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)
“Today, when I went to visit my mom, she shared her concerns with me, and every one of them were valid.”
His muscles under my palms bunch. “She’s worried about me hurting you?”
“A little. She’s more concerned about Liam’s and your friendship.” I slide my hands up his chest to his shoulders. “I am, too.”
“Hey.” He grabs my face in both of his big hands, holding me and my gaze hostage. “It might take a little time for the dust to settle, but it will be okay. Liam will get over being pissed, your mom will come around, and things will fall into place.”
Leaning forward, I rest the side of my head against his chest and let out a breath as his arms wrap around me tight. I hope he’s right, but more than anything, I wish things weren’t so complicated.
CHAPTER 16
Olivia
When Gemma begins to bark, my eyes open, and as the fog of sleep clears, I see the TV is still on, then feel Bax’s big, warm body mostly beneath mine, my legs tangled with his long ones, and the warmth of a blanket at my back. Apparently, we both fell asleep on the couch last night.
“Let me get that, baby,” Bax mutters when the doorbell rings, and I lift my head off his chest to look down at him as he slides my hip toward the back of the couch so he can get up. As he moves to the front door, I sit up and look at the window. The blinds are closed, but I can still see a little light coming through.
“Yeah?” he asks as he answers the door, swinging it inward, and I see an older gentleman standing on his front porch.
“Sorry to wake you, son. I tried knocking next door to see if the girl who lives there was around but didn’t get an answer. Bella told me to try here.”
“What’s going on?” Bax asks as I get up off the couch and walk around it to meet them at the door.
“I was on my way to work and saw that the car next door has been vandalized,” the older man says, and my stomach drops as I stop in place. “Looks pretty bad. There's some spray paint down the side, and two of the tires were slashed. Do you want me to call the police?”
“No thanks, Frank. I’ll call and talk to them.”
“Sure.” Frank’s eyes come to me when Bax looks my way with his jaw tight.
“I’m sorry to wake you two.”
“It’s okay.” I swallow, wrapping my arms around my middle as he focuses back on Bax.
“You have my cell if the police need anything from me.”
“Thanks, Frank,” Bax says, and he nods before stepping down off the porch and walking in the direction of his car. I can see it’s parked at the end of the driveway before the door is shut.
“Someone vandalized my car?” I whisper, and Bax closes the distance between us. Once he’s standing in front of me, his hand comes around the side of my neck, and his face lowers toward mine.
“I need you to go get your shoes on while I get on the phone with the cops.”
“Someone vandalized my car?” I repeat, my voice a panicked squeak now.
“Shoes, baby,” he says gently, giving my neck a squeeze and waiting for my nod before he lets me go. I turn to get my shoes while he goes to grab his phone, then he holds the door open for me.
With his hand wrapped tightly around mine, we walk across his lawn to Kourtney’s house, and when my car comes into view, I wonder if Frank was talking about someone else's car because there is nothing wrong with mine. Or… I don’t think there is until we walk around to the passenger side.
I stop in my tracks, my mind trying to catch up to what my eyes are seeing.
Black spray paint covers most of the red paint on the front and back doors, and both tires have been slashed with a butcher knife that is still sticking out of the back tire like it got stuck there.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I whisper to Bax while pressing my hand to my stomach. Someone obviously went out of their way to cause as much damage as they could without making too much noise, and it’s clear whoever did this hates me in a way that sends a chill down my spine.
Turning me toward him, he tucks my face against his chest and cups the back of my head. “I’m going to take you back over to my house.”
“I need to wait for the cops,” I reply, my voice muffled.
“When they get here, I’ll bring them over. It’s too cold for you to be outside, and you don’t need to deal with this.”