Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
My heart starts breaking into pieces again, and I'm starting to wonder how long this can last. How long before my heart runs out of pieces, and I just end up dead?
Why am I still standing here? He'd just admitted it. The cemetery walk-away wasn't about me. It was about her.
“Is it Francine?” I don't know why I'm even asking.
“Does it matter?” And he clearly doesn't get it either.
“Why won't you just answer—”
“It's not her.”
Oh.
“And I ended things between us that same day.”
OH.
My eyes widen...at the same time he stiffens...because we're thinking the same thing.
“Don't—”
That's him probably about to tell me not to read anything into what he's just admitted, and that's why I cut him off—
“Why are you walking out on me again?”
“Because it's better this way,” he grates out.
Right. Sure. Does he really think I'm that stupid?
“You don't have to lie...”
Those first words come out jerkily, but the moment I start speaking, it's like having something take over me, and the rest of the words come tumbling out in a rush.
“If you've...if you've lost interest since then, then just say it. There's no need to feel bad. I may not be the prettiest girl in the world, but I can...I can find another guy, and you know what? I promise you I'll find a guy within the day, so don't feel bad, okay? Don't feel guilty about me again.”
What in the world did I just say?
I walk past him as reality starts sinking in, and I feel like sinking into oblivion myself. I can't believe I just said that. Like, seriously, what in the world was I thinking?
I step inside the elevator and slam my hand on the Close button. I don't care which floor I'm whisked to. I just want to go and forget—
Ah!
Fingers curl around my wrist, spinning me around as the doors close, and next thing I know I'm staring up into angry dark eyes as the elevator begins its ascent.
“Are you trying to make me jealous?” he snarls.
“E-Excuse me?”
“You're going to find another man, are you?”
Oh, this man...and his...his gall!
“Yes,” I snarl back. “I'm absolutely going to—”
Not say another word.
Because Nate has kissed me into silence, just kissing me so, so hard that the moment he does, the moment he fiercely takes possession of my mouth—
It's the beginning of the end.
“Damn you.”
He grits the words out against my lips even as he hauls me even closer. I try weakly to pull away, but he's kissing me again, harder than ever, rougher than ever, and no no no—
The moment he takes a deep, deep taste of my mouth, I can only whimper in surrender, my arms going around his neck, the rest of my body melting against his.
When he lifts his head, I'm dazed and helpless, and he's looking at me with harsh intensity, his breathing rough.
“I didn't want it to be this way, Juniper.”
W-What way?
“But now it's too late to change anything.”
He grabs a fistful of my hair.
“You're mine, and you'll stay mine. Always.”
And then he's kissing me again and again and again.
Chapter Eight
IT'S A THURSDAY MORNING, three days out of the hospital, one day off the discharge papers, and I'm at my stenotype station unspooling the cables I've unspooled every Thursday for twelve years.
Today shouldn't feel any different but it does.
That's what he always does. He turns my life upside-down, and then he walks away—
Stop thinking about him, Juniper!
I take a deep breath and start again. Dr. Jimenez signed me off to come back as long as I keep it light, and I'm keeping it light. The morning docket's a continuance hearing and a guardianship review. Easy work both of them, because it's what Mr. Bell asked on my behalf. He also wants me to keep things light.
I asked him this morning whether he'd called the assignment desk on my behalf, and he said no I did not in the voice of a man who very much had.
You can guess how that went.
Anyway.
“Anything I can help you with?” Linda asks, pausing at my station with her coffee in one hand and her granola bar in the other.
“I'm good, thanks.”
She gives me one of her looks (the kind Linda gives before nine, which is mostly her eyebrows doing the talking) and moves on.
Everyone's being so, so kind, it just makes me feel guiltier. I want to reassure them they have nothing to worry about without lying. But how can I when all I remember these days is him?
I'm sorry for pressuring you without meaning to.
Those were his first words to me that day, when it was just the two of us in the room, and Dr. Jimenez had left to give us privacy.
I remember looking at him then and thinking, it truly does suit him more.
His real name.
Nicolo.
Now that I know what it is, Nate just feels wrong on all levels.