Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
But none of that matters now since everything has changed, and the only way we’re going to find our way forward is by fixing what needs to be fixed.
The situation with Corinne is first on the list.
“I’ll drive you home.” I shift the idling car into gear, and Sadie doesn’t say anything until we’re a few blocks down the road.
“Are you going to talk to her tonight?”
There’s a hopeful lift in her tone, and I can’t help but respond to it on a visceral level. Her hope gives me hope.
“This isn’t something that can wait until morning. If she’s lying, it’s ending now.” I give her a meaningful look. “She’s already caused enough damage.”
Sadie turns away, and neither of us speak for the rest of the drive. Once we reach her apartment, she tries dodging me on my offer to walk her to her front door, but I don’t give her the chance.
“Can’t wait to get rid of me, huh?”
“That’s not it.”
“What is it, then?”
“Being around you is…”
I drag a hand through my hair. “I’m not trying to upset you.”
“That’s not what I was going to say. Being near you is too tempting right now.”
My heart leaps at her words, and I have to bite my lip to keep from saying anything as she unlocks her darkened apartment.
She flips on a light and stalls just inside the front entrance. “Will you let me know how it goes?”
I fit my palm along her cheek and brush my lips across the other. “You’ll be the first to know.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
Ashton
Not pregnant.
It would make my life a hell of a lot easier if it’s true. I’ll be able to move on from this shitstorm without worrying about Corinne going straight to the abortion clinic. If it’s true, I can walk away, wash my hands of her, and do it without guilt.
I can get Sadie back.
Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, because we’re stronger than this.
I rap on Corinne’s door three times. Seconds later, I detect footsteps, followed by a pause in which I’m sure she’s checking the peephole. The deadbolt switches over, and there she stands, brown eyes brightening at the sight of me.
“Hey,” she says, her voice an octave lower than usual. Softer. Designed to seduce. “I thought you were going out with Bryce tonight.” She wanted me to come over for dinner, and when I told her I had plans with Bryce, she wasn’t thrilled.
“Change of plans,” I say, following her inside. As she clears a pile of textbooks from the sofa, I linger in the center of the living room. “We need to talk.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
“That depends. I heard something interesting tonight.”
Stalling, she glances over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I heard you’re not actually pregnant.”
She drops the books and turns around to face me, eyes wide. “What? Who told you that?”
“That’s not even the point. Is it true?”
“Don’t I get a chance to defend myself? Who’s spreading rumors about me? Is it Sadie?”
Hmm, interesting. I figured she was bound to catch on to my feelings for Sadie, especially after my reaction to running into her around town. Corinne doesn’t miss a thing.
“This rumor came from your sister.”
That steals the sails from her voice, and she opens and shuts her mouth a few times before spitting out her reply. “I haven’t told her yet.”
“I might believe that, except she says she’s pregnant.” I advance on her, forcing her back by a few steps. “In fact, she claims she was the one at the hospital.”
“My sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“No? You weren’t with her at the ER?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“I don’t want to hear any buts, Corinne. Just tell me the goddamn truth.” My voice thunders through the apartment, and her eyes sheen over with tears.
“I’m…I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Sucking in a deep breath, I turn my back on her and drag both hands through my hair.
“I’m so sorry,” she cries, and I flinch when she places her hand on my back. “I was so furious with you, and the lie slipped out…and once it was out there, I didn’t know how to take it back without driving you away.”
I whirl, seething, hands fisted at my sides. God, how I want to strangle her. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I was willing to rearrange my entire life for this baby—a baby that doesn’t even exist!”
Something inside her seems to snap into place, and she lifts her chin a couple of notches. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Let’s hear your excuses. Tell me what I did to deserve this. Go ahead. Try justifying it.”
“You discarded me like trash!” She jabs a finger into my chest. “You made me love you, then you threw me away like I was nothing.”
“What you are is a lying, manipulative bitch.”
Her mouth begins to tremble, and I immediately want to take back the words. Even if they are true. She played me, and I fell for it like an idiot.