Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“Well, that’s one way to clean the table,” he said as he mopped it up. Then he stilled. “Tori, what is it?”
“It’s my mom.”
“What’s wrong?”
Ignoring the puddle of juice, he came over to my side and sat down next to me, putting his hand on mine.
“Is she hurt?”
I didn’t even know how to answer that. If she wasn’t now, she might be soon—emotionally, at least. But I shook my head.
“Then what is it? I’ve got to be honest, you’re scaring me. You came in here looking like death warmed over, and now you’re even paler.”
“My mom’s getting married.” My voice was barely audible.
Out of my peripheral vision, I saw his face change. His first instinct was probably along the lines of congratulations, but then he froze, likely remembering what I’d told him about Doug. How he and my mom had been on and off again for years. How horribly he treated her. How she was an entirely different person when she was with him.
“God, Tori. I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Me too.”
“Is it going to be this year or next? Maybe you can talk to her over Thanksgiving.”
I seized on his idea as if it were a lifeline. “Yes! That’s what I need, to speak with her face to face. If I can just tear off whatever blinders she has on and remind her of what he’s like, and what he does to her…” I straightened up, clutching Jayden’s arm. “That’s a great idea!”
He smiled at the hope on my face. “It’s a good plan. In the meantime, why don’t you take a few days to process, and then call her? Get a feel for how things are going between her and Doug this time.”
“There’s no time.” I got to my feet. “She’s marrying him tomorrow morning in a civil ceremony.”
“What?”
“It’s okay. If I leave now, I’ll get there long before Doug gets off work. I know I can talk her out of this insanity.”
In the back of my mind, it dawned on me that the last serious conversation I tried to have, the one last night with Lucas, hadn’t gone very well. Maybe it would have if I hadn’t brought up Natalie. I was still beating myself up over that. But this was my mom. I had to try. “I’ve got to go.”
“Wait. Just wait a minute.” Jayden stood and wrapped me in his arms. He stroked my hair and whispered, “Take a moment to breathe.“
My body shook as I started to cry, but he said soothing things and reminded me to take deep breaths. When he finally let me go, I felt a little calmer, and I tore off a paper towel to wipe my face.
“Are you sure you want to drive all the way down there today?” he asked. “Why don’t you just call her?”
“It has to be in person. It’s not that far of a drive—just three hours. Once I get out of the mountains, I’ll be fine. A couple hours there, an hour to talk to her… I’ll be back by dinner.”
He looked anguished. “I wish I could go with you, but I’ve got a test and it’s a third of our grade.”
“Honestly, I’m fine.” I wasn’t, of course, but it’s not like I’d forgotten how to drive. Probably.
His eyes swept over me, his expression doubtful. “I’ll call Kyle. He can go with you.”
“No.” I grabbed his arm as he took his phone out of his pocket. “He’s got to work on his paper today. It’s due on Monday. We were going to work on it all afternoon, but he’s got my notes. He can work on it by himself. He has to.”
“Sweetheart, you’re upset. You’re in no condition to drive. You can’t go down there alone.”
“She won’t.” Lucas stepped into the kitchen. “I’ll go with her.”
27
LUCAS
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” It was at least the fifth time I’d asked it in the last three hours.
“No.” Tori peered out the passenger window. We’d ended up taking my car since it was newer and got better gas mileage. She glanced toward her mother’s house and then back at me. “Doug’s car isn’t here, and I texted her I was coming.”
God, I hated letting her go in alone. But maybe that was a little like what she was talking about last night. About my need to protect her. She was an adult. I knew that. But was it wrong to care about her well-being?
“I have to do this.” She seemed resolute. ”If you came in, it would be about introducing you and explaining who you are. And this is about me and my mom.”
I knew that, but I wasn’t happy about it. It felt like crap to let her go in there alone when she was so upset.
“That coffee shop I told you about isn’t far. Take the second right, then go about a mile, and it’ll be on the corner.”