Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
There’s really nothing to think over about the contract. There isn’t much of an option at this point if I want to stay close to the city for school, and I really don’t want to go home. I also don’t want to use the money I’ve been given to sue the Conner family. Apparently I can still file a civil suit if I want to. The lawyer who advised me to told me to take what the Conners offered because I’d never get more. I didn’t want the money, I wanted an innocent man out of jail.
“You can use the SUV in the garage too,” Mike, the guy showing me the place, adds. I look at him like he’s crazy and he shrugs. “It’s not good for cars to sit for long periods of time. They need to be driven, and it’s my understanding you don’t have a car?” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I don’t. I sold it, but how did you—"
He cuts me off. “I saw you pull up in a cab.”
“Oh yeah, right,” I say as I nod. “I’ll take it.”
I’m sick of staying at the small hotel where I’ve been since Carrie kicked me out. It was overpriced, but it was in a safe area and I hated I had to go. Not that I hadn’t seen that coming. I knew before I got home later that night after dealing with the cops that she’d kick me out. The past month has been hard, and I can’t imagine what it’s been like for Rocco.
My giant guardian angel.
He’s never far from my mind because he saved me and now he’s paying the price. My heart aches every time I think about him and I can’t seem to stop. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that it went past the guilt and into a longing for him as well.
The same day that everything happened I was thinking about people who know the instant they meet that they’ve met their soulmate. All hell might have broken loose when he came into my life, but the moment his dark eyes locked with mine I knew people weren’t lying.
Mike lets out a sigh of relief when I agree to take the place. He pulls out a pen that reads LR Construction from his shirt pocket and hands it to me.
“You help build this place? It’s so nice, it looks brand new,” I say as I sign on the dotted line.
“Yeah.” I hear a touch of sadness in his voice and I glance up at him. He’s looking around the place as if he’s remembering things about it.
“Why build a home and then not enjoy it?” I hand him back his pen and his copy of the agreement.
“Sometimes life is a fucking bitch,” he says as he shakes his head in disgust. It makes me wonder what happened here.
“Isn’t that the truth,” I mumble in agreement. Life really could be messed up.
“Here are the keys and the code to the alarm.” He hands everything over and I set them down on the counter next to me. “Keys to the SUV are hanging there.” He points to a hook hanging next to the door that leads to a garage. “Take any room you want, but I suggest the master.”
“I can move in right now?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep. Use the SUV to help move your stuff, or some of the guys from the LR crew can help after their shift tonight,” he offers. He’s being more than nice to me.
“I don’t have much. I can manage it on my own, but thanks for the offer.” It’s sweet of him. Maybe my luck is changing. This is almost too good to be true, but how much bad can keep happening? I cringe at my own question.
Rocco’s proof that things can get worse and then I feel guilty. I want to talk to him so badly that I sent in a request to see him. I haven’t gotten word yet if it’s been granted or not because he has to agree to it, and he likely hates me. Why wouldn’t he?
“If you need anything you have my number.” Mike points to the paper that has the alarm code on it and his number is next to it. I already had it from when I’d called about the place but I nod. “You can call me day or night for anything you need. I’ll make sure you get it.”
“Thanks.”
He gives me one last look before he walks out the front door and leaves me standing in the house alone. How can you feel like you do and don’t belong somewhere? That’s the feeling settling over me right now.
“Alarm, Liz,” I hear Mike say from the other side of the door.
I walk over and hit the code then lock the door. I lean up against it, knowing I need to go get my crap and get out of that hotel. Looking at the almost empty house makes the ache in my chest grow. It looks like a home where a family would live. That’s something I thought one day I might have. One that I would make so different from the one I was raised in.