Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
We eventually break apart and clean up again. The two of us remain under the spray until the water goes from hot to warm to icy.
It’s not until we’re dried off, naked, and cuddled under his covers that I finally relax. The anxiety of my mother missing had been weighing heavily on me. That coupled with the trauma I’d endured with Drew, I wasn’t at my best.
But even though some pretty awful events transpired over the past twenty-four hours, I’m relieved. All the terrible stuff feels as though it’s over. We can move forward now with nothing else holding us back.
With that thought, I fall asleep in the arms of one of the men I love, heart full and soul happy.
Crash.
Slam.
Bang.
I blink open my eyes, trying to make sense of the noises. Is Hugo back?
Crash.
The sound is most definitely coming from Hugo’s room. I slide out of Spencer’s bed, leaving him sleeping, and grab one of his T-shirts out of a drawer. Once I’ve stolen some of his boxers too, I tiptoe out of his room, closing the door behind me.
Hugo’s bedroom door is open and the light is on. The sounds are coming from the closet. He’s not one to throw things around, so I’m worried about who I’m going to find.
“Mom?”
I gape at the woman hastily throwing clothes into a suitcase. She’s still wearing a hospital gown and wincing in pain.
“Mom, you should be at the hospital. You had a baby yesterday.”
She turns her vicious glare on me. “They butchered me, Aubrey. My body is ruined now.”
“That’s why you should be in the hospital.” I hold both palms up in a placating nature. “Let me drive you back.”
She zips up the suitcase and with a lot of cursing, manages to stand back up. “Where are my car keys? I’ll be damned if I ride in another Uber.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m getting the hell out of this town,” she bites out. “If you knew what was good for you, you would too.”
Not a chance in the world.
I stare at my mother as she slowly hobbles out of the closet. Tears wet her lashes. She’s in pain, obviously, but she doesn’t appear to be ready to rest anytime soon.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to drive,” I say softly. “Please, Mom, let me help you.”
“They were going to put me in the psyche ward.” Her eyes slice right through me. “I don’t want a baby and I’m a monster. Look what happened the last time I had a baby.” She waves a dismissive hand at me. “Disappointment.”
Her words are whips lashing at my skin. I don’t recoil because she obviously needs help. Getting my feelings hurt won’t get us anywhere.
“Where will you go?” I ask instead of giving in to my emotions.
“I guess New York’s out of the question since that monster murdered my boyfriend.” A sob racks through her and her hand tenderly touches her belly. She hastily wipes the tears away. “I’m going back to LA. Back home to where normal people live.” She gestures to her belly. “And the second this heals, I’m getting a tummy tuck so I can put this entire ordeal behind me.”
“Mom…”
“I’m no one’s mother. I’m Neena. Just Neena.”
This time, her words hit their mark. My heart aches from the abuse she’s striking it with. Her bloodshot eyes light up with delight. Hurting those around her is her favorite pastime.
“He has my keys, doesn’t he?” Mom demands, pointing toward Spencer’s room.
I don’t say anything and follow her as she slowly hobbles out of Hugo’s room. She makes it to Spencer’s room and leaves the suitcase at the door. All I can do is trail after her. Spencer is still sleeping, features boyish and innocent.
She took advantage of him when he was a kid.
Anger chases away the hurt.
I watch her with narrowed eyes as she makes it into his closet, yanking sweats and a shirt off the hangers. The hairs on my arms stand on end. I don’t like how she is taking clothes from him like she owns them—owns him. I stand between the bed and the closet, creating a barrier between them.
She carefully tugs away the gown. Her stomach is bandaged up and her breasts are leaking milk. And still, despite the teary, unhinged expression, she’s beautiful.
Yet, she’s so ugly inside.
It takes some cursing and whimpering, but she manages to dress in Spencer’s clothes. She even takes a pair of his flip-flops. Then, she goes straight to his end table. Now that I’ve gotten to know him well, I know he always puts his keys in there since he doesn’t like clutter. It pains me to know that she also knows this.
She knew Spencer as intimately as I do.
Once she has the keys, she limps into the bathroom. I can hear the sink turn on and the splashing sound of water. She returns, a sneer on her still dripping pretty face.