Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“I get that.”
Her eyes search mine before she drops them away and lets out a breath. “I do feel bad that you keep being dragged into stuff.”
I can’t tell her I’m starting to think this is all my fault. Even with me telling myself I’d keep my distance, whatever it was that hit me like a boulder when I saw her at the bar before I knew who she was, set off a chain of events that likely derailed her life and mine.
“I’m just glad I was here during both situations.” And that’s the fucked-up truth, which means I need to figure out what the fuck I’m doing.
“Me too.” She glances over her shoulder at the door. “Should we get back over?”
“Yeah.” I drop my hand away and then lead her out of my room, through my house, and to the garage. I stop to grab half a sheet of plywood to cover the window, along with a few screws and my drill. When we get outside, the two officers who were in the patrol car are walking toward the house, with Lincoln carrying a bag as he comes up behind them.
“Did you find out anything?” I ask, stopping at the edge of the sidewalk. With Olivia so close, her warmth seeps into my side, and my fingers twitch with the urge to grasp her hand.
“Both men were released a few hours after they were taken to the station, and from what we were able to gather from the report, the two of them were headed back to Chicago, where they reside.”
“So it could have been them if they decided to hang around and not go home.”
“Could be. One of them is on probation. I sent a message to his parole officer to see if he checked in, but I likely won’t hear back from him until later today.” Officer Simpson looks at the house. “Do you need any help closing up the window tonight?”
“I’ve got it,” I assure him.
“All right, we’re going to fill out a report. Lincoln will bag up the brick as evidence just in case, and then we’ll get out of your hair.”
“Thanks for coming.” I shake both men’s hands. Then Lincoln follows Olivia and me inside. When we step into the living room, I stop Olivia while he continues down the hall. “When Lincoln is done, I’ll close the window, and then we’ll go over to my place and try to get some sleep.”
“I’m okay staying here.”
“If you stay here, you’re going to be up all night, jumping at every creak and noise,” I reply. Her nose scrunches, confirming what I already know. “I have a guest room you can sleep in.”
“Fine,” she agrees, even though it’s somewhat reluctant.
“All right.” Lincoln comes around the corner with the bag, holding the brick in a glove-covered hand. “Hopefully, the rest of the night will be quiet.” His attention focuses on Olivia as he pulls a card from his pocket and holds it out to her. “If you need anything, call me. That has my cell on it.”
“Thanks, Lincoln,” she whispers, taking the card that I want to snatch from her grasp and rip to shreds.
Who the fuck am I right now?
“See you around.” He sends her a smile, then glances at me. “Night.”
“Night,” Olivia replies softly, while I don’t bother responding. I do, however, glare at the back of his head as he disappears out the door.
“I can’t believe he’s still here,” Olivia says, turning back around to face me after flipping the lock into place.
“I’m guessing you two went to school together.” I head down the hall with her right behind me.
“Yeah, he took me to prom senior year.”
“Did you two date?” I set the piece of plywood off to the side as she laughs. “What’s funny?”
“You really seem to have forgotten that I was a huge nerd.” She passes me the trash can from under the desk when I start to pick up the larger pieces of glass from the windowsill.
“You weren’t a nerd.” She was cute—a little dorky, but always cute.
“I was, and he was a football player and had been dating one of the cheerleaders. They broke up right before prom. My mom and his were friends from church, and when his mom found out I didn’t have a date to prom, she made him take me.” She shrugs. “As you can imagine, it was super awkward, but we ended up having a good night and kind of became friends. Until we both moved away to go to college and lost contact.”
“And now, you’re both back,” I grumble, moving the plywood into place. The emotion of jealousy isn’t one I’m familiar with, and I have to say I don’t like it very much. “Can you toss me that?” I hold my hand for her to pass me the drill she’s picked up.