Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Is it just him? Where’s his family?” Tenly questions.
“I think it’s just…him,” Flynn says. A single guy who looks like that buying a house in the suburbs? Why?
“I don’t like that. This is where you raise families.” Tenly shakes her head.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s willing to make babies,” Owen flirts. I laugh, and Flynn rolls his eyes.
“Right, because murder houses scream American dream,” I jab. Owen laughs and glances over his shoulder at me, his face telling me good one.
“What’s going on?” Heston asks, coming outside.
I gesture toward the end of the road, where all the commotion is. “Someone’s moving in.”
He looks around me, his face hardening, sharp eyes darting back to me.
“What?” I ask, curious as to what has him so irked all of a sudden.
“Thanks for coming, everyone,” Heston dismisses, and my brows rise to my hairline.
“Wait—what? What are you doing?” I whisper to Heston, embarrassment flushing my cheeks. He snatches my hand, retreating backward. Ignoring my question.
“Heston, tell me what is going on!” I demand, my nostrils flaring. This is supposed to be our party, to celebrate us. Why is he’s suddenly ending it?
“I said it’s over!” He snarls, but in a whisper, so only I can hear it. His eyes piercing with anger, making my breath hitch in my throat.
“Already? The party is just getting started!” Tenly objects, her eyes now on us.
“Yeah, I’m not feeling well,” he lies, and I blink slowly. This is actually happening; he’s ending the party without even telling me why.
“Um…yeah, thanks for coming, you guys.” I follow his lead, my voice laced with confusion. We were having a good time, what the hell happened? Heston tugs me inside, slamming the door behind us.
“What is going—?”
He grabs me by the shoulders and presses me against the back of the door.
“Really? Everyone is here to celebrate our engagement and I can’t even leave the room for five minutes without you gawking at another man from the front lawn?”
My mouth drops open, but nothing comes out, shock and surprise swallowing every word I want to say. I finally force myself to say something. “W-We were all looking Heston, it was a new neighbor.” My voice wavers, on the edge of an emotional break down.
“You’re taking my last name, and I forbid you to smear it with slutty behavior,” he sneers, his words stabbing me in the chest, allowing my heart to fall onto the floor.
“Excuse me? How dare you—”
His open palm smacks across my cheek, and my head snaps to the side, my hand instantly raising to cover the spot that was hit.
“Dammit, Rain.” He rubs his neck, regret pinching his features. Placing his hand on my now red cheek, he cradles my head. “I’m sorry. It’s just…you mean so much to me. The thought of losing you is too much to bear.”
I stare ahead, my eyes on my mother’s urn. She saw everything, and I would do anything to hear what she had to say. To have her comfort and wisdom, when clearly my mind is at war with my heart when it comes to Heston and me.
“Do you accept my apology?” He steps into my view, and I finally look back at him, blinking. All I see is Cam’s face, yelling at me and raising his hand up like he’s going to slap me if I don’t answer fast enough. Closing my eyes, I will the image to disappear. Why is this happening again? Why am I with another guy who hits? Heston is so sweet and gentle, I can’t help that the problem is me. I’m unraveling him, making him let a monster rise.
“Rain?” Heston waves a hand in front of my face, breaking me from my thoughts. The pain in my face fuels my anger, as I pinch my lips and cast a glare in his direction.
No, this will not happen again. I will not alter who I am and what I do just to please a man. Adrenaline rushing through my veins, I shove him away from me.
“No, I don’t. Get out!” I point to the door, tears streaming down my face because I want to slam my knuckles into his face, but it will only make this worse, and possibly dangerous.
“Rain, come on, you’re being crazy.” He holds his hands out as if he doesn’t understand why I’m angry. Opening the door myself, I grab him by the shirt and begin to tug him in the direction of the doorway. He plants his feet and won’t budge. Using my backside and knees, I shove with all my might, wanting him out of my sight and out of my house right now, but he doesn’t go.
Screaming at him, I give up and step away from him.
“Get out!”
He’s looking at me like I’m a crazy person and it douses my anger and makes me question what if I really am losing my shit. I don’t even recognize myself anymore. I’m losing my mind.