Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
He moved aside for her to enter, and Teal stepped inside his home.
“I have no idea what to do,” Teal said. She looked past his shoulder and then she frowned.
Jaxson stared down the hall, and he’d forgotten that he stacked more boxes there.
“Jaxson?”
“Teal.”
“You’re leaving?”
“I’ve sold my house.”
“When?”
“The other day.”
“But … you sold your house.”
He saw the tears in her eyes. “Teal, I think we need to talk.”
She took a step back and shook her head. “No, I don’t think we need to talk. This is perfectly clear, right? You’re leaving and I’m leaving, and this between us, it’s just a load of fun, right? I mean, there are no feelings here. No plans for a future.” She pressed her lips together. “I took a pregnancy test. It was negative, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Teal, please, you’re young.”
“Screw you, Jaxson. Don’t ever, don’t bring up my age. You didn’t give a fuck about my age when we started this. Neither of us gave a crap about each other’s ages.” She stopped and closed her eyes. She was hurt.
“It is better this way.”
“You’re right. It’s better to make a clean break. I mean, what was I thinking? I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl. What do I know?” She spun on her heel and made her way toward the door.
He wanted to stop her. This wasn’t how he wanted to end things.
Teal deserved better, but he wanted to make her stop. To tell her the truth.
She got to the front door and then turned toward him. “I love you. There, I’ve said it. I wanted to say it so many times, but I was afraid I would scare you off, but seeing as you’re leaving already, I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it? But I do love you, Jaxson. I hope you have a nice life.”
Before he could stop her, she opened the door and quickly made her escape, which annoyed him. She wasn’t supposed to leave.
He slammed his palm against the front door. “I love you, too, Teal. I love you so fucking much that I feel like I can’t breathe.”
Chapter Ten
Everything happened so fast.
One moment, they were living next door to Jaxson Rebel, and then, they had moved into a luxury apartment. Her mother was dating her boss, and Teal had been told about everything. Her father had called to explain.
All while they were making plans, Teal didn’t have a clue what to do. She had lied to Jaxson. She was pregnant, and she didn’t know what to do.
He hadn’t told her about leaving. Her mother had told her the details, though. Of course, her mother knew.
Halloween came and went, as did Thanksgiving. She wasn’t showing quite yet, but Teal knew it was only a matter of time. By December, her mother’s boss was pretty much living with them, and Teal had suddenly begun to test well.
Her heart was breaking.
Early December, Teal sat at her window, looking out at the abundance of snow, feeling the roundness of her stomach and knowing she was supposed to do something.
But what?
There was a knock on her door, and she turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. “What’s wrong, Mom?”
“Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to come and see you. Wanted to make sure you’re okay. That you’re happy.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your father says you won’t take any of his calls.”
“I don’t have to talk to him if I don’t want, do I?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good.”
“But is that what you want to do?” Bethany asked, perching on the other end of the window seat.
“What do you mean?”
“I know your father and I have made a mess of pretty much everything to do with each other, but we have gotten past that. We talk better now that his secret is out in the open.”
“Mom, he had a whole different family to us. That isn’t just a secret, it’s a lie.”
“I know, but the truth is, I think I’m a little relieved. Your father and I hadn’t been happy for a long time and we were … lying to ourselves. I know something is going on with you. I don’t know everything, but I know you’re not happy. I know you’re angry.”
“It’s nothing, Mom.”
“Talk to me, honey.”
Teal had tears in her eyes, and she hated that she was crying. “It’s nothing.”
“Do you think I don’t know what heartache is? I know your father and I are not the best example, but I have been through something like this, honey. I know you’re hurting so badly right now, but trust me, you will pull through. I promise you.”
“I, it hurts,” Teal said. “Mom, it’s… I fell in love and, you cannot freak out. No matter what.” Teal glared at her mother. “You cannot go to the cops. You cannot do anything fucked up because I will deny it, and I will leave.”