Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
I didn’t care about anything.
“I’m his mother. You have no rights. None. I let you see him because I’m a nice person, and I can stop being nice at any time. Do not fuck with me, Ruger.”
He reached up and touched my face lightly, running his finger across my cheek. It sent shivers down my back, and just like that I wanted him.
“I won’t fuck around,” he said. “Just so you know. I nearly lost you. I won’t risk that again. I told you before I’d never be a one-woman man, but I was wrong.”
I looked in his face, studying his eyes. He meant it. I thought about lying in bed with him … I wanted to give in. I wanted him.
It didn’t matter.
“Too late,” I said, and I meant it. “I’m done with you, and I’m fucking serious. Get. Out. Of. My. House.”
He held my gaze, then the miracle happened.
Ruger listened.
He backed away, turned, and walked out of the house. I heard his bike roar to life outside and then the sound of him riding away.
I’d done it. I’d finally managed to put Ruger in his place. Unfortunately, I was too tired to enjoy it.
MONDAY
KIMBER: How u doing?
ME: Ok. Noah’s still kind of clingy. You did a good job but he was still scared. Thank you so much for taking care of him. Im so glad he was safe
KIMBER: That’s what friends do—u wud do it for me. I’ve been thinkng about u … U want to get together, maybe talk?
ME: No. Just want to lay low for a while
WEDNESDAY
MARIE: Hey Sophie! Me and Maggs and Dancer want to hang out tomorrow night … Want to join us?
ME: Thanks but probably not. You have fun
MARIE: Okay. How are you?
ME: Im fine
MARIE: You talked to Em?
ME: No. She ok?
MARIE: Not sure. She wont tell me anything. I’m worried … Did anythng happen we should know about? I mean, while you guys were … wherever? Maybe we can get together and talk
ME: Im fine, just want to stick to myself and Noah for a while. Em and I werent together the whole time. If you want to know more, you need to get it from her
MARIE: Okay. We’re worried about you too … How are things
ME: Fine. I just want space
MARIE: I get that. But please call if you need us ((hugs))
THURSDAY
DANCER: Hey. how goes it? Maybe we could let the kids play this afternoon?
ME: Um, we’re pretty busy right now.
DANCER: Know how that goes … Did you remember Maries bachelorette party? Its a week from Friday. We have a sitter, she offered to watch Noah too
ME: Not sure I’ll maek it. I’ll find my own sitter
DANCER: Okay. Don’t hide out too long
FRIDAY
KIMBER: This is bullshit. I get ur pissed at Ruger and Reapers but I’m not one of them, u can’t freeze me out. You guys come over tonight or I’m sending Ryan to get u
ME: Noah and I are watching movies at home
KIMBER: No. Ur coming to my house. We’re having a party. I need backup!!! NO Reapers. Nromal people. Kids too. U and Noah be here at six or I will come and get you. Not fucking around.
ME: Your a pushy bitch
KIMBER: Ya think? Get ur ass here or I’ll come for u. No excuses. Bring swimsuits and a dessert
My brand-new iPhone said it was five fifty-six when we pulled up to Kimber’s house. Ruger had dropped it off the previous Sunday, the day after my little adventure with Em. I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but I needed a phone, and I figured he could afford it better than I could. I didn’t feel guilty about it, either. It was his fault I’d gotten kidnapped in the first place, so I might as well blame him for drowning my phone.
I didn’t let him into the house. Noah wanted to go to his house and I told him no. Then I shut the door in Ruger’s face.
Now it was Friday night and I’d caved to Kimber’s ultimatum, because I knew she was serious when she said they’d come and get me. I held a plate of brownies in one hand and a bag of swim gear in the other, and when Kimber’s husband, Ryan, opened the door, I had to smile. He wore neon-green swim trunks and a purple Hawaiian-print shirt. On his head was an orange cowboy hat, and he held a Super Soaker in one hand.
Coming here had been a good idea, I realized.
“Welcome to the party,” he said, smiling at me broadly.
“Nice look,” I said, eyeing his outfit.
“Hey, it takes a very confident man to pull something like this off,” he said without an ounce of shame.
“Did you lose a bet?” I asked, smirking.
“As a matter of fact, he did,” said another man, coming over to stand next to Ryan. He had longish, scruffy brown hair and a great smile, and the look in his eyes said he appreciated my appearance. He also held a Super Soaker, although he wore perfectly normal trunks and a T-shirt that said “Code Monkey Like You.”