Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
“Trying to be a gentleman?” I asked, trying to sound teasing, but there was no mistaking the need in my voice. I was aching for him.
He nodded and stepped back from me. “I am. Because—and fuck, I hope this doesn’t frighten you away—I took one look at you and I knew you were the one for me, Selma. And I want to prove to you that I’m worth it, even if you’re not asking me to do that.”
I swallowed thickly, a little overwhelmed. But in a good way. “That’s awfully nice of you,” I croaked.
He shrugged. “I’ll tell you right now, I’m not normally a nice man. But I want to be a good man for you, Selma.”
A tender smile tilted my lips. This man was already tugging me into his orbit, and he wasn’t even aware of it. “It means a lot that you’re willing to do that.”
He shrugged and opened my door when I moved out of the way. “Drive home safe, you hear?” A smirk tilted his lips. I slid into the driver’s seat and stuck my key in the ignition. “Your new phone is in the passenger seat, fully charged with my number plugged in.”
I choked on my breath, swinging my eyes to my passenger seat. Sure enough, a very expensive phone was sitting in my passenger seat, the screen lit up, ready for me to use it.
I swung my wide, violet eyes to his. “Remi, I was only joking. I completely forgot about the phone, to be honest—”
Remi shrugged and disarmed me with a smile. “Enjoy the phone, sweetheart. Drive safe. Let me know when you get home.”
With that, he shut the car door and stepped back, watching as I slowly drove out of the lot, my heart in my throat. And only when he couldn’t see me did I squeal like an adolescent girl whose crush had just acknowledged her existence.
The house was quiet when I walked in, a drastic change from the background noise I’d been surrounded by all day while I was with Remi. Sighing, I turned on the living room light and grabbed the television remote, switching the TV on for some background noise. Then, I grabbed my very expensive, brand-new phone out of my pocket and shot off a text to Remi.
I’m home. Thank you for today. I loved every bit of it.
I’m glad, sweetheart. I had an amazing time with you, too.
And I may be a greedy bastard for asking this, but can I take you out tomorrow night after I get off work?
I beamed at my phone, my heart rapidly thudding against my breastbone. He wanted to take me out—like a date. I hadn’t been on a date since college. God, that was so long ago now.
I’d love to.
Good. Be ready for me tomorrow by seven-thirty. Just dress comfortably. Nothing fancy needed.
Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.
*kiss emoji*
six
Selma
I held the small earrings up to my ear, wondering if wearing them would be too much. Remi told me to dress casually, but how casual was too casual?
Huffing, I dropped my arms, frowning at myself in the mirror, the earrings dangling from my fingertips. Why was dating so complicated? He’d literally seen me drunk, which had to be one of the lowest points I’d hit in years. I knew I looked like shit the next morning. Yet I was so damn worried about what he would think of me tonight.
I glared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Fuck it. I was going to wear them, and if they were too much, then they were just too damn much.
Someone banged on my front door just as I slipped my other earring in. I frowned and pressed the power button on my phone to make my screen light up, wondering if I’d somehow missed Remi’s text informing me he was on his way. But nope. My screen was blank.
The banging started up again, this time a little more aggressive. I huffed and walked out of my room, my feet silent on the carpet as I made my way to the front door. After unlocking it, I swung it open.
That was a face a woman never forgot—the enraged features of her abusive father.
“Oh, fuck no,” I muttered, trying to slam the door back shut again.
I should’ve known it would be useless even attempting to do so. He’d always been stronger than me, and I should have known that wasn’t going to change.
Dad shoved his shoulder against the door, knocking me to the floor, and slamming the door against the wall, making the knob knock through the sheetrock, leaving a hole in its place.
“Get out!” I barked at him as I scrambled off the floor, rushing to put distance between us. I hadn’t seen him since I was eighteen—fucking fifteen years ago. He looked the same as he had back then, just older and more worn down, the drugs and alcohol he indulged in daily clearly taking its toll on him. His once-blond hair was turning white, and his beard was the same color, unkempt and unruly on his face.