Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
I stare up at him, shocked silent. And then cold rage sets in. "You wake up saying my name?" I ask, incredulous. "Well, good for you. At least you didn't wake up alone in my bed after giving me your virginity, just to find out from my cousin that I left the country!" I shove myself out of his arms, wheeling around to glare at him. "That's how I got to spend the morning after Lucy's wedding."
He blinks at me like I said something shocking. "What are you talking about?"
"As if you don't know." I bite the inside of my cheek, refusing to cry over that memory again here and now. This man has had more than enough of my tears. "I fell for every lie you told me, hook, line, and sinker, and the whole time, I was just a wedding hookup to you. You didn't even have the balls to tell me the truth or say goodbye. I had to find out from Haven that you left. So I don't know what your problem is now, but get over it, Ridley. I didn't come here for you. I came for Lucy. You can go to hell."
I was delusional to feel even a sliver of excitement when I saw him again in the parking lot the other day. I should have known better. If I hadn't promised Lucy to stay for Lyra's party, I'd be packing right now because this isn't what I signed up for. Seeing him again wasn't supposed to hurt like this.
I'm supposed to be strong, confident, and over him. Except…I'm very clearly not over him. And it's been a long damn time since I felt strong and confident.
I turn to storm away, but his voice stops me.
"Paisley, wait."
I hate that I'm still weak for him. I hate that I stop. But I do.
"Is that really what you think? That I just left the country while you were in my bed?"
"No, it isn't what I think," I murmur without turning around. "It's what I know. So do us both a favor and stop acting like I did something to you. We both know you're the one who ran."
He doesn't say anything. It's not like he can anyway.
"You know the worst part, Ridley? I would have ended up in your bed even had you told me the truth. That's how hard I fell for you."
"Paisley, I–"
"Just stay the hell away from me." I shake my head tiredly, wrap my arms around myself, and walk away before he sees the tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Hey. Whoa." Oliver narrows his eyes, his lips pulling down into a worried frown as soon as he opens the door and clocks the look on my face. "You okay, P?"
"Peachy." My quivering bottom lip gives away the lie as soon as I tell it.
He sighs, pulling me into a hug. "Ridley?" he guesses.
I lean my head against his shoulder. "Do you really need a brother, Oliver? Because beaming yours over the head with a shovel and then feeding his pieces to the sharks sounds like a good time to me right now."
Oliver's shoulders shake with laughter as he pushes the massive farmhouse door closed behind us. "How about I make you a deal? If he's still making you cry tomorrow, I'll beam him with the fucking shovel, and you and Luce can help me drive the boat out into the middle of the Pacific to feed him to the sharks."
"Don't tempt me with a good time," Lucy says, breezing into the living room still in her PJs. "Who are we feeding to the sharks?"
"I help!" Lyra shouts, racing after Lucy while flailing her stuffed penguin around above her head. She stumbles to a stop when she sees me wiping tears. "You sad, Aunt Paiswey?"
"She's fine, princess," Lucy says.
Lyra doesn't buy it for a second. She's too smart for that. She's also a tiny savage…kind of like my best friend. "I help feed da meanie to shawks?"
"Shit," Oliver mumbles, grimacing. He squeezes my shoulder and then hands me off to Lucy before scooping their daughter into his arms. She squeals as he holds her above his head. "You can definitely help feed Uncle Ridley to the sharks, baby girl."
"Ohh." Lyra blinks at him. "He in twouble?"
"Yep," Oliver confirms, kissing her on the cheek before he sets her on her feet again. "Why don't you go get dressed and brush your teeth, and you can go tell Grandma that he's in trouble?"
"Gammie gonna yell at him?" Lyra asks, her little lips pursed.
"Probably."
"Yay!" She takes off down the hall.
"You really don't have to do that," I murmur to Oliver, inwardly cringing at the thought of his whole family getting involved. That isn't what I want. I mean…don't get me wrong, letting Gracie yell at him would probably make me feel a tiny bit better, but it's not her fault her son is a jerk. She shouldn't have to do my dirty work. "I don't even know why I'm crying."