Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“You deserve to love again.”
With my voice breaking, I muttered, “I’ll always love you, Bailey Button, not to be confused with belly button.”
She laughed, and it lit up her entire face. “That’s still corny as ever.”
I couldn’t help myself, holding her face in between my hands I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Bringing her closer to me.
“I’ll always love you, Aiden Pierce. I need you to tell my babies that I love them too. That I will always live in their hearts.”
“You’ll always live in my heart, no matter what. You will always be a part of me. I love you, Bailey Pierce. I just don’t know how to say goodbye to you, Bay.”
She smiled with tears streaming down her cheeks. “It’s simple…” Taking my face in her hands, she peered deep into my gaze.
Whispering, “You just need to open your eyes and wake up.”
<>Camila<>
I stirred awake only because Aiden was moving around so much, mumbling as if he was having a really intense dream.
I guess he was a light sleeper.
Yawning, I stretched. Feeling right at home with him beside me. It was the scariest sensation, handing your heart over to someone else. Praying they wouldn’t hurt you.
I told myself I was just being paranoid, but panic was creeping on in. I couldn't shake this awful feeling. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but then he groaned, “You will always be a part of me. I love you, Bailey Pierce,” in his sleep.
All my insecurities.
My concerns.
My doubts.
They were all blatantly staring me in the face, coming out of the mouth of the man I knew would hurt me in the end.
Camila, how could you be so stupid?
My heart dropped.
All the air left my lungs.
And it wasn’t just my heart I fucked up. I loved his kids, and now my job would be on the line after this.
Hearing those words gutted me. I went from feeling so special, to so unwanted in a matter of seconds. The pain of his words drowning me in a sea of pain.
How could I face him? His kids? His family?
They weren’t yours. They never were. This man still loves his wife.
You’ll never be good enough.
You’ll always live in her shadow.
You’re. Not. Bailey.
Run…
I didn’t think twice about it. I softly slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake him. Sneaking into the dark closet to grab my clothes and shoes, I tiptoed out of my room.
Once I was in the hallway and he couldn’t hear me, I darted toward the stairs. My feet rushing so fast down the steps, I almost tripped and ate shit. At the last second, I caught myself on the railing, but it didn’t stop my foot from rolling sideways.
“Fuck!” I exclaimed in pain, holding onto my ankle. “Shit!”
Slowly, I limped out the front door, trying not to put any weight on my left foot. The pain radiated up my leg, causing tears to well up in my eyes. Making it hard to see two feet in front of me, but I needed to get out of there quick.
“Ow!” I hobbled past his SUV, not wanting to take it knowing he could track it. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him right now.
At least not yet.
Not with how I was feeling.
So I jumped on the bus, turned off the locater on my phone.
And left him.
Chapter 24
<>Camila<>
“Oh gurl, no you did not leave that handsome man in bed by himself this mornin’?” Danté chastised with the snap of his fingers.
“Shhh… my parents are going to hear you.”
They were inside cooking lunch while Danté and I sat outside talking on the patio.
“This was the plan anyway. We were all supposed to spend today together for my birthday.”
“Yeah, but not wit’ you doin’ the walk of shame. Look at your ankle.” He gestured to it. “That bitch be swellin’ up like a balloon.”
“I’m fine. The ice will make it go down.”
“Gurl, the ice ain’t doin’ shit but freezin’ your foot off.”
My phone rang again. I didn’t have to look at it to know who it was. I hit silent and ignored him.
“How many times you gonna ghost him? That’s like the twenty-ish time he’s fuckin’ called you. All you earnin’ is him spankin’ dat ass. Unless that’s whatcha lookin’ for?”
I rolled my eyes. “Danté, he said he loved his wife in his sleep. What the hell was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know, fuckin’ wake him up by slappin’ him upside the head like most women would do. Not run from him.”
“I didn’t run.”
“Oh, Miss Thang, you ran so fuckin’ fast you broke your ankle, and left skid marks all the way from there to here. I can still see the smoke comin’ outta your ass.”
“Ah!” I whimpered, moving the ice pack to the other side of my ankle. “I didn’t break it, it’s just sprained.”