Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
I bat his hand away and pull back. “I’m… I’m fine. I’m…”
Not fine at all.
My whole world feels like it’s crashing down. The life I’d imagined I could have, the love, it’s all just been ripped out of my chest, leaving a gaping wound that I don’t think will ever heal. I’m terrified that maybe this could have worked, but more terrified to find out it never would.
“Get me out of here,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. If I see Chance again, I know I won’t think straight. I’m horrible for leaving, but he shouldn’t have lied. “Just get me out of here, please. Take me…” The word sticks in my throat as I take one more look around the house that a few minutes ago I thought I might want to live in forever. And then I force it out. “Take me home.”
Chapter Ten
Chance
What the actual fuck?
I mean it, what the fuck? Even as I tear the house apart looking for her, throwing furniture, ripping doors off their hinges, tossing beds and tables, I can tell she’s gone.
It’s emptier than it was when I left.
And it’s not a lack of things, it’s a lack of…her.
“Sophia?”
Part of me wonders if she could have gone out for a walk, but I know that’s not the case. Don’t ask me how I know, I just know. It’s like there’s some invisible thread binding me to her, and right now it’s stretched long. So long it might just break.
I could lose her.
Fuck. I can’t lose her. I’ll die, maybe not physically, not for a while, but there won’t be any more of me left inside the hollow shell that’s left behind. Any hope I had of finding happiness is gone without her.
“Sophia? Where the fuck are you?”
My voice is hoarse with emotions I had no idea I knew how to feel. All those combat tours, I thought they’d numbed me. Apparently not.
Fuck. I need to get a hold of myself. I need to figure this out. She’s gone, and not gone out but gone away. Which means…
She knows about the other road. Fuck! Why did I keep it from her? Why did I think I could get away with that and she’d never find out? Of course she’s fucking pissed, I would be in her position.
But did she find it herself, or…?
Without finishing the thought, I’m out and heading for the garage where I keep my bike. If she left by herself, she took my bike or she left on foot. Either way, I know where she’s headed, and I have to get there right now.
The fucking hotel.
Slamming the shutters on the garage open, I see my bike still sitting there and my heart surges with both relief and fear. If she’s on foot, I have a chance of catching her and making all this right. But I don’t like the idea of her being out there alone, scrambling up that dirt path, scared and feeling betrayed.
Hold on, baby, I’m coming.
Chapter Eleven
Sophia
“Nothing before then?” Tor leans on the counter, making the salesclerk pull back.
“N—no. Sorry. The earlier flight the young lady was originally booked on is filled.” He visibly gulps, and I’m surprised he doesn’t add please don’t hurt me. “The only one available is in ninety-minutes and I have three seats. That’s it until tomorrow.”
Poor guy. This is hardly his fault.
“You two really are a couple of cavemen, aren’t you? Just pay the guy and we’ll wait for our flight. Jeez.” I lock eyes with the man behind the counter. “Sorry about these two.”
He nods like I’m offering him a lifeline, but before he can thank me I’m already turning away, heading for the departure lounge. None of this even means anything to me. I’m numb, like I no longer have any emotions left to give besides irritation.
We stopped by the hotel on our way, and I had my purse, but I couldn’t find my room key so it took a while to get into my room. We picked up my luggage, and I changed before heading to the airport, so at least I’m half decent, dressed in a pair of shorts and a strappy top. The thoughts of Chance, all the things we did, that I could be pregnant right now…my heart breaks and my belly twists.
I’m so conflicted about everything in my entire life right now.
I can’t decide whether I’m ashamed I gave myself so easily to a man who may or may not care about me, or whether I’m glad I shared that moment with him. After all, was what he did so bad? Wanting to keep me there? It’s not like I didn’t want to stay.
It’s just… The lie. I can’t seem to get past the fact that he’s like that. Like my father.
“We’re going to go grab a bite to eat. You wanna join?” Cyrus’s voice comes from beside me, but I don’t even turn.