Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Could he have? Was he finished and too chickenshit to face her?
What an asshole.
No.
Lock wasn’t like that. Sure, she’d heard all about the messiness of his recent past, but since she’d met him, Lock had been nothing but responsible and genuine. If he wanted to end their whatever, she had no doubt he’d be bold enough to tell her.
Her stomach clenched as she realized how crushed she’d be in that scenario.
Dammit, she really had gone and done it. Despite all her confidence in her powers of resistance, she’d caught feelings. The sick sensation in her chest at the thought of him dumping her obliterated any chance she’d had of continuing to live in denial.
“Hey, girl, aren’t you supposed to be on a hot date with a hot biker right now?” Brooke said by way of greeting.
“Uh, yeah.” Brenna grimaced at her own awkward chuckle and squeezed her eyes shut tights. “This is a little embarrassing, but Lock was supposed to pick me up an hour and a half ago, and, um… he never showed.” Kill me now. “I was wondering if you’ve spoken to him?”
“Oh.” Brooke’s confusion could be heard through the phone. “Um, let me think. He dropped Caleb off here around noon, and I know he had a work appointment at two, but he said it wouldn’t take long. Have you tried calling him? Maybe the job ended up more involved than he’d anticipated.”
“Yeah, I did.” Brenna pinched the bridge of her nose as she paced across her living room. Humiliation warred with worry. “I texted a few times with no response, and his phone goes straight to voice mail.”
The unsaid maybe he’s avoiding me hung heavy in the air.
Mortifying.
“Really?” Brook made a hum of surprise. “That’s not like him. He is always super careful to ensure we can reach him while watching Caleb. Hold on, let me check with Curly.”
The line went quiet for about thirty torturous seconds.
“He hasn’t heard anything either.”
A lump lodged itself in Brenna’s throat.
“No!” Brooke’s sharp voice cut through her pity party. “I know what you’re thinking, and you better stop it right now. He did not ditch you.”
“I don’t know. We’re not official or—”
“It doesn’t matter if you have defined anything or that you’ve both buried your heads in the sand regarding your feelings.”
Ouch. Way to lay a truth bomb on me.
“Lock cares about you, Brenna. I see it clear as day every time you are together. He can’t keep his eyes off you. He gravitates toward you like Curly does to me. Like I do to him. And don’t even try to lie about your feelings for him. You’re smitten, and it’s more than obvious.”
Brenna sighed. “Fine. I won’t deny it. I’m… oh, for fuck’s sake, I’m crazy about him. If it turns out he’s ghosting me, I’ll be crushed.”
“He’s not ghosting you,” Brooke said slowly as though talking to a stubborn child. “Why don’t you drive over to his house? Hell, maybe he fell asleep. It’s exhausting raising an infant.”
That made sense. Caleb had woken him up during the night a few times this week. “Yeah. You don’t think that’s too stalkerish?”
“No, I don’t. Because if he’s not over there sleeping and we can’t reach him, then I’m a little worried.”
Shit.
“Me too,” Brenna whispered. “I was super worried at first, but then I kinda talked myself into believing he’s just avoiding me. Now you have me anxious again.”
“He’s not avoiding you, but there isn’t any reason to freak out yet. Drive over and check on him. Then call me back.”
“Crap.” Her heart rate sped up. “Now I am freaking out a bit.” She shoved her feet into the closest flip-flops as she talked and grabbed her purse. “I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“Bye, hon. Good luck.” Brooke ended the call.
Brenna ran out of her house. As she jogged toward the car, her sandal caught on a crack in the driveway, causing her to stumble forward and nearly eat the ground. “Shit!” Somehow, she managed to stay on her feet, but she scraped the skin off her big toe. It hurt like hell, but she shoved the discomfort away.
Due to her lead foot, the drive to Lock’s took five minutes less than usual. As soon as she saw his car in the driveway, she felt a massive wave of relief, but it lasted two seconds. The garage sat wide open without his motorcycle anywhere in sight. He’d taken the bike as was the plan.
Oh God, did he get in an accident on the way to her house?
She sprinted out of the car and up to the front door. “Lock!” she screamed as she pounded the door with the force of an entire SWAT team while also ringing the bell repeatedly. “You in there?” If he’d fallen asleep, this would wake him for sure. The man slept lightly, a gift of fatherhood he’d told her. “Lock!” She continued to beat the side of her fist against the wooden door while hitting the bell.