Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
12
ZOEY
“I’m not sure Bentley would love the idea of a kitten joining our little family.” I give Ribbon a stroke across her head as she snoozes away.
“You could always foster one, and if it doesn’t work, you’d take it back,” Sophia suggests.
While I love the idea of getting a kitten, it’s not realistic right now. I can’t go home because some scary man with a gun wants to kill me, and my sister is missing. I don’t even know when the bills are due. Xanny took care of that. Our lights could go out any day, and an eviction would follow rather quickly.
I don’t have a job to try to cover anything. Who knows where I’ll be when all the cards finally land? I might be in a homeless shelter sneaking Bentley in and out under my sweater. It would be selfish of me to bring a kitten into this situation.
“Maybe one day.”
“Well, you’re more than welcome to come over here and play with Ribbon whenever you want.”
“Thanks.” Sophia has been such a sweetheart. “Can I ask why you made the marriage suggestion? Was it really a joke?” I don’t know why my mind keeps going back to that, but it does.
Now that Leone isn’t next to me, I can ask. Xanny always says talking about things like marriage and babies is a sure way to scare a man off. That’s the last thing I want to do to Leone.
“I mean, it was kind of a joke.” She gives me a wicked smile. “But there is some truth to it. Being married to Leone offers you some level of protection. People know if they even look at you the wrong way that it could mean their heads. Kind of like those jerks you told me about making remarks to you about your cat. If you’d been married to Leone, that would have never happened. Oh, I’m sure they still got in trouble, but they don’t know who you really are.”
Before I can try to poke around for more, Leone comes strolling into the room. His eyes go straight to me, and I swear they light up. It’s silly. Even with how much I enjoyed hanging with Sophia, I’ve missed him.
“You want one now?” Leone asks, coming right to me. “Not sure how Bentley would feel about that. I don’t think either one of us likes sharing your attention.”
I melt at his words.
“I think my hands are full at the moment.”
Leone offers me his hand. I take it. He pulls me up from my seat.
“Are you ready to head home?”
I stare up at him, not sure what he means. Is he talking about going back to my trailer or to his house? “I suppose,” I respond after a moment, still not sure what he means, but he was waiting for an answer.
What’s more confusing is the mixture of feelings I’m having over his question. Even if everything works out and we find Xanny and she’s okay and Leone handles this man after me, would I want to go back home with Xanny?
“Remember what I said. You can come over anytime.” Sophia gives me a hug as we say the rest of our goodbyes.
The car ride is somewhat silent as I stare out the window to see where we’re going. “Are you okay, little one?” Leone asks.
“Yes. I mean fine. I mean perfect,” I rush to correct, knowing when people say they’re fine they don’t actually mean it. Usually they’re upset about something but not ready to talk about it. Which is exactly what I am at the moment, but I’m not ready to admit it. Leone’s phone starts to go off, saving me. “You can answer it,” I blurt out so that he will.
He’s always clearing his calls when we’re together. Right now, I need a second to get myself back on track and my voice to come out in a normal tone.
From the expression on his face, I know he’s not buying what I’m selling, but nonetheless, he still answers his phone. He takes the call before reaching over and placing his other hand on my bare thigh where my pink dress has ridden up a few inches.
It suddenly dawns on me that Bentley is back at Leone’s house, so Leone can’t take me home to the trailer yet. Some of the anxiety that had started to build in me melts away.
Leone’s fingers absently stroke my inner thigh as he speaks to whoever is on the call with him. Ever so slowly, his hand slips further up my thigh, forcing my dress to rise up more with it.
Everything else is completely forgotten. All I can think about now is Leone’s rough fingers on my skin and how incredibly good they feel. Though I might love the roughness of his touch, my body begins to ache, and I know there’s nothing that can be done about it. Not with Leone’s driver here.