Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“I realized right then and there that if you stayed with me, my past…my secrets, they could hurt you. I was trying to save you.”
“Again, with you putting yourself last.” He throws his hands up into the air, frustration oozing from him. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t need you to save me? I should be the one saving you.”
I incline my head, as if to say I’ll always save you. Love is protecting. Love is putting someone else first. He closes his eyes at the gesture, obviously understanding the meaning of what I’m implying.
“I read your letter,” he says.
“So you know why I left.”
“I know why you think you left but—”
“You don’t know anything.” My fingers grip the hem of my shirt, twisting the material.
“So then tell me what happened, Cass. Enough secrets. If you’re going to end things, don’t you owe me that much? I want to hear the real reason you think you need to protect me.”
I close my eyes. He’s right. I do. I need to trust him. With my lids slammed shut, I finally talk.
“I still remember the day as if it was yesterday. I remember walking along the path, heading to your tree.” I take a deep breath, thinking about that spot. Focusing on the good of that place before diving into the nightmare it became. “I used to go there every day after you left. I’m not sure what I was hoping for. I knew you were gone, and by that point, I knew you weren’t coming back. Almost two years had passed by.”
“I’m sorry—”
I shake my head. “Don’t. Not now. Let me get this out, or I’ll never be able to,” I respond, opening my eyes but still not looking at him.
If I see him, I might not be able to say these words. Instead, I stand and start to pace, walking around the room, concentrating on the floor.
“It’s funny how you can remember something so vividly, even years later. I can still hear the sound of my footsteps on the wet grass. The snow had finally melted, and with each step I took, I could hear the sloshing sound of my feet hitting the puddles. It echoed in the silence of the late afternoon.”
Stopping my pacing, I shut my eyes again and take another deep breath in, as my body shudders with the memories that come flooding back. “The sun was starting to set. Only small rays of sunlight pushed through the branches that towered above me. I shouldn’t have been walking alone. But in my mind, it wasn’t dark yet, and I missed you. I needed to be somewhere that I felt close to you.” I open my eyes at that and see Aiden staring at me. His large blue eyes watching me intently. Waiting.
“When I got to the opening by the lake, I didn’t see him at first. He must have been off behind a tree.” I shake my head.
“I don’t know how I didn’t see him. Maybe I was lost in my own thoughts, but by the time I was standing beside the water, he was there. Right behind me.”
“Ace?” Aiden’s voice is thick with emotion when he says his name.
A name I’ve avoided for years.
“Yeah. I took a step away from him, closer to the lake, and I remember thinking my shoes might get wet. I should have run. But—the closer he got to me.” I shake my head. “I don’t know. I guess I just froze. Fear will do that, I guess.”
“Fear?” Aiden’s voice is hard, with an edge of something I can’t quite place.
It borders on menacing.
“His treatment of me might have temporarily stopped when you were there to protect me, but it didn’t take long after you left for him to start up again. Only this time, it was worse. Much worse.”
“What did he do to you?” Aiden’s eyes narrow, and I can see the hate there. The blind rage building with the mention of how bad things were.
I have no doubt that if Ace were alive today, it wouldn’t be me who ended his life.
I close my eyes again. It’s too much, and when I do, I see it all playing out in front of me. My mouth opens, and words fly out, but in my mind, I’m there…
“Look who’s here…all alone,” Ace says, making his approach.
“Leave me alone.”
“Why would I do that? Now I have you right where I want you. Alone. No one around. I couldn’t have planned it better myself.” I turn to see him steepling his fingers, looking like a cartoon villain. Except he’s no cartoon. He’s real, and he’s very dangerous.
“I’m going home.”
He steps closer, his hand reaching out to hold my arm. “I don’t think so.”
“What do you want from me?” I snap, trying to stand as tall as possible.