Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Everything had been fine for about eight weeks into our relationship, but then someone put a bug in Margot’s ear about us, and she was back.
Back with a vengeance that bordered on scary at times. But Ellen weathered.
The first incident had come when Ellen and I had gone on our first date with Linc. Margot had conveniently been warned of the impending date, no doubt by my own parents since I had still been living on their land at the time, and she’d shown up and thrown such a big hissy fit that everyone in the vicinity of the diner where we were eating knew my business and heard Margot’s lies.
The second time had happened when I’d finally convinced Ellen to go on another date with me. She’d agreed, and we’d headed out to a small restaurant. Margot had followed us there, from her perch of stalker central. Then she’d ambushed us before going in, slinging insults toward Ellen. Pointing toward Ellen as a home wrecker and a slut. Words that I’d quickly taken Ellen away from, but not fast enough. The words had still sunk their barbs deeply into my girl’s skin.
By the third time Ellen knew what was up. She steeled her spine and gave it back to Margot just as hard as she’d gotten it. And I’d never been more proud of her.
The rest of our small Southern town, however, had not. They’d seen Ellen as nothing more than a slut, and soon those little words started to drift back to her parents.
That was when Ellen’s parents started to enforce the ‘only at home’ rule. Where I was only allowed to come over when one parent, or the other, was home, and only have a platonic relationship.
But we still snuck around.
We had fun.
She was my best friend in a dark and lonely world, and I needed her.
She made it through and came out the other side whole.
I’d thought that we’d be home free when Margot suddenly gave up, but then her mother had happened, and I had no doubt in my mind that that was all Margot’s doing. She may not have told Ellen’s parents outright about us, but she’d given them enough information to enlighten them to the fact that I wasn’t good enough for Ellen.
I’d bowed out gracefully, not wanting to hurt the relationship that Ellen had with her mother or father. Not wanting to derail her dreams all because I needed her.
So, I’d left. And in doing so, I’d torn both of our hearts out in the process.
What kept me away, though, was Margot.
Her constant interference in my life. In Linc’s life.
Now, though, with Margot back and baring her sharp little teeth, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to bring Ellen back into the middle of the shitstorm that my life was about to become. A-fucking-gain.
It was bad enough that Linc had to deal with it.
Bringing her in would only anger Margot more.
That, and I wasn’t sure that I could handle leaving her again. I wasn’t strong enough.
Another thing that kept me away from her last time was the fear of holding her back.
Now she was an adult. She hadn’t pursued her dreams for whatever reason, and if I were to make a move right now, she was old enough to say no.
But I couldn’t think like that. Couldn’t allow Margot to get her dirty little hooks into Ellen.
I was already having a hard enough time getting Linc to see that Margot wasn’t as she seemed. She had recently tried to reinsert herself into Linc’s life. He was only seeing the nice side of Margot. He couldn’t see that below her fake ‘nice’ exterior, she was a bitter woman who found it entertaining to ruin men’s lives. And I couldn’t help him with this. He needed to see for himself what kind of a person she has become.
Chapter 7
What do you like? I like romantic walks down the gun aisle.
-Jessie to Big Papa
Jessie
“Oh, my God,” I grunted and hung up the phone. “This is a fuckin’ nightmare.”
I placed my hands on my head and leaned both elbows on my knees as I tried to get my mind to wrap around what I’d just heard.
“What is?” Linc asked as he came in the room.
I looked up and studied my son.
He was tucking his crisp white dress shirt into his jeans, but his eyes were on me.
This was making me sick.
Margot had showed up in my life—and Linc’s—like she always did. Only this time, I couldn’t shield him from her. She’d gotten to him first, and hooked him in with her lies and promises.
Now he was adamant on spending time with her, and I had no choice but to let him, or I’d look like the bad guy.
“I’m going to tell you this as nicely as I can, but your mother just asked me if I would send some money with you because she can’t pay rent.”