Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
My heart jumped in my chest when I saw that it was him.
Malcomb.
He was walking towards his truck with a cup of coffee in each hand. He was taller, broader, and more muscular than I remembered. He was a man now, all tough and gruff, but I could still see remnants of the Malcomb I once knew. He was lurking behind that fierce exterior, and I found myself wishing I could talk to him.
Just for a second.
With a little fancy maneuvering, he managed to open the door to his SUV. My breath caught when he suddenly stopped and glanced over his shoulder, looking around the parking lot. I didn’t move. I just stood there next to my car, watching intently as he eventually got inside his truck.
I felt compelled to rush over and speak to him.
But the thought terrified me.
I was going back and forth in my head when I noticed that he wasn’t alone. There was a blonde sitting in the passenger seat. Her head was down, making it difficult to see her face, but it didn’t matter.
He wasn’t alone.
I’d held on for years, but it was clear he hadn’t done the same.
That was all I needed to know.
CHAPTER 11
Savage
We waited for over an hour for the nurse to call Candace back.
She looked like a nervous wreck as we made our way back to the doctor’s office and sat down. Her eyes darted around the room as if she was trying to find an escape, but there was none to be had. She was stuck there until we got our answer.
The minutes ticked by slowly, each passing second carrying a mix of anxiety and hope. When the doctor finally came into the office, he seemed like a nice enough guy. He sat down in front of us, and I held my breath as he looked down and reviewed her chart. Seconds later, he looked up at Candace and said, “So, I’ll get right to it... You’re not pregnant. It looks like you must’ve had a faulty test.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
I could see a glimmer of relief in Candace's eyes as she asked, “So, I’m good?”
“Yes, you’re all good,” he assured her. “I’ll need you to come back in six weeks to make sure your cycle returns to normal.”
“Okay. Thank you, Dr. Stevens.”
Candace looked beyond relieved as we made it back out to the truck. We got inside, and she turned to me with a smile. “I’m okay. I’m really okay.”
“Yes, you are.”
“We should celebrate.”
“Oh? And what do you have in mind?”
“How about a Mocha Frap from The Stir?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
I pulled out of the parking lot and dove over to the coffee shop. Candace stayed in the truck while I went inside. I ordered our drinks, then took them back out to the truck. I opened my door and was about to get back in when I got the feeling that someone was watching me. I glanced around, but when I didn’t see anyone or anything unusual, I got in and drove Candance out to her house.
I pulled up in the driveaway and waited as she gathered her things. She was just about to get out when she turned to me and said, “Thank you for today. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“You’re all good. It’s not a big deal.”
“It was a very big deal,” she argued. “There aren’t many guys who’d be as cool as you were today, and it means a lot.”
“Glad I could help.”
She smiled, then opened the door and started up the steps. Once she’d gone inside, I backed out and started driving back towards town, and it wasn’t long before my mind drifted to the other night at the bar. Things would’ve gone so differently if Londyn and I had still been together.
I would’ve been right by her side all night making sure that nothing happened to her. But those days had come and gone. I’d made damn sure of that the day I broke things off with her.
I’ll never forget the look in her eyes when I said, “This isn’t working.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Us... You and me.”
I had to look away.
I needed a moment to muster the courage to say what had to be said.
It wasn’t going to be easy. I loved Londyn with my heart and soul. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but I didn’t have a choice. It had to be done.
Her eyes, once filled with warmth and adoration, now glistened with a mix of confusion and hurt as I told her, “I think it’s time for us to call it quits.”
“Where is this coming from?” She took a step back and studied me for a moment. “Is this because I went to the graduation party with Misty and Carol instead of coming here to hang with the guys?”