Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
She sits up, her eyes locking with mine. “Are you serious? That would be amazing. You should’ve seen the horrible things I read when I was researching how many women every day are raped and abused by their husbands, and nothing happens.”
“I was thinking you could be the spokesperson for it. Work with the organizer. We could host an annual charity benefit to raise money on top of what we donate.”
Tears prick her eyes, and even though I know they’re because she’s happy, I still hate to see them. “I would love to,” she says, wrapping her arms around me for a hug. “Thank you.”
When she pulls back, she wipes her eyes and glances around the room.
“I’m thinking about moving,” she says, shocking the hell out of me.
“Really?”
“Yeah, this place feels tainted.” She means this is where David raped her, and it’s hard to be here while trying to move on. “I think I’m going to look at some places. A fresh start of sorts.”
She yawns and lays her head back on my chest, snuggling into my side. We stay like this for several minutes until I feel her breathing slow, telling me she’s fallen asleep. Careful not to wake her, I carry her to her bed, then after checking on Felix, I head out. I’m almost to the door when Layla’s phone vibrates on the coffee table. It lights up briefly, and the picture on the screen has me curious.
I tap on the screen to make it light up again and find a picture of us standing on the front steps of Layla’s house as Felix leaves. There’s a red X over me with an accompanying text: He doesn’t belong, and soon, he’ll be removed.
It’s from a random email sent through iMessage, but it’s obvious who it is. I look to see if there are any more and find one other from a blocked number. He must’ve switched to email, so he could make up as many as needed to threaten her… or, I guess, me. I forward both to myself and then send them to Daniel, asking his opinion on the matter. I block the email and bring her phone over to her, so she has it, then head out, setting the alarm and locking up behind me.
As I get into my SUV, I glance back at her place and wonder if maybe Layla would consider moving in with me. We’ve only been together for a short time, but I’m not about to let some ridiculous societal norm dictate how our relationship flows. I hate having to leave her every night and want the two of them under the same roof as me.
“How long did it take before you and Mom moved in together?”
My dad glances at me, a knowing smirk quirking at the corner of his mouth as he takes a sip of his morning coffee from across the table. “A few months. She was pregnant, and I had bought a place to be near her and Kendall, and you, once you were born. She needed to find a place to live, so I forced her to move in with me.” He grins, clearly proud of himself. “Planning to ask Layla to move in with you?”
“Thinking about it.” I take a bite of my eggs that Mom made this morning when I showed up. “I need to find a place to live. I was supposed to move with the guys, but she mentioned finding a new place and…” I shrug. “I hate being away from her.”
Dad laughs. “I get it. I’m the same way with your mom.”
“You going into the studio today?”
“Tomorrow. I have a meeting I need to attend today. Earl said you already have half the tracks recorded. He thinks it might be your best album to date.”
I smile at that. Every song, every instrumental, is written by us. From the beginning, we’ve said we would never sing someone else’s words. Our music bleeds through our veins, and every piece of it comes directly from us.
“Although,” Dad adds, “he did mention you’re getting kind of soft.”
I shake my head but can’t deny it. “He’s not wrong,” I admit. “I can’t help it. I’m in love.”
Mom walks in, her eyes twinkling, having heard what I just said. “And it looks good on you,” she says, kissing my cheek and sitting down.
“Gage and Brax have a few tracks they’re working on. I’m sure their bitterness and hostility will even my happiness out.”
Dad chuckles. “I’m sure it will. I can’t wait to hear it all. Jill is planning out your next tour. The goal is to release this album after the holidays and do a summer tour.”
The thought of leaving Layla has my stomach knotting, and my dad can obviously sense it because he adds, “We’re thinking a shorter tour this year. Two months and only in the US. Felix will be out of school in June, so he and Layla can join you in a few cities.”