Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Maybe Jamila’s right and I am falling apart. Maybe my chakras really are visible or whatever she said.
The problem is I don’t feel like I’m going to be okay.
But for some reason, hearing her say that, and knowing she’s really looking out for me helps a whole hell of a ton.
I stay for a couple more songs before excusing myself back to the high top we claimed earlier. Lucky for me, it’s still empty, despite the crowd. I pause there to gather myself, watching as Keely and Jamila keep dancing together, laughing about something as they hug and spin around.
I don’t even notice the envelope until I’m about to head out.
It’s sitting right in front of me. I don’t know when it showed up, but it couldn’t have been there when I found the table. I squint, frowning, before holding it up like someone might be on the search for whatever it is. I scan the crowd, looking for anyone I might know, or anyone that might be looking for this thing. But after a moment of nobody paying me any attention, I slowly lower it, squeezing one side—
Only to feel something small and hard.
Terror fills my guts. The music disappears.
All I can hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears as I open the envelope.
My ring sits inside.
The ring I threw into the street.
Behind it is a note.
This is yours. I miss you. Carson.
I look around wildly. He’s here—he’s got to be here. He must’ve scoured the street for hours to find the stupid thing, and now he’s really stalking me, hunting me down to force this ring down my throat.
Rage fuels me. I storm to the bar, grab the bartender’s attention, and shove the ring into the surprised-looking young guy’s hand.
“Sell this! It’s worth more than this entire club. Or throw it away! I don’t care what you do with it, but make sure I never see that again.”
He sputters. “Uh, lady, this is really weird. I can’t just—”
I turn and storm away before he can refuse, leaving the ring behind.
Chapter 35
Ash
The ring shows up the next morning along with a bag of bagels and a smaller bag with Gatorade, some Advil, and a note: I only want you to be happy. I only want to take care of you. Carson.
“Got to hand it to him, the guy’s persistent,” Bernie says, munching down her second consecutive bagel breakfast. At least she’s enjoying this.
“It’s creepy. He stalked me down last night only to leave the ring. I tried to get rid of it again, and it still shows up the next day.”
“The Advil and Gatorade was a nice touch though.”
Grudgingly, I take some of the medication. I’m not exactly hungover, but I can feel the beginning of a headache forming already. Mostly from the stress of having a straight-up stalker husband. “I just wish he’d get the hint.”
“Do you though?” Bernie studies me as I hold the ring up to the light, wondering if a blowtorch would be enough to melt it down into slag. “The short time you were with him, you were actually happy.”
“Why do you keep defending him?” I glare at her. “Seriously, Bern. Why did your tune change so much?”
“Because it’s the truth. You knew he was a total freak from the start, right?”
I hesitate, head moving from side to side. “I figured it out pretty fast.”
“So why are you pissed to learn he’s exactly what you knew he was? The guy’s a total nutjob, but he’s your nutjob, and you already admitted you were starting to like it. Besides, I think it’s sweet.”
I make a fist around the ring until the diamond bites into my skin.
“I don’t want to keep having this conversation.” I look at Bernie hard. “I get it. You think I’m overreacting, but I’m not.”
“Okay,” she says, voice gentle. “I hear you.”
“If you keep pushing, I’ll go stay at my own place.”
“You don’t have to be alone right now. I’ll stop.” She hesitates, chewing her lip. “I’m sorry. I just think you might be making a mistake.”
I stare down at the ring in my palm, at the indent it left in my skin.
“That’s the thing I hate about Carson right now. Mistakes are mine to make. They’re part of being alive, but he took them from me. He never gave me a chance to figure it all out for myself. Now it’s time to be done with this.”
I stalk into the bathroom. Bernie follows, looking nervous. I open the lid, stand over the toilet, then drop the ring into the water.
I flush. It disappears.
“Should I say a few words?” Bernie asks, eyebrows raised. “Here lies a multi-million dollar ring, flushed into oblivion?”
“Save it for my own funeral,” I say, brushing past her. “Now, I’m having a stupid bagel. I’m hungry.”