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)
Me: We’ll be there.
I just hope Heston isn’t.
31
Lying in bed with the side-table lamp brushing a soft glow across the room, the bed feels larger than a king, lying in it by myself. Heston’s texted twice asking to come home to talk about it, but I said no once and didn’t say anything the second time. I don’t want to be a bitch, but I’m just over him and over us.
Rolling onto my side, my tank riding up my stomach and my silk shorts giving me a wedgie, I wish my mother was here. She would help me through this. Losing her has been the biggest hurt of my whole life. She was my best-friend.
A loud knock causes me to startle and pull the blankets closer to my chest. I stay completely still, trying to figure out exactly what it was.
BANG! BANG!
“Rain, open up.” Heston’s voice carries down the hall. Holy shit, he’s here. Sliding off the bed, I grab my robe from the back of the door and put it on. Walking out of my room, I stop at the end of the stairs, where Paige is standing and looking at the door with worried eyes.
“Are you letting him in?” she whispers.
Opening my mouth, I hesitate, unsure what to say and do. If I let him in, he’ll think we’re okay, and I won’t be able to get him back out.
“Come on, Rain. I know you can hear me.” The edge to his tone has me crossing my arms in front of my chest. He definitely doesn’t sound like the Heston I thought I knew. Paige and I stand there, staring at the door, unsure how to proceed.
“OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!” he shouts, kicking it and making me yelp. He steps away, the moonlight highlighting his shadow as he paces back and forth.
“Should we call the cops?” Paige asks, her face pale with worry. This is such a disaster.
“I’m sorry for whatever I did. I just really want to see you.” His now soft voice is a complete switch from moments ago, his changing mood a complete mystery. But what does become clear is the fact that I don’t have the slightest idea who Heston is.
“Just go away, Heston, we’re done. I’ll have a sheriff bring you your things,” I finally answer back. He chuckles and goosebumps rise on my skin.
“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” he gnashes, jerking the door handle back and forth. He’s not going to leave; I’m going to have to call the cops.
“Hey, I think it’s a little late, don’t you?” Rhodes’ voice causes me to snap straight as a board. He’s out there with Heston! Rushing to the living room window, I peek through the blinds and see Rhodes standing at the end of the porch with a gun in his hand. Holy shit.
My heartbeat quickens, and panic sets in. This is too much, someone is going to get hurt.
“You going to shoot me?” Heston asks, his arms stretched wide.
“Just doing a neighborhood watch tonight, Heston, and I think Rain is asleep, in fact, the whole block is asleep.”
“You fucking her? Is that little slut coming over to your place at night? Is that what this is about? Because she’s engaged, you know.”
“Last I heard, you weren’t engaged, so if you can kindly leave the property.” Rhodes’ arms suddenly look bigger than before, a black gun in his hand as he holds it in front of himself, so Heston can clearly see it.
“This is wrong. This is my house.” Heston rubs the bottom of his chin, and Rhodes nods but doesn’t say anything.
Stepping off the stoop, Heston turns around to face the house, his arms stretched out wide.
“I’ll be back, Rain. I’m not giving up on us!” Letting the blinds fall closed, I take a step back, tears filling my eyes. He’s so angry, hostile even. I don’t want to know what would have happened if I let him in here when he asked me to open the door.
The sound of his truck roars like a lion in the night, and recklessly pulls out of the driveway, his headlights bouncing all over the walls of our house, before screeching off. With my hand on my forehead, I try and pull myself together.
“Rain, you okay?” Rhodes asks from the other side of the door. Hurrying over, I unlock it then open it. Standing taller than me, he looks down at me with a concerned look, placing his gun in the waistband of his jeans.
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” Anxiety fills my voice, embarrassment flushing my cheeks. He pulls me in and wraps his arms around me. With my face against his hard chest, I can’t help but feel safe for the first time in weeks, so much so that I close my eyes and bunch my hands in his shirt, pulling him closer.