Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Cannon is the first to move toward me with an outstretched hand. “You look like shit, Callum.”
“I feel like it,” I admit with a wry smile as I give him a clap on the shoulder in thanks for being here.
“We got everything cleaned up. Unfortunately, your carpet is pretty wet—it took a lot of effort to remove the blood. But it’s sparkling and we have fans in there drying it.”
“I can’t thank you all enough.” I don’t try to hide the rasp of sentiment in my voice. I look around at my friends—my coworkers, yes, but tonight my friends—and I speak from the heart. “I would not have wanted Juniper to walk back into that mess.” She moves to my side and puts her arms around my waist. “We’re blessed to have friends like you.”
The emotion is clear on everyone’s faces because none of us can look past the gravity of the situation. This all could have ended very differently, the worst-case scenario with Juniper and I dead.
Jenna breaks the heavy moment and points to the stove. “There’s a breakfast casserole we just took out of the oven. I also have a lasagna in the refrigerator that you can put in for dinner tonight.”
“Why don’t you all join us for breakfast?” Juniper says.
It’s Brienne who takes charge of the situation. Shaking her head, she says, “We’re going to get out of your hair. We’re not here to socialize and I’m ordering both of you to eat and then get some rest.”
A flurry of activity surrounds us as the women gather purses. The guys offer hugs and their partners kiss my cheeks as each couple exits through the garage and out to their cars. When the last person is gone, I shut the garage door and return to the kitchen.
Juniper is at the stove, plating up warm helpings of the casserole that looks to be eggs, potatoes, cheese and sausage. My stomach rumbles with approval.
We sit at the table and quietly eat while sipping on orange juice. No coffee because as soon as we eat, we’re taking long hot showers and crawling into bed.
My phone rings, startling both of us and I look down to see it’s Preston. Juniper sees his name too and raises her eyebrows. I shrug and connect the call on speaker. “What can I do for you, Preston?” I say in chilled greeting.
“I’m not going to be posting Joshua’s bail,” he replies.
And of all the incredulous things that have happened in the last twenty-four hours, those words shock me the most. “Excuse me?”
Juniper reaches across and puts her hand over mine. Preston clears his throat. “I’ve hired an attorney for Joshua but that’s all I’m going to do. I’ve been told what happened and he went against my express demands to leave you and Juniper alone. He’s on his own as far as I’m concerned.”
I’m definitely not sad over this news, which means Joshua will be staying in jail until his trial. That brings a level of comfort I didn’t realize I needed until just now. If he were to be released on bond, Juniper and I would not be safe because the asshole is crazy.
“I want to say I’m sorry,” Preston says and that jolts me back to the conversation.
“Sorry for what?” I ask bluntly. Because for as long as I’ve known this man, I have never heard the word sorry come out of his mouth and he has dozens of things to apologize for.
“I’m sorry Joshua did this. For all my faults, I did not raise him to be that way.”
“You mean sadistic and psychopathic?” I ask, unable to fucking help myself. This man is specifically responsible for creating some of the evil within Joshua.
Preston clearly does not like the attack and ends the conversation by saying, “I wish you and Juniper the best of luck.”
And he disconnects.
“That was weird,” Juniper murmurs. “Think we should call your mom?”
“Weird, and yet I’m going to give the man a little credit for cutting ties with his son. We’ll call my mom tomorrow.”
“Preston doesn’t love Joshua,” Juniper observes. “Those two men don’t know how to love.”
“My mom seems to think Preston loves her. I know she loves him.”
“Maybe they have something they believe passes as love.” Juniper squeezes my hand before releasing it to continue eating. “But you and I know what love really is.”
I smile at my girl. “Yes, we do.”
♦
Wafts of steam billow above the top of the glass shower door. I sit before the vanity on a small stool with a towel around my neck and Juniper stands behind me with a pair of electric clippers.
“Are you sure?” she asks dubiously.
“I’m sure.” My eyes hold hers through the bathroom mirror. “Cut it all off.”
The two wounds on my head required multiple staples, which necessitated a partial shaving of my hair. It looks ridiculous and I’ve decided to just buzz it all off. “Besides… don’t I look way sexier and tougher with those staples?” I ask with a grin.