Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
It was all just a stupid little girl crush that’s all it was. Anyway I looked at it, he didn’t owe me anything, if anything I was the one who owed him. And if all he wanted was to be left alone, then maybe I should give him what he wants.
It was easier said than done though. The hurt he’d caused by his reaction had been deep and still lingered. It as well out of proportion for the situation as it was between us, but it was real nonetheless.
I felt betrayed, which is stupid. When did he ever betray me? But in my mind I was convinced that he knew I was attracted to him, if that’s what you can call this strange feeling that seems to constantly draw me to him.
And the fact that he had to know and yet treated me so shabbily said more than words ever could that he wasn’t interested. I was finally able to accept that he wasn’t feeling the same thing I was. That thing that I’d had no name for until I was driving away from him in tears.
The day before when he’d behaved so badly hadn’t hurt as much. Because this time he was hurting me for someone else and that pain cut like a sharp edged sword to the heart.
So, I’d told myself sometime during the night that I should cut my losses and go back to my life before him. Of course my mind had other ideas and each time I told myself that it was pointless, that feeling would assail me again and I’d be back where I started.
I had the added worry of trying to figure out just what this feeling was and if I could trust it. It wasn’t any of the things I’d told myself it was in the beginning. Nothing as flowery as a little crush.
From the way I ached at the thought of him being in love with someone else, I knew it was much more serious than that. Too bad it was too late, that nothing could ever come of it because he didn’t feel the same.
Not for me anyway. But he obviously felt something for the woman in the picture. That much was made blatantly obvious. But just as I’d made peace with my decision as hard as it was, the phone rang and it was his brother calling.
10
Cassie
Now here I am entering his office and wondering why I didn’t just leave well enough alone. Well, I was here now so might as well hear what he has to say. And then I can move on and forget this ever happened.
I didn’t expect any of it, wasn’t prepared for the story he told. I certainly didn’t expect to leave his office with a new determination that was in direct contrast to the one I had when I arrived.
I replayed his conversation now word for word, turning the words over and over in my head as more light was shone into the dark. I knew there was a story there, something deep and dark. But I never expected in a million years that it would be so heartbreakingly tragic.
I’d entered the sheriff’s office with my usual warmth though I was feeling anything but. From the look on his face I knew it was going to be bad. And even more so when he beat around the bush before getting to the point.
He started out pretty much the way I’d expected. “I wanted to apologize for my brother’s behavior.” I’d started to cut him off, to tell him there was no need but he kept going and what he had to say changed everything. Even more so because he’d chosen to share something so personal with me. It said a lot.
“I’m going to tell you something that you cannot share with anyone ever.” I nodded my head and sat on the edge of my seat almost afraid to hear what he was about to tell me after all this time of wanting to know.
But his countenance had changed so drastically, and that added to the way he kept hedging told me that whatever he was about to say was going to be really bad.
“My brother was part of an elite team in the military. I can’t get too deep into that, but to make a long story short, someone sold them out and his identity as their leader, was compromised.”
I watched his jaw work as something resembling pain entered his eyes and braced myself for what came next. I was in no way prepared for what he had to say.
“Three years ago my brother watched his wife get killed right in front of him.” I felt his words like a blow to the chest. The woman in the picture. The woman I’d had such unkind thoughts about. I swallowed hard and fought back the tears. It was hard to know how to feel in that moment.