Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
By the time I reach the bedroom Cam and I share, I feel bad about my outburst. It’s not really Cam I’m mad at but Dom.
For the first time in a long time, I expected something from a man. Something that mattered to Hannah. And I felt like a fool when he was a no-show. Valid excuse or not.
I’ve changed into clean clothes and am brushing my teeth when Cam walks past the bathroom. The door is open, so I turn to the side and say, “I’m sorry.”
She waves a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I get where you’re coming from. But don’t be jaded. Just because one or two or even twenty men disappointed you, that doesn’t mean all of them will.”
I spit into the sink and rinse out my mouth. “I know, but if I ever decide to date again, I just want a regular guy. Someone nice who’s happy to sit on the couch and watch a movie with me while we eat pizza...for the rest of our lives. A professional athlete with abs and a dimple is the worst idea ever.”
Cam shakes her head, her brows arched with amusement. “He was born with the dimple, and you already know he likes pizza. All I’m saying is give him a chance.”
I exhale hard, too weary with this conversation to continue it. “Hey, we never finished talking about Jake.”
“It’s nothing, really. I keep blocking him and he messages from a new number every time. He’ll give up eventually.”
I motion for her to come into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. “Whatever he said, it scared you. He knows where you live and our kids live here, too. You need to tell me what he said.”
She lowers her brows and looks at the floor. “He keeps saying I’m a tease and a whore and I’ll pay for leading him on.”
I immediately want to throttle this guy. How dare he say those things about my sister?
“What? Why haven’t you said anything?”
She shrugs, tears pooling in her eyes. “I feel like an idiot. I attract crazy like a magnet.”
“Girl, no. You are not the problem. He is the problem. Full stop.”
“I always try to see the best in everyone, but I don’t think there’s any good in him. I just want him to leave me alone.”
I cross my arms. “If he shows up here, he won’t like meeting me.”
“Tess...” There’s a warning note in her tone. “I think he has guns.”
“I have one of my own, and Dad taught me how to use it. You need to get an order of protection against him.”
“I can’t even prove the messages are from him. They come from a different phone every time.”
“You’re sure it’s him?”
“Positive. He keeps calling me a cocktease in the messages and that’s what he said when I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him.”
“Charming.”
Her look of defeat crushes me. I put my hands on her shoulders. “Hey, you aren’t alone. You have your badass sister beside you. Always. We’re getting you an order of protection and we’ll be extra vigilant. We’re strong, capable women who don’t need to rely on anyone but ourselves and each other. Okay?”
She blinks and tears slide down her cheeks, though she’s smiling through them. “Okay. Thanks.”
“I love you.” I hug her, wishing I could take away her worry.
“I love you, too.”
The front doorbell rings and I groan. That has to be Dom.
“I need to start cooking the hot dogs,” Cam says.
“I’ll help you finish dinner.”
She grins ever so slightly. “But not because you want to see the guy with abs and a dimple.”
I open the bathroom door, giving her a playful shove. “You can lust after him. I’ve got better things to do.”
“Here’s hoping he likes our wieners.”
“You’re such a weirdo.” I roll my eyes and laugh.
She is a weirdo, but she’s my weirdo sister, and I’ll fight anyone who tries to hurt her.
Chapter Eleven
Dom
* * *
My heart sinks when I walk into the house and Tess isn’t there. Zane leads me down to the basement, where the washer and dryer are.
“We’re having hot dogs and tots for dinner,” he says.
“Cool. But I don’t want to stay for dinner if it’s not okay with your mom.”
“It’s fine with her.”
I set my tool bag down, trying to keep it casual as I ask, “Does she seem mad at me?”
“You mean over Hannah’s dance thing? Nah, I’m sure she’s over it.”
I’m not as confident as him, but I don’t want to drag him any further into it.
“Okay, let’s get this dryer going.”
The washer and dryer are both old, a mismatched set with ancient-looking dials and a few scratches. I can get the dryer going again, but it’s probably just a matter of time until these appliances crap out for good.
“We’ll start by taking it apart to check a few other things, then we’ll replace the heating element, and then we’ll make sure the exhaust line is clear.”