Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Stripping out of my clothes, I climb into bed with Ava. “Everything okay?” she asks softly in a sleepy whisper.
“Now it is.” Having Ava with me makes everything better.
Chapter Eleven
Ava
“It’s been a week since the incident, and I’m still not sure it wasn’t because of me no matter how many times Tobias says otherwise,” I confess to Louisa. We’ve become such great friends, and I know she’s not going to tell anyone what I say.
“Ava, you know that it could be anyone. The cook he fired started rumors and lies about Tobias before she left town. She was extremely vindictive.” Louisa takes a drink of her coffee before setting it down. The boys are off at school, so we decided to have a little girl time.
“What kind of rumors?”
From the look on her face, I already have my answer. “Ones I’m sure you won’t like.” Yep that confirms it. He was fucking his old cook too.
“They were sleeping together too?” Instantly, I feel like I’m going to be sick. There’s something repulsive to me about just being another useful body, no different than any other. I can feel the tears well up in my eyes, so I take a drink of my coffee to stop myself.
Louisa puts her hand on my forearm and glares at me, but she offers a smile afterward. “Before you start that train of thought, don’t do it. He wasn’t sleeping with her, but she used the lie to try and make him look bad.”
Louisa goes on to explain what happened back in September. By the time she finishes, I’m pissed for Tobias. That bitch. “Oh my goodness. On the bed we sleep on? I can’t believe it.”
“No. Not on that bed. Tobias got rid of it that same night and slept on the sofa and then moved into the bedroom you were using when you first came here. A week later he got a replacement brought in. He’s no saint or even a monk, but he’s a good man.”
“I wasn’t a virgin either, but the thought of another woman in the same bed doesn’t sit right with me.”
“It didn’t with him either. John was pissed when he came home and told me. I was so happy you came here. I could tell already that you were perfect for him before you two even met. In fact, I hoped he’d fall in love with you. You bring out the guy he only shows his closest friends and family. Everyone else knows him as a prick.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you told me. I’d hate to meet that woman and be caught by surprise.”
“Honestly, not a single person in town believed that lie, especially after seeing you. Not once were they ever seen together. He’s made it known in town that you’re his.”
“He most definitely has. I’m scared because—”
“You love him, don’t you?” I nod.
“So much. It came out of nowhere. In fact, from the first moment I saw him, I couldn’t control the way my heart danced in my chest. This has never happened to me before.”
“Then don’t let anything or anyone get in your way.” She pats my hand again.
Just then, the bell rings. I look over to the screen on the kitchen counter, and it’s the FedEx guy again. I go to the door and take the envelope from him. Sign and then gasp. Instantly, my world goes dark, but someone catches me before I fall.
“What the fuck are you doing?” A roar comes out, and I swear it’s Tobias but it’s far away.
“She fainted. I was just trying to stop her from hurting herself.”
“Thanks. You can go. I got her now.” I feel Tobias’s strong arms cradle me to his cold body, taking me to lie on the sofa. I barely register what’s going on when he swears. Sitting up, I see him with the package in his hands.
“Wait a second. Don’t move a fucking inch.” He storms out of the room. Two minutes later he comes back and then opens the envelope.
“What is it?” Louisa asks.
I read the letter aloud.
Sweetheart,
We know where you are. And you’re proving to be a whore just like your mother. You picked a football player. Nice touch, but he seems to have problems of his own. You should come home so people can stop worrying. You don’t care who’s upset that you’re missing. Derek is worried sick about you and you’re off gallivanting around with a washed-up athlete, letting him defile you. Come home now.
We can work it all out,
your loving father.
The pictures of Tobias and me aren’t of us in the most intimate moments, but they are of that night at the restaurant. The first three are of him more than likely when he was talking about doing naughty things to me. Then the truck and the person running from our vehicle. I can’t make out the figure, but whoever my father sent to search for me knows who the attacker was.