Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
The center screen moves until it’s outside of her apartment. She moved there last year, and it broke my heart. I’d dreamed of moving out with her, but that one afternoon changed it all.
I watched for a few weeks after the accident when she would come to the estate to talk to me. The staff always turned her away, but I would watch and wish I could go to her. But I wasn’t me for a long time, and even now, it’s hard to control. There’s this thing in me that is begging to break free, and I have to restrain it at all times. That’s what we’ve been working on.
Tonight Elsy is sitting on her small balcony having dinner alone. I can’t tell what it is, spaghetti maybe? The more I watch her, the more I feel like a creep, and I go to turn it off. That’s when I see her turn toward her door. There must be a sound or something because she goes over and opens it.
From this angle, I can’t see who it is, but she’s talking to someone at her front door. After a moment, she steps back, and in walks a man that I don’t know. He smiles at her like they’re old friends before he leans down and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
Without realizing it, I’ve picked up the chair beside me and thrown it against the wall of screens. The whole thing shatters, and I feel everything I’ve spent all day trying to suppress.
“FUCK!” I shout as I look at what I’ve done. Now I’ve lost connection with the one thing I need most, and I’ll have to clean this up.
The party is tomorrow. How the fuck am I supposed to control this if someone is putting their hands on my Elsy?
Chapter Three
ELSY
“Everything is going as planned,” Oliver says as he waltzes right into my bedroom. At least the one I stay in when I’m back home with the Walkers. They’ve kept my childhood bedroom a time capsule. I both love and hate this room. There are so many memories and most of them make me think of Keaton.
It didn’t matter that I’d taken down all the pictures of the two of us or shoved that debate trophy we’d won freshman year to the back of my closet so I didn’t have to see it. This room always reminds me of him. At first a memory will pop into my head, and I’ll start to smile before the stark reminder comes to me that he’s gone from my life.
“I could have been naked.” I’m not, but I was enjoying my last few moments alone. Oliver dramatically rolls his eyes because I have nothing he wants to see.
“Someone needs to see you naked.” This time it’s me that rolls my eyes. He gives me his typical kiss on the cheek before he wiggles his brows. I’ve known Oliver for a month now, and you’d think I’ve known him my whole life with how he talks. “There’s still time. I know a few men I could invite.”
“You’d do that? Change up the guest list?” I gasp in horror. Oliver might be all fun and games at times, but when it comes down to the details, he’s not messing around.
“It’s not a sit-down dinner. It would be fine.” Still, he pulls at the collar of his shirt.
“Don’t. You’ll mess up your bow tie.” I smack his hand away.
“You like it?” He turns to the mirror hanging over my dresser and straightens it.
“I do, but I don’t think anyone else could pull it off.” Oliver has a style all of his own.
It’s not shocking. He is an event planner, and the whole backyard and the entryway to the house has been styled for tonight. You’d think this was a wedding. A giant tent has been raised in the backyard, and the last time I peeked inside, they were hanging chandeliers in there.
I think my parents are making up for all the times I’ve said no to parties over the years. I hadn’t wanted a sweet sixteen or high school graduation party or even a party when I graduated from college with honors last month. When they asked to throw me a party for my twenty-first, I couldn’t say no. Not when they both had such hopeful expressions on their faces. They’ve done so much for me that at the very least I can do this for them.
“No one’s going to notice my bow tie when they see your dress.” He grins like a Cheshire cat.
“I’m scared.” A hesitant laugh bubbles out of me. Oliver went over every detail of this party with me even when I didn’t need or want to know all that was happening. The man misses no details, but he hasn’t uttered a peep about the dress beyond taking my measurements.