Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
After almost three years, Riley has finally stepped foot back in Manhattan. She was barely ten minutes away from where I lived. How could I possibly stay away when she’s right there—within arm’s reach?
The distance between us had been cut down from hours to mere minutes. My years of unyielding resolve wavered the moment I knew she was back in town. I didn’t plan on seeing her, it just… happened. My body, my heart and mind were not in agreement. So I went against my own conviction.
My brain was telling no — my heart was screaming yes, go see her. And my body followed what my heart desired.
It was like an undeniable force pulling me toward her, an invisible string tugging us closer. I remember sitting in my penthouse, telling myself how much of a bad idea it would be to see her. That no matter what, I should stay away and leave her alone.
But those thoughts weren’t enough to stop me. To hold me back.
Because the next I knew, I was standing in front of her house, with my heart in my throat. I didn’t think it through, or what I would say to Riley once I saw her.
And now that I’ve seen her, face to face… and spoke to her…
The fiery look in her eyes and the sweetness in her voice.
I’ve realized that I can’t walk away again.
I’m not strong enough to. The last time I had so, it obliterated me. Living without Riley has been a constant torment. It drove me mad most of the days, and if it weren’t for my job keeping me busy, I would have succumbed to the loneliness a long time ago.
This is what I’ve been scared of, why I forced myself to stay away for this long. But now that I’ve made the mistake of approaching her, and talking to her…
I can’t go back to how it was before.
I know it’s unfair, to come back into her life after so long and expect her to give me a chance. But my love for her still breathes in my soul.
Loving Riley Johnson is not a choice.
Breaking her heart was.
But I have the choice to fix it now. To help her heal the wounds of her heart.
To unbreak us.
That night, I couldn’t explain myself the way I wanted to. She had been furious, rightfully so. So, I let her be angry.
And the hurt had poured out of her, like a broken damn of misery.
What I have to say to her… I can’t do that in the spur of a moment. I need to build trust again, before I can tell her the real reason behind our breakup.
Though I know she might never trust me again.
But I can try. At least a basic friendship until she’s ready to hear the truth.
And that’s why I’m here…
Two weeks later.
In Boston.
Sitting in the park, outside of her apartment.
She knows I’m here. She sees me from her window.
I’ve been waiting for fourteen days.
For another chance to talk to Riley.
For a chance to fix what I broke.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Riley — 22 years old
This is stupid. I don’t know how I let Lila convince me to come here— to visit a fortune teller. I don’t really believe in palm reading or fortune telling, yet I’m here. Standing outside Caroline Sanchez antique shop.
Lila had a coupon that was expiring today. She wanted me to use it, since she can’t. Lila is still in Manhattan, with Maddox. I don’t know when she’s coming back…
Her relationship with Maddox is messy right now and they are still trying to figure things out. I hope they do, because if anyone deserves a happy ending— it’s Maddox and Lila.
It’s been two weeks since the night of the Christmas gala, since Grayson has walked back into my life, asking for another to fix us.
I was furious at first, but since then… my anger has calmed.
Now, I’m just filled with uncertainty.
Grayson left Manhattan a day after Colton and I came back to Boston. Since then, he’s been living in a hotel, just five minutes away from my apartment.
And he waits for me every day in the park, right outside the building I live in. From seven in the morning until five in the afternoon. For ten hours, he sits there and waits.
I’ve texted him many times and told him to leave, but he hasn’t.
I don’t know how he does it.
Grayson has the patience of a saint.
The choice should have been easy…
Because while Grayson has hurt me; he broke my heart and a piece of me resents him for it. For all the pain he’s given me. Yet, there’s a deep corner in my fragile heart that still loves him
That piece of me, still breathes for his warmth and tenderness.
But I’m scared to hear his truth.
Grayson told me that nothing is as it seems, and that if I give him a chance to explain… I’ll understand why he had to leave me behind, why he had been forced to break us.