Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
I was feeling something intense for Ryder, but I didn’t know if I could live with his career. I couldn’t see him out there hurting people and possibly getting hurt himself. I had a lingering fear that everyone I loved would be taken from me, and kept most people at arm’s length for that reason. It wouldn’t work in a relationship.
I didn’t have to work in the morning. I lied to Tori. I stayed in bed until I needed to get ready for my shift in the afternoon. I pulled on my clothes and left my hair in a loose braid, glancing at my phone as I removed it from the charger. Tori had been asking where I was and if I was okay for the last several hours, and I told her that I fell asleep right away. She knew I wasn’t one to keep my phone by my side since I already had enough trouble sleeping. She responded to tell me she’d stop by the shop to see me after work, and I smiled weakly.
Ryder sent the same texts. I was irritated that I could see how concerned he was in every message and felt a little bad about shutting him out. I tucked my phone into my purse and walked out to my car, starting the engine to go to the shop. I sensed that he wouldn’t be okay with my ignoring his efforts to reach out. I guess that was why I wasn’t surprised to see him sitting in his car in front of the store. I sighed and got out of my vehicle, sauntering to the door of the shop as he approached me.
“Elyse, are you okay?” he asked as I looked at him with tired eyes. I’d slept a lot, but it didn’t feel that way.
“I’m fine. I went home and slept for hours and hours.” I shrugged and forced a smile. “I wasn’t up for the bar. That’s not my thing all of the time.”
“Did you like the game?” He looked confused as I met his eyes, nodding with a bright smile.
“It’s so exciting. You were great out there,” I told him as he searched my face.
“You don’t look like you enjoyed it that much,” he paused. “I thought I was clear about what I did.” His words were soft, and I glanced at the door.
“I have to get inside, Ryder. Can we talk later?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. I wanted to touch him, to kiss him. Instead, I stood in place.
“What time are you off?” he asked, and I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“The same time as before. Eight.” That gave me a few hours to figure out what to tell him about why I was so strange.
“I’ll pick you up. We can have a late dinner.”
I nodded and licked my lips as I stared at him. “Okay.” I turned and walked inside the shop, relieved that I had some time to think before dealing with that again. Gloria was at the counter looking at the computer monitor, and she glanced up at me with a sweet smile.
“Hi, Gloria,” I greeted her with a smile as I walked into the back to store my purse in the locked office.
“How was your date?” she asked as soon as I joined her, and I sighed.
“It was great,” I replied and looked around the room. “He plays hockey for a living, Gloria. Like pro hockey.”
“That explains it,” she said, referring to his build. I smiled. A shadow crossed her face. “Is that a problem for you?”
“He’s aggressive.” She knew my story and was one of the few who did from me.
“Oh, honey. Not like that. Sports get a little rough, including hockey. I don’t think he’s like that off the ice.” She covered my hand with hers, and I nodded. “It isn’t the same thing, Elyse.”
“I just felt so shaky watching him. I pretended that I had a great time and went home right after it was over like a scared child.” I looked at the door and shook my head. “He wants to talk after work.”
“Tell him. I know you like to hide from life, but a man like that only comes along once. Nobody will judge you for what you’ve been through.” She nodded at me as I stared at her.
“They won’t?” I asked, and she pulled me into her arms for a hug. I hated that some people knew without my telling them, like the officers in my neighborhood. They meant well by protecting me, but it made me feel uncomfortable. My name and the story was public record, and some people remembered the crime more than a decade later.
“No, you deserve to be happy, and from what I could tell, that man wants to show you the world.”