Total pages in book: 221
Estimated words: 213317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1067(@200wpm)___ 853(@250wpm)___ 711(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 213317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1067(@200wpm)___ 853(@250wpm)___ 711(@300wpm)
Gerwyn doesn’t believe me. His eyes are focused under heavy brows as he takes another drag of his cigarette.
“Honestly, I’m ok,” I lie again. “Just got a bit overwhelmed up there, that’s all.”
He definitely doesn’t believe me, and shit, SHIT, I hear footsteps coming from inside.
Ant’s voice sounds out with a Cass? Cass? Where are you?
“Just one word, and it’ll stop,” Gerwyn says to me, and I’m so tempted to give it to him. I am… but the patio doors swing open and Ant steps out to join us.
“There you are!” Ant’s smile is so bright and open as he wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“Cass, sweetheart. Are you ok? Did you get the fresh air you needed?”
Ant’s tone is warm and caring. He pulls me close and lands a kiss on my head, and I wish I could lose myself in his arms.
Gerwyn steps away, but his eyes are still fixed on mine, weighing me up with the strength of a warrior.
“Is that enough fresh air for you now, sweetheart?” Ant asks me again. “Maybe you shouldn’t have gulped down quite as much De Chante, hey? Looks like it’s gone to your head.”
It’s amazing how he can always switch everything around to being my fault, and it’s amazing how I always believe him. I can feel it even now – being sucked into his voice and his tone and his words, along with his arms.
Gerwyn isn’t being sucked into anything Ant says or does right now though. His attention is all on me.
And mine is all on him…
“Cass, are you coming back upstairs with me?” Ant asks me, capturing my attention right back again.
Here it is. Make or break. Yes, or no.
“You don’t have to go back up there,” Gerwyn says to me.
“No, of course she doesn’t, it’s up to her,” Ant snaps at him. “So, are you coming, sweetheart, or not?” He laughs a little. “Quite literally.”
Yes, or no.
This time it’s yes that wins. I choose Ant and I hate myself for it.
“Yeah, I’m fine now,” I tell them. “I feel a lot better.”
“Good,” Ant says, and shrugs at Gerwyn like it’s no big deal.
Only Gerwyn doesn’t buy into it. Ant’s only just stepped back inside with his hand in mine when he calls my name.
“Cass, I mean it, one word and it’ll be over.”
Ant doesn’t like Gerwyn’s sentiment. He swings back to face him, raging like a bull as he hisses out a what the fuck are you talking about?
Gerwyn stands firm, ignoring him completely in favour of me.
“I mean it. If you don’t want to go back upstairs, then don’t even think about doing it.”
Ant sneers at him with a laugh. “Of course she wants to fucking do it, Ger. Mind your own fucking business, will you? This isn’t a G.A.T.A. meeting.”
Again, Gerwyn stands firm, but this time he turns his attention to my fiancé.
“It is my fucking business, Ant. If Cass doesn’t want to go back up there, she doesn’t have to take another fucking step in that direction, and you sure as fuck shouldn’t be coercing her.”
Ant looks outraged. “I’m not coercing her to do anything. She wants to come back upstairs with me.”
I look between the two of them. Back and forth.
Ant is standing proud in his suit like the lord of the universe, with his hackles up below his veneer of a surface, glaring at Gerwyn like he’s crossing some sinner of a line, but Gerwyn is glaring back at him with enough force to set the world on fire.
And now I understand why they call Gerwyn the crusader.
Seconds slow to nothing as I stand on eggshells between the two men, my heart pulled in two directions. I’d never have imagined anyone could stand off against Ant like this. The idea that someone would be able to handle or match his force of will would’ve sounded insane.
I stand between them, and it’s so tense, so heated, like two warlords are set to go into battle.
But who will win?
Oh my God. It’s Ant who backs down.
His glare is replaced by a smile in one of his light-switch moments, and he pulls me to his side for another hug, as though the stand-off never happened.
“Actually, baby, I think you’ve had enough for tonight. There’s no way I’m having you back up there, no matter how much you want it. It’s definitely time for bed.” He gives me another kiss on the head. “You stay down here for a minute and grab yourself a coffee. I’ll get things cleared up.”
“Thanks,” is all I can say.
I glance at Gerwyn, wanting to thank him, too, but his glare is the iciest thing I’ve ever seen as he watches Ant walk away.
Gerwyn
I rush over to Cass, and she’s still shaking. It takes everything I have to resist pulling her into my arms and hold her tight, but I guide her to the sofa gently, easing her down alongside me.