Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“You think he—”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh wow.”
“He’s been warning me for months he is not who I think he is and now I’m like, why didn’t I believe him?”
“He was just defending you.”
“By possibly murdering someone?”
She shrugged. “The world can do without scum like them.”
“That’s not his call to make.”
“I’m sorry, Haven, but sometimes you need to take justice in your own hands. It’s not like he did it for no reason. What if he hadn’t shown up when he did? You think they would have stopped there? They could have killed you after they were done with you. He was doing what any man would do for the woman they love.”
“You think he loves me?”
She smiled. “What’s not to love?”
Hearing her perspective on the situation was making me rethink how I felt about it.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right, Cove.”
“Would you rather he be a coward and not defend and protect you, Haven?”
“I don’t know. I’m so confused.”
“The way I see it, he’s got a darker side to him. It’s no different than the cops taking down a bad guy; just because they have a badge doesn’t make it right either. They’re just doing their job and Hayes’s job is to keep you safe. Not to mention, all the other women he could have saved because you know you’re not the first they’ve done this to.”
I took in her words, contemplating everything she was saying.
“Does that mean this isn’t his first time shooting someone?”
“I don’t have the answer to that question, but I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. I highly doubt he’d just shoot someone and not think about the repercussions.”
“That’s what scares me. What if he does this all the time?”
“Maybe he just takes out bad guys.”
“This isn’t Dexter, Cove.”
She smirked. “I love that show.”
I shook my head. “We are not the same. How are we best friends?”
“Opposites attract.”
I chuckled despite feeling like shit.
“What’s your next move?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did the fight end?”
“With him telling me to stay away from him. He said it was the only way he could protect me.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“Of course I want to be with him, but not in that life.”
“Your brothers would flip their shit.”
“I know. Could you imagine?”
“I don’t want to imagine it.”
“That’s another thing, my family. They’re never going to approve of him or that kind of life.”
“Maybe he would leave it for you.”
“Cove, I can’t ask him to do that.”
“Why not?”
“People change their lives for each other all the time.”
“I don’t think he sees us that way. Anytime I talk about the future he instantly shuts it down. He doesn’t see us going further than graduation.”
“That’s coming up soon.”
“Yeah.”
“I highly doubt he’d be able to just toss you away, Haven. He loves you, and that’s obvious to me. Do you love him too?”
I nodded. “I can’t help it. There’s something deeper between us that I can’t put my finger on, but I feel it every time we’re together. It’s almost like we’ve known each other forever.”
“Maybe you have.”
“Like in a past life or something?”
“No like in this life. You said so yourself, he was immediately protective over you. Maybe there’s a reason for that.”
“I didn’t think about that.”
“So start thinking.”
“I wish I could just ask and get a straight answer out of him. I know nothing about him, Cove. He doesn’t share anything with me other than how bad he is for me.”
“Maybe there’s a reason for that too.”
“Ugh! I hate it when you make sense.”
She smiled. “I’m wise beyond my years.”
I agreed, “You are.”
“Do you think he has any single friends?”
“Oh my God! You’re horrible.”
“What?” She shrugged again. “You may find what he does scary, I on the other hand, I’m digging it. I’d love a man who wouldn’t think twice about laying someone out if it meant I was safe. That’s shit would make me spread my legs like no tomorrow.”
“Cove!”
“I’m just saying, I want a bad ass too. Especially if he has a big dick. That’s very important as well.”
“Says the girl who’s still a virgin.”
“Ummm…” She gestured to herself. “Do you see this temple that I am? I’m not going to just give it away to some guy that takes me out to a nice restaurant a few times. High school guys are boring, Haven. College men are even worse. Their all into themselves and I want someone who’s only into me.”
“Are you saying you want an older guy? Hayes is seven years older than me.”
“Mmmm… I don’t think I’d go over like twentyish.”
“Twenty?! That could be your dad.”
“My dad didn’t have me until he was in his thirties.”
“Well, it could be somebody’s dad.”
“No, I definitely don’t want any baby mama drama. It needs to be someone who has no strings attached to an ex.”
“Yeah, but then you get a man like Jace who’s worked his entire life.”