Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“About my things? Talking to who?” I demanded.
“No. About my things,” he said calmly. “I see a therapist.”
“Oh. You do?” It surprised me. Finn’s life seemed fucking perfect. He seemed perfect.
“Yes. Everyone’s got issues, Dallas. Not just you. But I’ve been talking a lot about you lately, and my therapist really thinks repairing our relationship is important. I do, too.”
“Frankly, I’m not sure what’s there to repair,” I said. “We’ve never had much of a relationship. I’m closer to your kids than I am to you. I relate to them better.”
“So let’s change that. When you get here, let’s get to know each other as adults and put the past behind us. Do you think we can?”
“Maybe. Did you ever talk to Mom?”
“Yes.”
“Did she ask a million questions?”
“Of course. But I didn’t tell her anything.”
“I can’t believe she hasn’t been calling me nonstop.”
“I told her not to bother you while you were on vacation and you’d call her from here.” Finn’s tone was firm.
“Thanks.” My phone buzzed, indicating a text message. A quick glance at the screen told me it was from Maren. “Okay. Look, I better go. I’m having dinner with a friend tonight.”
“You mentioned seeing someone before. Who is it? Anyone I know?”
A lie was on the tip of my tongue, but at the last second, I decided to be truthful. I wasn’t even sure why. “Maren Devine.”
“Your old girlfriend, right? Any sparks left?”
I rolled my eyes. “Jesus, Finn.”
“Sorry. But I’d like to hear about your visit with her.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. My flight gets in around one or two.”
“I’m really glad you’re not driving. Safe travels.”
“Thanks.”
We hung up and I read Maren’s message saying she’d meet me here at the hotel. Just seeing her name on the screen made my heart beat faster. I replied, offering again to pick her up. I wanted to do things for her.
You could tell her the truth.
Gritting my teeth, I shoved the thought aside and read her response assuring me she didn’t need me to come get her and she’d be here soon.
Me: Good. I missed you today.
Maren: I missed you too. Can’t wait to see you!
That’s because you don’t know the kind of person I really am.
Tossing my phone on the bed, I undressed and got in the shower. Being in there reminded me of showering with her, and I recalled the way she’d looked as she stood naked beneath the spray, water streaming down her body. I remembered the way she’d tasted, the way she’d touched me, the way she’d whispered the sweetest things in my ear—I missed you, I want you, I trust you.
I was hard in no time, and so fucking tempted to do something about it, but I denied myself. I didn’t deserve the pleasure.
After I got out, I dressed in jeans and a dark blue button-down, put in my contacts, and wrangled my hair into something respectable. I glared at the Depakote in my travel bag for a moment, but ended up taking one. The last thing I needed was to have an episode at the dinner table. I was still humiliated by the one Maren witnessed yesterday.
When I was ready, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. It nauseated me.
You’re a miserable, lying prick. But you’ve got one last chance to make this right. Don’t blow it like you’ve done with every other good thing in your life.
I wasn’t sure whose voice it was—my father’s? Finn’s? my own?—but I knew what it said was true.
I had to tell her.
She knocked on my door just after five. I opened it, unprepared for the way my knees nearly buckled at the sight of her.
“Hi.” She smiled and came toward me with open arms. “I missed you.”
“Hi.” I hugged her close. “You look beautiful. And you smell delicious. You’re probably not even wearing perfume.”
She laughed. “Nope. Just a little lavender oil.”
I released her and looked her over, head to toe. “God, you’re gorgeous.”
Her cheeks bloomed with pink. “Thank you. How are you feeling?”
“Better now that you’re here. I have something for you.”
Her eyes brightened. “You do?”
“Yes.” I took her by the shoulders and put her in front of the full-length mirror on the closet door. “Close your eyes.”
She did as I asked and I dug the little box with the necklace in it out of my suitcase and opened it up.
“No peeking,” I told her, taking it from the box and undoing the clasp.
“I’m not. I promise.”
Reaching over her head, I draped the necklace around her throat and fastened it at the back of her neck. “Okay. You can look.”
She opened her eyes and gasped. Her fingertips immediately went to the gold lotus pendant, which looked stunning against her skin. “Oh, my God. Dallas.”
Our eyes met in the mirror and hers misted over.
“Do you like it?” I asked.