Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
“You can’t believe a word out of Greg’s mouth,” I said stiffly. “He lies. I don’t know yet what happened with him and Tommy’s father, but you don’t have to worry about me. Tommy and I…we are fine.”
“You have a lovesick look about you,” Rose said, “And it’s very different from the way you were at the store last week.”
I smiled. “I’m fine. I’m happy. A lot has happened since then, Rose. My father is hiding something, I don’t know what yet, but please don’t work with him, don’t trust him. You don’t have to get me out of this. I am fine.”
“You hardly know him. What sorts of illegal activities is he into?”
“I think it’s probably not all that Hollywood hype, Rose.” I rolled my eyes. Inside, I saw flashes of that cargo plane, that pink canopy bed in that dank basement in Mexico, and then the bullet holes on the bedroom door back at Tommy’s house with the dead men in the hallway, and my blood ran icy cold.
A man in scrubs entered the room and brought me a tray of food. I thanked him and cautiously lifted the lid and then stuck my tongue out, “Eww.”
“We should go,” Cal looked at his wristwatch. “We will go have a word with your fiancé about getting together. In the meantime, we’re just a phone call away if you need us, day or night, okay?” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “No surf and turf for you!” He smiled.
I smiled. “Thank you so much for driving all the way up here.”
He left the room. Rose leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I suspect you’re not telling me everything but what can I do? You tell me to back off and I trust you. You’re really okay?”
My heart flared with emotion. “I am,” I said. “Tommy can’t control who his father is any more than I can control who my father is. It doesn’t mean that Tommy’s a bad guy.”
“But your father said–”
“Don’t trust my father. He is a lying liar who lies out of his lying liar hole.”
“And those people who visited us and tried to get us to stop talking to the police – and them stopping you from talking to me at the supermarket.”
“Rose, I’m fine. A lot is going on. It’s too much to explain right now. Please trust me.”
“Why not move home? If he wants to see you, date you, go from there? My parents were so looking forward to having you.”
Tommy walked in as she said this and he obviously heard her.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. Please tell Nono and Nona I’m so sorry. I will try to visit soon.”
“I am happy to reimburse them the rent Tia would have paid until they find a suitable tenant,” Tommy offered softly.
“That won’t be necessary,” Rose bit off without looking in his direction. She looked at me skeptically. “I’ve been keeping Ruby and the girls in the dark a little. Ruby is getting impatient. I’ll have a talk with her.”
“I’ll call her as soon as I can.”
“She won’t understand and…”
I saw the alarm on Rose’s face, but then as she glanced in Tommy’s direction her stare hardened.
“I’m not going to tell her anything that will upset her.”
She gave me a sharp look. “You’re a good girl. Don’t be a martyr, though. Okay? No one is above the law. If you need help, we will find a way to help you. And carry an epi-pen, okay?”
I nodded.
“Call in a few days?”
I nodded again. “Tommy has a business trip and I’m going with him. When we get back, I’ll call.”
She squeezed my hand and left, giving Tommy a dirty look as she passed him.
I hadn’t sold them very well, I knew they were doubtful and worried, but I guessed it was enough. For now.
As she left, Tommy looked like he was trying to soften his hard expression. “What is that?” He looked down at my bowl.
“Cream of something soup. But of what, I don’t know, and I highly doubt this is even cream.” I lifted the spoon in the bowl and let some soup fall off the spoon and it was runny, gloopy, and filmy at the same time.
“Don’t eat that slop. I’ll get food for us on the way back. The doctor’s releasing you. You can get dressed.”
“My father?”
“Escorted him out. I need to make a call while you’re getting dressed. I’ll be back in ten.”
I watched him leave. He looked super-pissed. Dread worked its way through me.
After directions and a filled prescription for the epi pen, I was on my way out the door with Tommy.
He clicked the button to unlock the door to his Jeep and we got in and he let out a big breath. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” I told him, “Can you stop at the store?”