Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
I’m struggling to picture a life without him.
Maybe we can work this out.
Maybe we can come up with a plan, something that’ll work for both of us.
Our children don’t have to go to the clubhouse, maybe only on family nights they can come. I’m sure there is a way. There has to be a way.
“I was thinking about coming home,” I say softly. “I was wondering if you’d be up to talk yet?”
“There’s nothin’ to talk about, Chloe. You are clear on what you want, and you’re not goin’ to change your mind. Neither am I.”
I close my eyes, fighting for calm. We’re both reactive right now, so one of us needs to keep our cool.
“That’s not true. I understand me asking you to leave the club was a bit forward and I know they’re your family, I love them, too. I just ... you have to see why I’m concerned.”
“If you followed instruction,” he grinds out, “you wouldn’t have seen what you did.”
“Your instruction could have been a little clearer, Colt.”
“If I say don’t come to the club, I mean don’t come to the fuckin’ club.”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” I say, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk.”
“I’m listenin’ ...”
“Not on the phone. I’ll come home and we can sit down and discuss it properly.”
“Nobody is stoppin’ you from coming home, Chloe.”
I exhale. “I know that, but I needed some space.”
“Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
With that, he hangs up the phone.
Gritting my teeth, I decide I will head home tonight because I’m not willing to wait any longer feeling the way I do now. Packing my things, I say goodbye to my family and promise to call when I arrive. It’s only a few hours’ drive, I’ll be there just after nightfall and then we can start fresh in the morning.
Getting into my car, I begin the drive, coffee in hand.
I think about everything I want to say to Colt, I think about how I’m going to approach it so he will understand. I try my very best to go over every scenario in my head, because I want to ensure that he understands where I’m coming from. I love him. Maybe I should have just told him that, instead of asking him to leave the club. Of course he’s not going to leave the club; he was never going to do that, and it wasn’t my place to ask him to.
About an hour into the drive, my phone rings and Colt’s name flashes on the screen. I answer it, shocked that he’s calling. As soon as I pick it up, I realize it’s an accidental dial. In the background, I can hear voices and music, like they’re having a party. I pull over, turning off the car so I can listen a little better. The voices fade in and out, and then a scratchy sound comes across the phone before a female voice says, “Oh, here it is. I found your phone, baby, come on over and get it.”
Baby?
Who the hell is calling Colt baby?
More shuffling sounds, and then his rugged voice. “Thanks, must have dropped it earlier – drink?”
Then, the line goes dead.
Did he not see that I was on the other line?
Angry, hurt, and frustrated, I start the car, and with tears pricking my eyes, I keep driving. My mind gets the best of me, and as I drive, I grow even more upset. I think about the woman’s voice and wonder why the hell she was calling him baby. Is he cheating on me, or has he just made his mind up and is going to tell me it’s over when I get home? Or is this just who he is, and I’ve been too blind to see it?
Is he sleeping with her?
Is he planning on it tonight?
My desperation turns into panic, and I speed up, wanting to storm into that clubhouse and demand answers.
I’m just outside of town when the phone rings again.
It has slid over the other side of the passenger chair, and with hazy eyes from crying, I reach over to get it when I see Colt’s name flash on the screen. Stretching my fingers out for it, I take my eyes off the road for just a second. A split second. The car swerves, and a horrifying thudding sound has me jerking upright and slamming on the brakes as I skid across the road. My head slams forward as the car comes to a stop on the side, and I glance back, unable to see anything. It’s dark, and I can’t see anyone around.
Did I just hit a deer?
Or some other poor animal?
Climbing out of the car, my entire body shaking, I use the flashlight on my phone to shine over the road to see what I hit. For a moment, I don’t see anything, and I figure that maybe the animal has rushed away. There is a large drop off by the side of the road, perhaps it went down there? I keep walking anyway, just to be sure, when I see something on the side of the road.