s curious. She wants to let those walls down so badly, but she doesn’t trust me.
Not the way she used to, at least. My girl used to tell me everything and never doubted what I said. There were a few times early on she’d be wary, but whenever I felt that from her, I was quick to shut it down any way that I needed to. Now it’s all gone. I earned it before; I can surely do it again.
I have to remind myself to be patient. It’s hard when I’ve waited so long for her. When she gave me a taste of her being in my arms again. But I can take baby steps. At least that’s what I told myself while I watched her sleep.
We’ll see how long that lasts. She hasn’t thrown anything at me since the car ride, so I’ll take that as a move in the right direction.
“What are you talking about? Are you on drugs or something?” God I’ve missed that smart mouth of hers. Been missing out on all the things I was going to do with it before she was taken from me.
“Which part of what I said earlier didn’t you catch?” I ask. I know I sound like an asshole. The anger inside of me still simmers. I never spoke to her this way before. Melody always got my softer side, but she’s been gone so long that softness has vanished from inside me. Only she can bring it back.
I try to reach out to lead her off the plane, but she bats my hand away.
“We can sit here forever if you want or you can get off the plane and see what awaits you.”
I would pick her up and carry her to the waiting SUV, but I want her to come with me. I don’t say another word, wanting her to make the choice to follow me. I make my way toward the open exit door.
“You’re talking crazy. This whole thing is insane,” she mutters, but I can tell she’s right behind me. I can’t help but smile as I go down the stairs. “We don’t even know each other. We’re basically strangers.” Those words stop me in my tracks and cause me to turn to face her. She looks surprised as though she hadn’t meant to say them out loud.
“You could never be a stranger to me.” Her face softens. “We may have gone down different paths in life due to circumstances we couldn’t control, but I know you still have feelings for me, and I’ve never stopped loving you. You’ll see.”