Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
She wants to argue with me and tell me I’m crazy. She’s not happy about this one bit, but she’s seen the hell I’ve been through this past year, and she has to know how much Ethan means to me. I can’t give up on him. I know the crap he told me in the hospital was him trying to save me. I had hoped once he was out of the hospital, he would come to his senses, but he never did. This is the only solution I could come up with. I know it’s a far-fetched and crazy plan that could end really badly, but I don’t care. I have to do whatever it takes. “Please, Lila. Don’t judge me for doing this.”
Her eyes light up with indignation. “Really? You think I’m judging you for this? I’m not. I just don’t want to see you hurt again, that’s all.”
I slowly release a breath. “That’s just it. Nothing can hurt me like this past year. I have to believe that when he sees me standing up there, knowing that I’m going to be leaving with whoever bids on me, he’ll have to take action, Lila.”
Her lips draw into a thin line, and she asks me the one question that I’ve been avoiding asking myself. “What if he doesn’t bid? What if he doesn’t even show up?”
I jut my chin in determination. “Then I’ll be forced to move on. The contract I signed says that I’m auctioning my virginity and a marriage happens on the spot, so this time next week, I’ll be married to the love of my life or to someone I don’t know. I have to believe that whatever is meant to be will be.”
Lila shakes her head and groans. It’s obvious she thinks I’m crazy, but she’s also my best friend. I told her my plan because I know in the end, she’ll stand by me no matter what I do, and her next words prove just that. “Fuck! Okay, I have your back, Nicole. Whatever you need from me, I’m here for you.”
I clap my hands together excitedly. “Okay, you’ll see. It’s all going to work out.”
Lila tries to smile, but I can tell she’s forcing it. All I can hope is that this time next week, I’ll be able to say I told her so.
Chapter 5
Ethan
I climb the tree fast and efficiently. With this job, there’s always been safety in numbers, but I prefer to work alone. I start to saw the top half of the tree, and when it’s about to fall, I holler out, “Timber!” It’s not really needed because there’s no one around to cause a safety risk or anything, but I do it because I know it’s the right thing to do. The tree I’m holding on to shakes as the top half of it falls to the ground.
I scale back down the tree and start hacking away at the bottom to get the rest of the tree. Lumberjacking was never something I thought I’d be interested in doing. My plan was to work for my father, be married, and have one kid with another on the way right now, but shit doesn’t always work out the way we want it to.
After I got out of the hospital, I moved up on this mountain. It was months later that I started cutting down trees, and I only did it because I was literally going crazy on this mountain alone.
There’s a buzzing noise that has me raising my head and looking toward the sky. I see the Cannon Industries helicopter fly overhead, and I know it’s either my father or my brother coming to see me. Most of our correspondence is done by email or phone, so I’m a little surprised to see them coming up here. I take one last hack at the tree and watch as it falls in front of me before I throw the ax over my shoulder and make the trek back to my cabin in the woods. I’ll probably make it there before my family does because it’s almost a mile from the helipad to the cabin.
The whole way home, I have an uneasy feeling, and I’m hoping that something hasn’t happened with my father. Just the thought has me picking up the pace.
When I get to the clearing, I see Bobby walking toward the front of my house, and I call out to him, “Hey! Is everything okay? Dad all right?”
Bobby nods his head and waits for me to catch up to him. We never were a touchy-feely type of family, but since everything that happened to me, my father and brother make a point to hug me every time they see me.
When he wraps his arms around me, I pull back and look at him in his suit and tie, now covered in dirt and debris. “What’s up? You usually don’t come out here in your suit and tie.”