Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
I didn’t necessarily want them to see him in a bad light, but as these things go, that’s exactly what happened, and that was long before he ditched me at the altar, which has made their dislike of him turn into outright hatred.
Now I have to figure out how to navigate telling them and getting them to understand and accept me wanting him back in my life again. I’m sure no one would see my side. I may even lose some people because of this, which is going to suck, but I can’t turn back now. I love him too much.
I think if things don’t work out between us now that I’d just never come back from it. I’m not sure how that works, but it’s something I feel deep inside. And I hate the idea of anyone saying I told you so. Not that I think it should matter when it comes to something as serious as a lifelong relationship.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt the urge to go online and connect with my fans. It had been so long since I did that, so long since I felt like facing the world. But I have so much to talk about that there’s no fear of me slipping up and mentioning the fact that we’re back together, something I can’t wait to share with them, especially the ones who have been messaging me at least once a week, begging me to hang in there as they were sure Ryder, and I would find our way back to each other.
Those were the die-hard fans who believed in us from the beginning and who had faith in true love. I did feel a bit guilty, though, that I’d bailed on everyone for this long, but I’m sure they understand; I’d done my best to explain my feelings and what I was going through when I made the choice to take a step back.
Now it looked like things were finally falling into place, and my life was about to take a turn for the better. Whatever hate I was sure to face when we went public, it was nothing compared to the hell I’ve been living in the last five years.
*Lyon*
“COLTON.”
“What’s your problem?” I think my wife thinks because I’m older than her that, I’m going deaf. She only has one octave these days, Squalling. Either that or her kids had finally driven her nuts. Pain in the ass.
“Did you try to rob my daughter?”
“I don’t know what you and your spawn are up to, but there’s no way she needs three hundred and fifty million dollars.”
“Mill…. Catalina Lyon, you get in here right now.”
“Yo, Kat, can I sit out whatever soap opera you two are about to enact?”
“You stay right there and pipe down. You lied to me, little girl. You said three hundred and fifty; I thought you meant dollars. Where did you get all that money from?”
“Mommy, I didn’t lie. You just… misunderstood. By the way, Mommy, I think the trips are trying to off the baby twins.”
“What? Why do you say that?”
“I just caught them trying to cover their faces with plastic. It was an experiment.”
“Where did they learn to do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Colton, I have to go.”
“Don’t worry, Mommy, Caitie has them. They’re fine. I told you and Daddy we should’ve sold them when they were still little and cute.”
“Out, out, get out, Catalina. Go find your grandfather and blow something up. Oh, Lord, no, I didn’t mean that. Get back here. Colton, sweetheart, when are you coming home?”
“Soon!”
“Soon, when? Soon, my son, or soon yours. Because there’s a good chance when you get back here to this island, half your family would’ve drowned in a freak accident.”
“Don’t threaten my kids, Kat.”
“Your kids? Your kids?”
“Are you doing that Rumpelstiltskin thing you do?”
“What? What’re you talking about now?”
“That thing you do where you stomp around from one foot to the next while foaming at the mouth. Are you on the rag again? That shit better be done by the time I get home.”
“You’re still two minutes out of the damn cave. All these years later, and you’re still a damn Neanderthal.”
“Right, back at you, babe.”
“Seriously, Colton, I can’t do this anymore. The triplets have been following Catalina around like lovesick puppies. I thought only one of them was going to turn out like her, but it’s all of them. And your father, I love him, I really do. But if he smiles and says, they’re just too adorable while letting them tear this place apart, I’m going to do him serious bodily harm.”
“Dafuq, you complaining to me for? I told you not to have any more girls. Your ass wanted daughters; now you can deal with their fuckery. And if the pothead is getting on your nerves, have Mengele give him some of her special shit that ought to calm him down.”