Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 65389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 19
Alex is nowhere to be found when I leave class and I have to admit I am bummed and a little worried. I know he went to see the principal, but surely it isn’t taking this long. Right? I can feel the panic rising thinking what if he is in trouble for us skipping school the other day. Oh God. “Sis is everything okay?” Rayna asks me, walking up beside me at the exit.
“Uh yeah. Just waiting on dad to pull up.” I lie trying to cover the worry on my face. She doesn’t look like she believes me, but then dad pulls up and we move toward the car. Before we make it there, Evan walks up to the window.
“That can’t be good whatever it is.” Rayna says. She has never liked him so it makes me smirk.
“Imogen,” My father says as soon as he sees me. “Evan has invited you to his family's bible retreat this weekend. I told him it was alright for you to attend, chaperoned of course.” Uh oh. Alex is not going to like this. I am trying to think of a good argument to get out of it when he shuts it down before I voice it. “It is not optional. Your mother and I are going out of town tonight. I have been asked to be a guest pastor in Indiana. Aasta will be home with you Rayna in case you need her. Your mother and I will be home Sunday night.”
Crap. “Yes father.” I say quietly. My stomach is turning over, bile bubbling to the top. I take a quick glance at Evan and he is smiling, more like sneering. He did this on purpose because he knew I would not be able to say no.
“Well thank you sir.” He says to my father before turning to me. “I look forward to diving deeper into the word of God with Imogen. Always important to make sure we are bound by the blood of our Lord and Savior. Right?” I don’t answer him, but I also don’t miss his use of the word ‘bound.’ I simply get in the car and try to hide the sick feeling and tears.
The car ride is quiet, thank God, because I am trying to hold it together. “Imogen and Rayna, go get cleaned up and come help me.” My mom calls to the door as soon as we walk in.
“Yes, mama.” My sister and I say. She goes into the kitchen not bothering to change her clothes. Me, I head into the room crying silently. This whole situation is too much for me. I don’t think I am strong enough for this.
Tears dripping from my face, I kick my shoes off and am about to pull my shirt off when a hand moves over my mouth. I attempt to scream but stop. I can smell him. Everything that was wrong a second ago is no longer a thought.
“Don’t scream.” He says in my ear. I shake my head no. He turns me around and before I can ask what he is doing in here, he kisses me, hard. The hold he has on the back of my neck bringing our bodies flush against one another is intoxicating. I grip his shirt desperately happy he is here, but also terrified. “Why are you crying baby?” Where I was just on fire, the flame has been doused. I don’t want to tell him what upset me but I am a horrible liar. I try anyway.
“I just missed seeing you before I left school.” It is not exactly a lie but not entirely the truth.
“It killed me not to be there when you got out, baby. I will never be okay not being able to see you before you get into your fathers car. Did anything happen?” My head jerks back and I look at him wondering how the heck he knows that?
I swallow trying to figure out how to get out of telling him, but any plan of withholding is forgotten when he places one hand on my heart and the other around my throat. “Don’t think of lying to me, Pequeña. You are so far inside of me, swapping out my DNA for your own that I can feel your heartbeat when I am not touching you and yours is filled with fear. Tell me baby.” Girrrrllll…that man is on to you. Pussy melting now.
“Uhm... my father is making me go with Evan’s family to a Bible retreat this weekend.” I spit it out so fast I am not sure it even made sense. I almost feel like he didn’t hear me because he says nothing at first. But his face begins to morph in a matter of seconds and I feel fear for the first time. Not of him necessarily, but of what he is going to do and considering we are in my parents’ house, yeah, this could be bad.