Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 133224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
I fume all over again.
I follow him down the corridor and stand to the side while he opens the door, and then I storm past him into the room. I throw my bag down onto the table. “I don’t know what your problem is.”
He slams the door shut. “You’re my fucking problem.”
“Me?” I point to my chest. “I’m the problem?”
“I’m going to ask you one more time and one more time only. And if you dare fucking lie to me, I’ll drive you to the airport right now.” He puts his hands on his hips. “What is the matter with you, Rebecca?”
“Firstly . . .” I put my hands on my hips too. “Don’t you dare threaten to take me to the airport. I have no idea who you think you are, but you do not get to speak to me like this. I’ll drive myself to the fucking airport, thank you.”
We glare at each other, animosity bouncing between us.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he growls.
“You want the truth?” I throw up my hands in defeat. “Fine. I don’t think we should have started seeing each other.”
“And why is that?”
“I just . . .” I pause as I try to articulate myself properly. “I liked how things were, and I think we’re better off that way.”
His eyes hold mine.
“I adore you, Blake, and I just think . . . we’re better off as friends.”
“So . . . what?” He purses his lips. “You don’t like me?”
“Not like that.”
He smirks and picks up my handbag and passes it to me. “That’s the first and last time you’ll lie to me. Get out.”
My mouth falls open in shock. “What?”
“Get. Out,” he growls. “I don’t know much about anything, but I do know that you are lying, and if you haven’t got the guts to tell me what your fucking problem is, then there’s no point.”
Anger wins. “You want to know my problem?” I spit. “I’ll tell you what my fucking problem is. I went to the bathroom last night and heard two women talking about how there’s no way in hell that a washed-up divorcée could ever hold you and that it’s only a matter of time before you dump me.”
He puts his weight onto his back foot, physically taken aback.
“And it got me thinking about our situation and how they are completely right. It is only a matter of time before you break up with me, and I’m not prepared to get my heart broken, so I’m saving you the trouble.”
“You fucking coward.” He sneers.
“What?” I explode.
“The only person who is in danger of getting their heart broken around here is me.”
“You?” I cry. “How the hell are you in danger of anything?”
“See, here’s where you and I are different. You’re scared of falling in love with me.”
“And you’re not scared of that?” I cry.
“I’m already in love with you!” he yells so loud that the paint nearly peels off the walls. “And the fact that you don’t know that is a fucking red flag.”
“You want to talk about red flags!” I yell back, infuriated. “You telling me that you love me for the first time like that is a major red flag.” I march into the bedroom.
“Where are you going?” he calls after me. “This conversation isn’t over.”
“Home. Yes it is.”
“Henley is right about you,” he calls.
Huh?
I march back out to the living area. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Never mind.” He sighs as he drags his hand down his face.
“No. I want to know.” I put my hand on my hips. “What does dear old Henley have to say about me?”
“He thinks that I’m the rebound guy and that you’re going to break my heart.”
My mouth falls open in horror. “Coming from him, that’s an actual joke.”
“That’s exactly why it’s coming from him. He knows this stuff; he’s lived it. He keeps telling me that hurt people hurt people.”
“Maybe hurt people are so scared of being hurt that they would rather be alone.” My voice cracks, betraying my hurt.
His demeanor softens. “I’m not going to hurt you, Bec.”
His silhouette blurs.
“Babe . . .” He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“What if you do?” I whisper through the lump in my throat.
“What if you hurt me?”
The tears break the dam. “How could I ever hurt you?”
“By believing what other people say about me in a bathroom.”
I screw up my face in shame. “It’s just . . .”
“I know.” He holds me tight. “It’s going to be okay,” he says softly.
I pull back to look into his eyes. “Is it?”
“I promise.”
“This scares me, Blake.”
“Me too.”
“I shouldn’t be this attached to you this soon,” I whisper.
He kisses me softly. “Well, it’s only fair when I am.” Our kiss deepens, and I know that our first fight is over.