Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“Mm. See you tonight,” I murmur, dragging my pillow closer and cuddling with it since he won’t be in bed with me anymore.
“I love you, Sophie.”
If I were more awake, I might find that odd, too.
Silvan loves me, but he doesn’t say it all that much. He doesn’t say the words out of habit, repeating them so many times they lose their meaning. He only says it when he feels the genuine need to tell me he loves me.
___
Silvan has bought me lots of pretty clothes since he barged into my life and took it over, but for the car ride up to New Hampshire, I want to wear something cute-verging-on-sexy but also comfy, and I can’t find what I’m looking for in any of the new stuff.
I have most of the clothes I didn’t pack strewn across the bed, but I end up digging out an outfit from high school—the before times.
I had this cute miniskirt the color of red wine with a dark textured overlay that I used to wear all the time. It was my favorite skirt, but since it was my favorite skirt, I’d worn it out with Dylan a couple of times and caught him looking at my exposed legs a little too long. Before that night, I didn’t care that much. I was used to the male gaze landing on me. It didn’t bother me.
After that night, it did.
I benched the skirt for the rest of high school, but I brought it with me to college since I had these big dreams about college being different, about me being different and getting comfortable in my own skin again. Surely, I could at least reclaim a favorite article of my own clothing.
Silly Sophie.
Still, it’s a really pretty skirt and I always felt beautiful in it, so I guess it’s a good choice for a romantic weekend away with my boyfriend.
My tummy flutters.
That feels weird to think.
I dig out this great pair of brown boots I also bought in high school that looks so cute with the skirt. They have a low heel, so I don’t wear them a ton, but they’re comfortable enough, and since we’re going to some house Silvan’s family owns, it’s not like I’ll be walking in them a ton anyway. Probably just from the car to the house, and once Silvan sees me in my whole outfit, I’ll take the boots off since we’ll be inside.
I wonder what the house is like.
Big, probably. He said they take hunting trips there, so it probably sits on lots of land.
I need to finish getting dressed so I can get out of here.
I zip up my skirt and turn in the mirror to check my reflection as I smooth down the material. The skirt rides low on my hips, and I grab a soft V-neck T-shirt that’s cropped so some of my stomach shows.
Since Silvan has gone to the trouble of setting up a romantic getaway for us this weekend, I want to at least put in some effort. I so seldom do, and he never seems to care, bless him.
I grab a lightweight navy-blue jacket and pull it on over my cute outfit, then I pull my blond hair out of the coat and let it hang free. I look myself over in the mirror and think I look super cute, so with a smile and one last glance around the bathroom to make sure I’m not forgetting anything, I head for the bedroom to grab my bag so I can get downstairs and meet Hugh.
“Oh, shoot.”
Damn birth control.
I run back to the bathroom to grab it and shove it in my purse since I already packed my toiletry bag. I shove my bottle of water in my purse, too, and then I’m ready to go.
There’s an extra pep in my step as I turn off all the lights in the apartment and head out the door with my bags. My cute heeled boots make more sound than the comfier shoes I usually favor. I feel like I’m going out on a date for the first time in a lifetime, and it actually feels… good.
I smile and look at my pretty painted nails as I tap out a text to Silvan. “Heading to meet Hugh now!”
A strong gust of wind hits me as soon as I step out of the building.
Of course, it’s windy when I’m dressed like a girl.
I flush as I juggle my bags to free up a hand so I can push my skirt down, then I look around for Hugh intending to make a joke about putting on a show for him, but… he isn’t here yet.
A black car is parked on the street, but I wasn’t paying it any mind since I was looking for a stretch limo. Hugh has only ever picked me up in a stretch limo.