Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“You want to take me on a date?”
“I want to take you on a thousand dates and show everyone that you’re mine.”
“Okay.” I blush. “But it can’t be anywhere fancy because I’m not wearing anything nice.”
“You look gorgeous, Bethany.” He takes my hand and pulls me into his arms. “Now move your butt because it’s getting late and the city is going to get busy especially because it’s the holiday season.” I silently get excited about the beauty of New York during the holiday season. Rushing into the bedroom, I wash up and put my clothes back on before digging in my bookbag for some makeup.
When I come back out, he smiles at me and then slips his arms around my waist. “I love the light in those pretty eyes. I’m so sorry for ever taking it away.” We kiss and then he taps my bottom. “Ready, beautiful?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” He leads me to the condo entrance before walking toward the coat closet. As we’re slipping on our coats, his phone rings right before we leave. I don’t mistake the name on the caller ID and feel like a fool. They’re not together? Bullshit. I move to the door, but he snags me.
“Really?” I pull out of his arms, but he blocks the door.
“Wait. I swear she hasn’t called me in months. We’re just friends.”
He puts it on speaker and answers it. “Colter, I’m sorry.” The voice on there is in tears and shaky. “I didn’t know who else to call. They found me. Please help me.” She’s whispering and in tears.
“Where are you?”
“At the campus library. The usual study area.”
“We’ll come get you.”
“Please hurry.”
“I’m on my way.” He ends the call rushes us to the bank of elevators.
“Who is after her?” I ask.
He takes a deep breath and I realize he’d been holding back more on their friendship. “Her family. That’s why I brought her with me that day.”
“Her family?”
“Yes, she comes from a not so kind family and if they find her they’ll take her back to her home country and marry her off against her will. I was trying to get her away that night because she was alone and struggling here. Afraid they were looking for her again.”
“You’re not in love with her?” I ask as we take the elevator down.
He cups my face, caressing my cheek and confesses, “Of course not. I told you that you’re my only one. I gave myself to you for the first time like you gave yourself to me.”
I gasp and I’m about to respond when the elevator door opens. “We have to hurry before they find her.” We dashed to his vehicle and gratefully the weather calmed down.
“Do you think it’s best to take her back to Holly Hills with us? I mean we can always go on another date,” I say.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Knowing she’s not a threat to my relationship makes me a little friendlier and then girl code kicks in and I want to get her away from the creeps.
We arrive at the library, which is freaking packed with cars. We park among a group of vehicles where there is a large light because he doesn’t want to get caught in the shadier area where someone could be lurking. We head inside and there are a bunch of kids studying. Dang the amount of students here is insane.
“Hey, North, long time no see. Are you back in the program?”
“Nah.” Colter shakes his head. The amount of textbooks around the group is outrageous. We scan the area, but don’t see her until I see someone peeking through the stacks.
“There,” I whisper.
We quickly meet her halfway and she hurries to us. She’s clearly not pregnant. I stare at her strangely, but I’m pretty positive this is the woman I saw this morning.
“Let’s get in the vehicle quickly before someone sees us.”
We pass the people with all those books out and I ask. “Did you really have that many books out at once?”
“Sometimes more. I think I spent ten hours in the library once. We pulled a lot of all nighters studying. It’s no joke the amount of studying we have to do.”
“Not to mention our actual jobs,” Milana muttered.
“You had a job too?” I asked.
“Yes, I worked in the library to help pay off my debt.” The small talk calms her down and honestly myself too. We make it to the vehicle unnoticed and Colter begins driving.
“Do you think you were followed to the library?” Colter asks.
“I don’t think they saw me come in here, but it won’t be long until they find me. He’s good at what he does or he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in.”
“Who was it?” I ask. Curiosity has gotten the best of me and now I’m completely invested in her little saga unfolding. Earlier I didn’t like this woman, jealousy curled in my gut at the very thought or sight of her and yet, now I feel sorrow and regret for my behavior. Well, maybe only a little.