Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Guess it’s your lucky day because red just so happens to be my favorite color.”
Heat rushed up from the volcano that suddenly erupted in my stomach.
Note to self: Milo Hendricks was a stone-cold charmer. Who knew?
“He’s honestly not worth either of our time, Milo,” I told him, licking my lips and trying not to make too much of his statement. “I just want to be done with him.”
“Then why stay with him?” His question punched through the atmosphere.
Distress clawed its way through me, and my tongue stroked out to wet my dried lips. “Because sometimes, we have to sacrifice our own well-being for the sake of the ones we love most.”
Confusion pulled across his brow. “Who—” he started to ask before a phone started buzzing on the counter where it was plugged into the wall.
I frowned when I realized it was mine.
Milo shrugged. “Last night, it was beeping that it was about to die, and I figured you might need it this morning. Hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s really kind of you, Milo.”
“The least I can do,” he said. He ambled to the opposite counter to unplug it.
A disbelieving giggle got free. “I would say you’re doing plenty. Overboard, baby. A girl could totally get used to this…waking up to coffee and breakfast and the most breathtaking view I’ve ever seen.”
He grunted like it was no big deal.
“Here you go.” He passed me my phone, and I entered the code.
Instantly, I cringed.
There was a slew of waiting messages that had come in throughout the night.
Really, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but still, it sent a bout of anger rebounding.
Bouncing through my spirit because seriously, the freaking nerve.
Karl
I don’t appreciate the stunt you pulled tonight.
The stunt I pulled? My teeth ground. Was this douchenugget kidding me?
Karl
Where are you?
Karl
I don’t have time for your games, Tessa. If you aren’t home by 8:00 a.m., I’m calling the police.
It was 8:09, not that I cared. But it was the last text that had just come through that sent blood sloshing through my veins. A disorienting thunder. The very thing that had kept me tied to him for far too long.
Karl
You know what happens if you don’t come home.
For years, I’d nod and smile when Karl made his demands. I’d bent to his will that had grown uglier and uglier as time had passed because I hadn’t seen how there was any other choice.
And no, I still didn’t have a solution. An answer. But there had to be one, right?
I struggled to breathe through the sickness that clawed at my insides, a tacky qualm spoiling in a pit of dread.
“What is it?” Milo’s voice held a wicked cut of violence.
My hand shook as I set my phone on the island. “It’s nothing.”
“Don’t do that, Tessa. You don’t have to pretend with me. Have no clue why that asshole has you in a clutch, but I can see you’re scared. That you feel trapped.”
“I just don’t know how to move on from here. What I’m going to do.” The confession came rushing out.
“You want to stay with him?” Malice shook through the quieted question.
“No.”
Absolutely not.
“Then there’s your answer.”
“It’s not as simple as that.”
“It never is, but it’s on us to figure out how to work around our circumstances.”
I peeked up at this man who’d become a friend.
Someone I trusted.
But I’d never come to the place where I’d trusted anyone else with this.
“These circumstances might be too great to overcome,” I whispered.
“So, we deal with today and figure the rest out later.” His voice was gruff.
“Just like that?” I asked.
“Just like that.”
Affection gathered at the base of my throat. “Well, then, I guess the first step is finding an apartment.”
That obstacle?
Easy.
It was Bobby who haunted my mind. Bobby who made me wonder if I was committing the greatest act of selfishness.
But this had gone too far, and I would find a way. I had to.
Milo raked his teeth over his plump bottom lip. Crap, that was distracting. “Was thinkin’ maybe you should stick around here for a bit.”
“Don’t tease a girl, Milo. That’s just rude.”
“Not teasing, Tessa. This place is huge and empty except for me.”
Hold the phone. Was he serious?
“Milo.” The tone woven in his name held the thousand reasons this would be a very bad idea.
Mostly, the sound of him in the shower. Well, the thought of him in his bed. Hell, just standing in his kitchen he was dangerous.
Clearly, I was starving for a taste of the man.
But really, I’d meant it when I’d said I didn’t want to drag him into my mess.
“Would make me feel better, knowing you’re here, under my roof, where I can keep an extra eye out for you.”
Turmoil wound its way deep into my psyche, the ache that wanted to give in and let Milo hold a little of my burden.