Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Anna’s voice once again cut through her disjointed thoughts.
“And there I thought you were completely over Leandro.” Anna laughed softly. “Poor Bobby. You’re still a child, after all.” Her voice became louder, her tone sharper as she continued, “I’m going to do you a favor and tell you the truth that no one had the guts to tell you.”
Leandro finally wrenched his arm away from the other woman. “Shut up, Anna.”
Her voice became shriller. “Whatever happened between the two of you in the past was not Leandro’s fault. You were the stupid one—-”
“I’m going to personally escort you out if you don’t shut up now.” Leandro was badly tempted to call for his security, but courtesy forbade him from doing so. Anna had been his ticket into Bobby’s world today, and unfortunately it meant he was responsible for the mess she was now creating.
“—-to think that someone like Leandro would really want to be with you forever!”
“That’s it,” Leandro gritted out. He unceremoniously started hauling Anna towards the door.
“Let me go!” Anna struggled to get back to Bobby, hatred and envy making her want to say the most painful things to the girl who had actually managed to reach a part of Leandro that she knew she could never reach.
When she realized she was just a few steps from the doors, Anna’s head snapped back towards Bobby. She screamed, “I hope you’re smarter now! If Leandro’s back in your life then he probably needs to use you, too.”
Leandro threw the door open and thrust Anna into the arms of the security officers guarding the exit. “Drive her back to her office.” He slammed the door shut on a still-screaming Anna. He turned around, his eyes immediately looking for Bobby.
Their gazes met.
And that was the exact moment the full import of Anna Largess’ words really sunk in.
Leandro could never love her, and if he had come back in her life, then it was only because he had found a use for her again.
With a choked cry, Bobby rushed towards the other pair of exit doors.
Chapter Three
“BOBBY, WAIT!”
Leandro’s voice behind her made Bobby run as fast as her legs could carry her.
“Bobby!”
She slammed her hand on the elevator’s button and gasped for relief when the doors slid open. Thank You, God. She rushed in, turned around, and shrieked as Leandro was able to follow her into the elevator just as the doors closed.
His hand slammed on the Emergency Stop button, and the elevator shuddered into a stop.
Shit. Now she was trapped with him in close quarters.
“Bobby—-”
When he reached out for her, panic returned in full force and with a little cry, Bobby rushed to the opposite corner of the elevator, needing to keep as much distance between them. Oh God, she hated herself for acting like a ninny but right now, pride was her last concern. She didn’t care if she was acting like a stupid weak damsel in distress. She was in distress, dammit, and all she wanted was to have as much distance between her and Leandro Christopoulos as possible.
Leandro eyed Bobby with frustration. Every instinct he possessed urged him to just haul her into his arms, but he did his best to ignore the urge. She looked so fragile right now, he was terrified if he made one wrong move she would shatter.
“We need to talk.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe if she—-
“Not seeing me won’t keep you from hearing me.”
Without opening her eyes, Bobby snarled, “I know that.” She was heartbroken, not stupid. The sound of her own ragged breathing taunted her. Oh God, she was overreacting, wasn’t she? But she couldn’t help it.
Leandro Christopoulos was bad news, and it was all because she loved him. She loved him still, dammit. She loved him like she had never stopped loving him, loved him even though she knew he didn’t love her back.
“We have to talk,” Leandro repeated.
Why was it so easy for him to say that? But then wasn’t that an answer in itself? The idea of talking only hurt her because she was the one whose heart was engaged...and not him.
Inhale, exhale.
You can do this, Bobby. You survived Blaine in high school. Surely you can survive Leandro in college.
Slowly, she forced her eyes open.
Leandro was gazing at her with an inscrutable expression on his face.
The look of wariness on her face hurt. “I don’t plan to hurt you in any way,” he said harshly.
She wanted to lie and pretend that he couldn’t ever hurt her, but in the end, Bobby’s blunt and pragmatic side won and she said flatly, “Just seeing you hurts.”
He flinched.
Bobby’s gaze strayed towards the Emergency Stop button. Someone should have been talking to them now through the voice box, asking them if they need help. But because this was Leandro Christopoulos with her, Bobby knew that not even the stadium’s security would dare interfere. If Leandro wanted the elevator temporarily locked down, then the world would make sure it was so.