Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“She sounds good. Ford, Mom’s never gone to rehab without a really good reason before. How’d you do it?”
“I told her you were going to throw your life away.”
Anger flares in my chest. “You had no right. You don’t know anything about me.”
“Yes, I do. And I’m right. You are going to.” He steps closer. I still don’t move. “Is that his ring?”
I cover my hand and glare. “None of your business.”
“You hate it, don’t you?”
“Ford.”
“It’s not your style, but then again, not many people know you like I do.”
“Stop it. I didn’t come back here to reunite.”
He takes a shallow breath and lets it out. “Why did you come here then?”
“I came to tell you to stay the fuck away from me.” I blink back the tears and stare at him as hard as I can. I reach down deep for all my anger—all my rage—all the countless times I’ve been bullied and hurt and looked down on and ignored, all the hours I’ve spent hating myself and wishing I looked more like Sara Lynn. I reach for it and hold it and let it warm me up, let it flare bright, let it burn.
Ford grimaces like I kicked him in the face.
“I didn’t plan on hunting you down.”
“No, only my mother,” I say viciously. “Ford, what you did to me, I’ll never, ever forgive you. I’m happy my mom’s safe and getting help, and I’m grateful you decided to pay for it. I really, really am. But I swear, I’m done with you. Leave me alone.”
His hands curl into fists. His jaw works. I think for a second, he’s going to step forward and grab my hair and pull me against him and kiss me. If he does, I’ll bite his tongue off. I’ll whimper, and moan, and I’ll make him pay.
Instead, he slowly relaxes and looks at me with a tired smile. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told your mother. The money is no strings attached. I’m going to pay for your mother’s care, and I’ll hire people to watch after her if she runs away again. I’ll keep dragging her ass back in as many times as it takes. I’m actually kind of fond of her now after spending a couple days with her.”
“You spent time with her?”
“It was a long car ride from Oklahoma.”
“She was in—never mind, I don’t care. This doesn’t matter. Leave me alone.” I turn to storm off. If I stay and let him keep talking, he’ll convince me to change my mind and that’s the last thing I want, even if I yearn for it so desperately it hurts.
I want him back. I want his kiss, the way he made me feel. I want what we were before I found out the truth of why he got together with me to start with, but that’s gone, blown away by his hideous betrayal. I’ll never see him the same, no matter what.
He’s a different man, and I’m a different woman.
I’m stronger than I was before. Partly, that’s thanks to him. But that strength is why I can leave now and not look back.
“You’re free, Kat,” he says as I reach the door. “You don’t owe me a thing, but you are free. You don’t have to get married. You don’t have to obey your grandfather. Your mother will be taken care of no matter what.”
I grab the door handle. “And if I want to marry Matthew?”
“Then I wish you the best of luck, but Jackie’s still going to be fine.”
I wipe the tears from my face. I’ve cried enough over this man, and he doesn’t deserve more.
“Thanks, Ford. Good luck to you too.”
I pull open the door and I walk away.
Chapter 29
Kat
Matthew sits across from me at the Oak Club and drones on and on about some crypto trades he’s making and how much money he stands to win or lose, I can’t really tell which. I pick at my meal, only halfway listening.
“Something wrong?” he asks, and I’m jolted out of my stupor. I honestly didn’t think he’d notice that I haven’t been paying attention.
“No, nothing,” I say.
“You haven’t touched your steak. It’s a fifty-dollar filet and exquisite, you know. Taste it, go ahead. Taste it.”
I shake my head. Matthew ordered for both of us and I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I don’t like steak very much, and I especially hate when it’s rare. “I’m not—I’m not really hungry.”
“Oh, please, go on, taste it anyway.” He reaches out like he’s going to cut a piece with his own utensils.
I smack them away with my fork.
“No, thank you.” I sit up straight and meet his gaze. “I’d rather not.”
He looks surprised. I can’t really blame him. The Kat he met the first time around would’ve let him feed her like a little baby and even smiled and thanked him for it even if she was gagging the whole time. The old Kat would’ve let him walk all over her.