Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I only meant to see you. To tell you who I was.”
“Then how did I end up inside you, Cassidy?”
The way he says it is meant to be crass. To make me uncomfortable.
“Stop,” I bite out. “Don’t do this.”
He laughs bitterly. “Answer the fucking question.”
I swallow down the lump forming in my throat.
“When I got there, the guy at your door mistook me for whoever you were waiting for. I lied to get in. It was my only chance to see you.”
I can’t stop my voice from quivering, my breath coming out harsh and choppy until I’m spiraling into a panic attack.
A thing I can see: Aiden. His nostrils flared. Jaw hard as stone.
Something I can smell: His cologne. But instead of calming me, it makes my heart lurch in my chest, a fresh set of tears cascading down my eyes. I’ll never bury my head in the crook of his arm or find comfort in his embrace again.
Something I can hear: My own sobs.
“You didn’t even remember me,” I whisper, fresh tears running down my face, forcing me to blink them away. They flow like a river, the salty taste landing on my lips. “You left me. I wasn’t even worth remembering.”
“You think I forgot about you?” he sneers.
“Yes.”
“You think I’m that much of an asshole?” He doesn’t even give me a chance to answer. “You don’t know shit.”
He stalks off toward the kitchen, leaving me standing alone, cradling my chest with my arms.
A few seconds later, he’s marching back into the room with a piece of paper clutched in his hand. “You know nothing,” he says, tossing a piece of paper at me.
He doesn’t say another word. He doesn’t even look back as he storms out the front door, slamming it shut behind him.
I’m left alone in his house, the paper he held moments ago, now clutched between both of my hands, as my trembling somehow intensifies.
My entire body goes limp as all my strength bleeds out of me. And then…I’m falling.
When I land on my knees, my head falls back on a strangled cry as I allow every last emotion to pour from me until I’m nothing but an empty vessel. A crumpled mess, lying alone on the hard floor.
35
AIDEN
The anger bubbling up inside me is like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
I want to punch a wall.
Throw something.
The betrayal cloys at my chest, making me itch and my skin pull taut. I need to get the fuck away from her.
I head straight out the front door, to the elevator, and toward the exit. My feet not carrying me quickly enough.
The muggy air hits me in the face the moment I step outside, and I feel like I’m suffocating.
I suck in a lungful of air, not giving a shit about any people passing by. Let them look. Let them watch my breakdown.
I don’t care anymore.
How can she be her?
Pip. My Pip.
Moments from the past rush at me like a freight train as I start to walk, needing to put distance between us.
There’s no destination. I’m just allowing my feet to guide me. My head is lowered, and my hands are balled into fists at my side. But the farther I walk, the more my shoulders slump, and my hands relax.
I’m a shell of a person.
Betrayal oozes from every pour. But there’s also this strange feeling of relief.
Pip is alive.
Shouldn’t that matter for something?
Fuck.
A war rages inside me.
My emotions are all over the place, and I don’t know what is up or what is down.
When my feet stop, I’m at the local hole-in-the-wall bar a few blocks from my apartment, and I know exactly who I need to text.
Dane.
He’ll help me forget.
Me: Need you. Now.
Dane: Is this Cassidy?
The mention of that name causes a sharp pain in my chest. My hand flies up over my pounding organ, surprised to find it still beating.
Dane: Did you steal your man’s phone?
Me: Seriously. Meet me at Dickies.
Me: And don’t mention that name again…
It doesn’t take long before the seat beside me at the bar is being pulled out. The sound of the metal scratching the floor grates at my ears.
“You look fucking awful.”
I turn to look at the teammate who has quickly become more than just a friend, but family.
“I feel awful,” I groan. “My head is pounding.”
“Nothing a drink can’t help.” He peers down at the half-empty tumbler in front of me, lifting one brow. “Looks like you already started.”
I lift my glass up in a mock cheer.
Dane’s eyes narrow in on me. “What’s going on? Drinking this early in the day isn’t like you.”
“Too much to deal with,” I respond with a grimace. “I just wanna forget. Why don’t you help me with that?”
He lifts his eyebrow. “All right.” He lifts a hand, signaling for the bartender. “I’ll have whatever he’s having.” He lifts up two fingers. “We’ll take two.”