Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Denver: Tell Lyra I’m working, that I love her, and I’ll talk to her soon.
I don’t respond to the text. I don’t think he wants or expects me to. But I do relay his message to Ly, and when I do, her tiny face scrunches up in little girl annoyance. “He didn’t call me back.”
“He’s busy, honey,” I say as I tighten the straps to keep her in place.
“He always calls or comes to see me. He’s never too busy for me.”
She, of course, has a point, but then again, that was before her mommy was an idiot. “He’ll call.”
“Promise?”
God, as pissed as I am at myself for acting like I did, I’m starting to get mad at Denver. If he didn’t start this mess, Ly wouldn’t be confused and things would be like they’ve always been.
“Promise.” I kiss her forehead then slam her door. I climb in behind the wheel of my Suburban and start the engine. Still feeling pissed, I send Denver a message without thinking.
Me: This is exactly why I didn’t want to go there with you. Ly is now seriously disappointed and confused. I understand you’re pissed at me, but you shouldn’t let that affect things between you and her.
After I press Send, I bite my lip, and then my jaw clenches when I see his immediate reply.
Denver: You don’t want to go there with me, because you’re a coward. Don’t use Lyra as an excuse. And I’d never let anything affect my relationship with her, and you know that shit.
Me: You’re an asshole.
I press Send then wish I didn’t. I don’t want to fight with him. I don’t want to argue or push him away anymore than I already have, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Or I think so, until I see his response.
Denver: An asshole you’re in love with. You need to come to terms with that, Bre, because like I said before, you and I are going to find a way to work this out. By the way, I heard you canceled your date with Mike. Smart move, baby.
“Oh my God,” I hiss, angrily tossing my phone into the passenger seat. I’m so furious I actually want to scream at the top of my lungs and pound my fist into the dashboard. The only reason I don’t is because Ly would totally freak out if I did. How the hell does he know I canceled my date with Mike? And what the hell is going on with him? I thought after he dropped me off and didn’t answer or return my call that he was done. I shouldn’t feel relieved that he hasn’t given up on me, but I do, and that just makes me even more pissed.
“Mommy, are we going to go?”
I look over my shoulder, plastering a smile on my face. “Yep.”
I put the truck in reverse, back out of my spot, and then drive us to the library, where we spend some time listening to a story then wandering around looking for books to check out. After we leave the library, we stop by the house, and I load up my canoe and pack us a lunch to eat at the lake. We spend the rest of the day out on the water cruising around. When we return home, we watch a movie, eat some dinner, and after I get Ly showered and into bed, I go to bed myself.
Two hours later, after tossing and turning, I give up on sleep and get up. I put on a pair of socks and grab one of my old sweatshirts, pulling it down over my head as I walk to the front door with my e-reader and baby monitor. The night is cool but not freezing, so I curl up in one of the chairs on the front porch, tucking my legs under my sweatshirt. Just as I’m starting to get to the good part in the story, I feel a presence join me on the porch, and from the sudden awareness in my body, I know who it is without looking.
“Why are you here?” I don’t look up as Denver takes the seat next to mine and stretches his long legs out, resting his boot-covered feet on the rail.
“I tried to call Lyra. Your phone went to voicemail,” he replies. Crap, I forgot to charge my cell when we got home. It died when we were out on the lake and I didn’t have my backup charger—something that was seriously stupid to forget. “Were you ignoring my calls?”
My head flies up and my eyes narrow. “No. Unlike you, I’ve never ignored your calls. My phone died when we were out on the lake. When we got home, I didn’t remember to charge it.”
Something shifts in his expression as his eyes scan my face. “I wasn’t ignoring your calls, baby. I was busy. A friend needed my help getting his boat back in to port after his engine went out. My cell doesn’t work out there; only my satellite phone does.”