Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
“I'm just happy right now,” I answer as I continue to caress his chest, moving down to his stomach. Right now being the words he won’t register as important.
“Yeah? I'm feeling pretty happy right now, too. Thanks to you,” he says and kisses the top of my head.
I lick my lips and try to get rid of the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“I can't believe my break is almost over. I’m not looking forward to going back next week,” I admit. I’m dreading being so far apart from Derek, especially with how sick his mom is. He pulls me closer, resting both hands on my hip. I can't believe how much has happened in the past four weeks. I don't want this to end. If only you could pause time and live in a single moment forever.
“I’m not going to like you being so far away, but it's only for a few months. And I'll definitely be coming down to see you,” he says as he runs his hand down my back. “We’ll make this work. Don't worry, sweetheart.” He kisses my hair and runs his hand up and down my arm as he says, “You know I can't stay away from you for long.”
I pick my head up off his sculpted chest to kiss him.
My body reacts the moment our lips touch. We've spent most of the day in bed, and I still want more. I’m not sure I'll ever get enough of him. Thank God Sandra and Tony are at Tony’s for the weekend.
He slowly kisses down my jaw to my neck. He's already hard again, I can feel him pressing insistently against my hip. As I go to climb on top of him, his phone rings.
A chill sweeps through my body, killing the mood. Who would be calling him so late?
He doesn’t make a move to go for it. “Do you need to get that?”
“No, it's not important,” he says as he continues kissing down my neck.
“But what if it's someone from work?” I ask as I slide off him, ignoring how his hands at my hip are trying to hold me to him.
He strokes my cheek softly. “It doesn't matter, sweetheart. When I'm with you, I'm with you. No one else matters.” He pulls me on top of him and starts kissing my collarbone, running his hand down my back to my ass.
His phone starts ringing again. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I have a bad feeling about this. “Are you sure?” I ask, glancing at his phone and then back at him.
I know his mom has a different ringtone, so it’s not her. It’s not his house calling, but I don’t like it. I have a really bad fucking feeling.
“I'm positive. Come on, it's late. Let’s get some sleep,” he says and he pulls me closer to him. He covers us both with the down comforter, and wraps his arm around my waist.
I hope it isn't anything important and that it’s just my paranoia. I try focusing on his steady heartbeat and rhythmic breathing.
But a moment later it goes off again. I push off of him and give him a look.
He sighs with exasperation and crawls out of bed, walking over to the dresser to check his phone, the third call going to voicemail before he’s able to answer.
He puts his phone to his ear to listen to his voicemail. I pull my knees up to my chest as I wait for him to tell me everything is okay and that he was right. But my heart stills in my chest as his expression changes.
The blood drains from his face. It’s bad. Whatever’s happened is bad. Fuck. My heart squeezes into a painful knot.
“I have to go,” he says, pulling his jeans on and stepping into his shoes.
I’m already out of bed, grabbing a pair of yoga pants off the floor and trying to put them on quickly. “What is it, what’s wrong?”
“It’s my Ma, I have to go. I’ll call you later,” he says, turning toward the door.
Pulling a hoodie over my head and not bothering with a bra, I yell, “Derek! Wait! Is she okay? I'll come with you!”
“I’ll be fine. Just stay here. I'll call you later,” he says shortly. Goosebumps prick over every inch of my skin at his rejection. Is he really pushing me away right now? He knows I know how close he and his mom are. If she’s not okay, I want to be there.
“Let me come with you. Let me be there for you,” I beg him while grabbing a pair of socks.
“Emma, I don't fucking have time for this! Stay here. I'll talk to you later,” he yells as he storms out of the room. I can’t believe him. I know he’s hurting right now, but he can’t just push me away like this. He knows as well as I do that he needs someone. I need someone too.