Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
She looks so sad as she holds her hands up, walking backwards. “Please, just go. This is for the best. You’ll forget me in no time.”
I call out her name. “Lindsey.”
She stops, and I tell her, “Promise me if you ever need anything, you’ll call me.”
She shakes her head. “I won’t need anything from you.”
My hands fist at my side. I don’t know why this is so important to me, but it is. “Promise me. Promise me this one thing, and I’ll leave.”
She stops walking and nods. “Fine. I promise that if I need anything, I will call you. But Miller, you need to know that I’m not like the other people in your life. I’m not going to use you.”
I’m not proud. “You can use me. Fuck, Lindsey, you’re the one person I want to use me. I’ll give you anything you want.”
She walks over and stops in front of me. Her hand lifts, and she cups my cheek. “Miller. You deserve to have people in your life that won't use you. That are there because they want to be.”
I lift my hand and cover hers, holding it to my cheek. “I want you to be that person.”
She pulls her hand from mine. “I can’t, Miller. I just can’t. As much as I want to, last night broke me. We only had one date, and the pain was already too much. It’s better to end this now because I don’t know how I’d survive later.”
The finality is clear on her face. She shakes her head and steps back. “I’m sorry, Miller. I can’t.”
Struggling not to run after her, I call, “Remember your promise. Anytime, Lindsey. Call me anytime.”
She turns and walks away without a backwards glance.
My feet are planted. My hands are in fists at my sides, and everything inside of me is screaming to run after her. I want to. Hell, I want to more than anything, but I saw that determined look on her face. She’s not going to give in to me. Not now. I need to earn her trust, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.
CHAPTER 7
LINDSEY
I sit in the stands next to my sister, and we wildly wave at my excited nephew.
He's smiling ear to ear as he waves back and then tightens his hold on his bat and goes to the plate.
I swear I'm holding my breath as he puts the bat over his shoulder. The pitcher throws the first pitch, and Eli swings. As soon as the crack is heard, my sister and I jump to our feet, cheering.
The ball goes over the shortstop’s head, and Eli runs through the first base.
The crowd is going wild, and you would think this is a professional baseball game instead of some seven-year-olds just learning the game.
Eli waves at us as he bounces up and down on the bag.
We're giving him thumbs up and throwing our arms in the air, being way too loud and obnoxious.
Once we sit down, Tammy lifts her sunglasses and looks at me. “Spill it. What's wrong?"
I avoid her knowing gaze. "Nothing is wrong. I'm fine. I’m cheering. I’m happy. I mean, look at that face. How can anyone watch that and not be happy?"
She keeps staring at me. “Don’t try to change the subject. I'm your sister. You can't lie to me."
I look out onto the field. “Fine. I don't wanna talk about it then."
She finally puts her glasses back on and focuses on her son. “He's not Roger."
I gasp. "Eli is nothing like Roger. He has the biggest heart. There’s no similarity."
Tammy turns to me. “I meant Miller. He's nothing like my ex."
I blurt out. ''You don't even know Miller. He may be exactly like your ex-husband."
She clasps her hands together and speaks low. “My ex-husband is serving time in prison for murder, drugs, and several other things. I think it's safe to say that Miller is nothing like that."
I shrug. "We don't even know him." But even saying that, I know it’s not true. I know Miller is not Roger. Roger was manipulative, overbearing, and ruthless.
She laughs, and a few people around us turn to look. She ignores them.
"Are we talking about the same man that coordinated with me to have all four tires on your truck replaced? Or the same guy that calls me at least twice a week to see if you're okay or if you need anything?" She throws her hands up. “He had his brother that plays professional baseball video-call Eli to give him a few pointers. Even promised to come and give him a few lessons." She sighs softly. “Linds... you should give him another chance."
The next player strikes out, and Eli claps his hands together. "It's okay, Max. You'll get them next time."
My heart expands with pride. He really is nothing like his father. I look around the stands. "Where are the Davenports? I figured they would be here today."