Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Well, there’s a club she can join because I can hardly believe it either.
“Yeah, he probably thought I was her, considering I have bleach blonde hair and she has dark brown hair. It’d be easy to get us confused.” I snort.
“God, I’m so glad you broke up with his nasty ass. I should send Adam over there to kick his butt.” She starts to get all worked up.
“Natalie,” I say, covering her hand with mine. “I appreciate the sentiment, but Adam would hurt himself before hurting Andrew.”
She scowls. “Hey, he’s muscular.”
I chuckle. “I know he is. I wasn’t saying he isn’t, but Andrew ate steroids for breakfast, so no one stands a chance. He’s a fake, liar, and cheater, and not worth anyone’s time or energy.”
She frowns. “I’m sorry you had to find that out the hard way.”
I shrug, lowering my eyes to the floor. “Live and learn, right?” I blink and meet her gaze. “Besides, he left his six-thousand dollar watch in my room.” I grin.
“Holy shit!” She gasps. “What kind of watch costs that much? It better come with fifty-five hundred dollars and a male stripper on the side.”
Bursting out laughing, I’m easily reminded why Natalie and I are friends. She always finds a way to make me smile in the worst of times.
“Some hoity-toity designer, but it was a gift from his job when he got promoted last year.”
“Oh, boo for him.” She wiggles a finger down her cheek to mimic a tear. “You should pawn it instead.”
I snap her a look. “That’s a little vindictive.”
“Or…” She snaps her fingers. “It’s being resourceful and now paying for your well-deserved vacation. Think of that as a real parting gift.” She starts to hold up her fingers. “He cheated, lied, and now screwed your roommate in the same apartment as you. That dirtbag deserves a lot worse.”
I can’t argue with her, but I don’t feel right pawning it. Though, he doesn’t exactly deserve to have the watch returned to him either.
Or does he?
After my shift, I head home and sit on the edge of the bed. Deciding to take the high road, I grab the watch from my nightstand and stare at it. It really is a nice-looking watch. Too bad he doesn’t know a good thing when he has it. He should know better than to leave valuables lying around.
Thankfully, he and Sasha were gone this morning before I left for work because I’m not sure what I would’ve done. Thinking back to the night before and hearing them in the room next door boils my blood even more. I’m so pissed I wasted my time on him. I replay moments of us together and realize all the signs pointed to this. I should’ve known from his sketchy behavior and random phone calls. I shouldn’t have been so naïve, and I almost can’t believe how vengeful he is. Fucking my roommate and knowing I’d be home was just a low blow. That bastard.
I take his watch and place it on the kitchen counter. A moment passes, and I stare at the shiny gold band and diamonds on the face. Searching through the drawers, I find a meat tenderizer—well suited name, too—and grip it firmly in my hand. Raising it above my head, I lower it and slam it against the watch. I do this over and over, groaning and grunting until only tiny pieces are left.
Whew! That felt fucking great.
Next, I find an envelope, shove all the remaining pieces inside, and before sealing it, write him a little note.
Hope you think twice before wasting someone’s TIME again.
Love, River
P.S. Fuck you.
Feeling satisfied, I write his business address on the front and shove the envelope into my purse, so I can mail it first thing in the morning before work.
Looking around my apartment, I realize all the anger and resentment I’ve been harboring, and it makes me really consider Natalie’s offer.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and type out a text to her.
River
Okay, you win. Send me the info for the resort. I’m going.
CHAPTER THREE
ALEX
Dylan and I finally finish up for the day and double-check that we’ve completed everything Dad’s given us to do over the past two weeks. Ever since I asked for two weeks’ vacation, he’s overworked us, but we’ve not complained once. The fence is finished, hay is baled and stacked, and we even dug out a ditch on top of our regular morning duties. We’ve started work before sunrise and stayed out past sunset, but it’s been worth it because I plan to take full advantage of this trip.
“Jackson was volun-told to drive us to the airport in the mornin’,” I remind Dylan as I drive him back to his truck parked near the cattle barn.
“Good. Don’t wanna leave my pickup in the parking lot that long,” he says. “I’ll be here around five, so we’ve got plenty of time to make it to the airport.”