Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59120 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I finally croak, my voice pathetic and empty. “It’s me. It’s...Violet.”
Nothing.
As if he can hear me.
“He can hear you.”
I flinch and glance over my shoulder at the nurse, still standing in the doorway, watching me.
“He can?”
She nods. “Yeah, he can.”
Great, so now he knows I’m here, awkwardly talking to him.
I exhale, turning back.
“Listen, I know it has been a long time, and a lot has changed but...you still matter to me, Travis. I hope you know that. I hope you pull through this, no,” my voice cracks, “I need you to. Do you understand? Please don’t die. I can’t handle it if you do. At least give us the chance to talk about what happened all those years ago. Can you do that for me?”
Nothing.
Well, at least he knows.
Knows I’m here, knows I came, knows I’m trying.
What comes next, well, I have no idea.
4
“Why does she get to walk back in as if she didn’t leave and ruin everything?” Jasmine mutters, hands planted on her hips as she stares me down.
I glare at her. After two years, she still acts like Chief belongs to her and her alone. She’s every bit as striking as I remember—blonde hair, blue eyes, long legs, and a killer figure. But right now, I’m too furious to admire her looks. She is staring at me like she wishes I would turn around, leave, and get hit by a car on my way out.
I wasn’t the one who made the mistakes, so I’m sure as hell not going to come back and have her attack me like some sort of hero.
“Don’t start,” Chief says to her, his eyes narrowed. “That’s my daughter, too. She did nothing wrong, nor did she ruin anything. This is her home and she can come back to it whenever the fuck she wants to.”
“Of course you would say that. She’s your first, the precious one, way to make it obvious that you love her more than me,” she mutters, crossing her arms.
“Don’t start with that fuckin’ bullshit,” he growls back. “I don’t have the patience for it, and you know it.”
“Whatever. I’m going out.” She snatches her car keys and storms off. I watch her stomp into the yard, muttering bitch under her breath. Moments later, I hear a crunch—her car slams into mine.
Oh no she fucking didn’t.
I turn and run outside. She stands outside her car, staring at mine, her eyes wide. “I didn’t mean to, it was an accident.”
“Are you serious?” I hiss, inspecting the dent. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I didn’t ask you to come back and ruin things between Chief and me.”
That’s it.
I step forward so angrily, she shrinks away. Chief is outside now, but he knows better than to get in my way when I am in this kind of mood. “I didn’t ask for you to pop up and destroy things two years ago either. But you can’t get rid of me—I’m his daughter too. And if you break something else of mine, I’ll break that pretty nose.”
“I’m sure daddy will pay for the repairs,” she murmurs. “Unless your half-dead ex-boyfriend is willing to....”
I lunge—but Chief’s hand clamps on my wrist and hurls me back.
“That’s enough!” he barks. “Jasmine, you’re paying for that car. Violet, walk away.”
I shrug free, yank my keys from my pocket. “I need space.”
“Where are you going now?” Chief calls after me as I go over to my banged-up car. “I need to make sure that car is safe.”
“I’ll call you if anything falls off,” I mutter, swinging the door open.
He rubs a hand down his face. “Just...take five, kid. Then come back.”
I don’t answer. I jump into my car. Jasmine watches me go, smirking. I wrestle the car into drive and floor the accelerator. I need someone who understands. I call Reagan on the way to the hotel she is staying at, the hotel I should be staying at too, but thought it would be a good idea to try and stay with Chief. It wasn’t. Reagan has been my rock since the fire that put Travis in the hospital.
I literally could not do life without her.
I pull into the hotel parking lot, and get out of my car, trying not to look at the damage. It isn’t that bad, but I am not exactly rolling in money to fix it either, and I can’t see Jasmine having much to give. I reach the hotel room door just as it swings open and Reagan is there. I told her I was on my way, and I knew she would be waiting.
“Tell me,” she says, hands on my shoulders. “Are we committing murder, or making it look like an accident?”
I laugh. “I haven’t decided yet. Seriously, though, I thought things in my life were finally on track and now it feels like it’s falling apart.”