Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
She whimpers as if she’s feeling it all again. “Did you hear me, Kan? Did you hear me when I came? I had planned to be quiet, but I couldn’t hold it in.”
I gulp. “I went outside because I knew if I didn’t…”
My voice trails off, and a knowing look comes over her face. “Because you knew you would give in to temptation, right? That’s what I’m hoping for, Kan.”
I groan and drop my forehead to hers. “Emerson, we can’t. I can’t.”
She pulls back. “Oh, I know. That’s what you said earlier, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try and change your mind.”
Fuck, I want to. I wish I could say fuck it all and take her right now. But she deserves better than me. If I give in and take what I want, I’m the worst kind of man. “I need to get to work.”
Her smile dims, and she steps back. “Yeah, I know. Eat your sandwich, Kan. I’ll see you later.”
She walks away, and I watch her go, wishing things could be different. Wishing I could be the man she needs, but in the end, I know I’m going to come up short.
CHAPTER 14
EMERSON
It’s been a long week.
I’m still surprised by everything that’s happened, but things are starting to look up. The job has been a breath of fresh air. Literally. I never realized how much I would enjoy working outside, but I do. The living arrangements are pretty intense, but we’re making it through. I’m not going to lie, though. Ever since I realized that Kanan is attracted to me, I’ve been on edge, hoping that something is going to come of it. Every chance I get, I’m brushing up against him, teasing him, tempting him.
So far, he’s holding on strong. He hasn’t touched me since that kiss, and no matter how hard I try to get close to him, he’s not having it. It’s sort of turned into a game because if I walk toward him, he’s hightailing it in the other direction. I didn’t know I had this kind of power, but it’s going to my head, that’s for sure.
“Okay, I have good news,” Kanan says when he comes in.
I’m sitting cross-legged on the couch, writing in my journal, and I close it up and set it on the end table. “What is it?”
He sits in the chair farthest from me. “Okay, so Walker found your mom.”
My mouth drops. “Where is she? Is she okay?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’m not sure of all the details or how Walker knows, but he was worried about what she’s gotten herself into. He had her picked up, and she’s at a drug and rehab facility.”
I nod. “I knew it was drugs. Tell me the truth, Kanan. How bad was she?”
He blows out a breath. “I asked because I knew you would be worried. She was fully coherent, just making bad decisions. Walker did say he’s seen way worse bounce back, so we’ll see.”
I nod, and he continues. “She feels bad about the trust fund and your car. Walker told her to get clean and then come talk to you.”
I wrap my arms around myself and just nod. I feel numb. I’m worried about my mom, and I know I should be there for her, but it’s hard after everything we’ve been through. “I should probably go see her, right?”
Kanan gets up and comes to sit next to me. He puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “There’s no perfect way to react here, Emerson. Your mom hurt you, and no one expects you to just forgive her.” I nod, knowing he’s right, but he continues. “But she’s in a maximum security facility. She had to agree to go in, and that means for ninety days she doesn’t come out and no one gets in to see her.” He gestures to my journal. “You can write to her, though.”
I nod, completely lost in thought. When I look at Kanan, it’s obvious he’s not telling me something. “What? There’s more?”
“Yeah, there’s more. The money that was taken has been put into an account for you.” He pulls out what looks like a checkbook out of his front shirt pocket, hands it to me, and then walks across the room to sit at the dining table.
I open it, and the top line is filled out. “What is this? There’s more money than what I originally had in the account, Kanan. This isn’t right.”
He doesn’t even blink. “Your truck too.”
I wave the checkbook around. “I’m not dumb. I know my mom didn’t just give you this money. And she had to have spent most of it by now anyway.” I toss the book onto the coffee table. “I’m not taking that.”
He shrugs. “It’s there, and it’s yours. No one can touch it but you. I don’t care what you do with it, but now you know you have options. You can go back to school. Get a place to live. Buy a car. Save it. Give it away. Do whatever you want to with it. But it’s yours.”