Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
When I’m done in the kitchen, I tackle my old bedroom next. Drix sends me random sweet texts, checking in on me. Things really are going to be different. Once I get everything moved, I take a shower and find my cutest panties and bra to put on under my dress before I get myself dolled up a little. Tonight is the night. I’m going to have Drix in every way.
I dart out of the bathroom when I hear the doorbell. It’s not until I’m flipping the lock and opening the door that it dawns on me that Drix wouldn't use the doorbell. To my surprise, I see Mari standing there. I don’t recall actually ever telling her where I lived. I can tell from the expression on her face that she’s pissed.
“Hey,” I say. Shit, she’s probably pissed at me for ditching her last night. I just disappeared without a word. “Oh, gosh. I didn’t even tell you that I was leaving last night. I’m so sorry. Drix found me and took me home. No shocker there.” I let out a small laugh. She doesn’t join me. In fact, I think my words are making her even madder. “I really am sorry. It’s a good thing Drix found me, though. He thinks someone slipped something into my drink last night.” She doesn’t say anything. “I’m okay, though. Drix and I actually—”
“Aren't you going to invite me in?” She finally speaks, cutting me off.
“Yeah, sorry.” I step back, opening the door wider for her. She steps inside, her eyes bouncing around taking everything in. I went to Mari’s place yesterday. She comes from money, so Drix’s place shouldn’t be so interesting to her, but she seems very interested.
“You ruined everything. It should be me living here,” she says.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Everything was fine until you came back. We were supposed to get married. You pretend to be some sweet innocent girl but really you stole my fiancé!” She shouts the last part, taking me off guard.
“Drix?” I ask again, unsure of what the heck she’s talking about.
“Yes, Drix!”
“You were dating Drix?” I say again, needing to be clear. Drix had said he hadn’t dated anyone in years. It had been an offhand comment, but it was one that stuck with me.
“Yes, he came to see my last show a few weeks ago.” She smirks.
My mind flashes to the night he’d gotten all dressed up and missed dinner with Beau and me. I’d been so annoyed I’d snuck out for ice cream. Funny, that was the same night Drix told Beau he didn’t date, but then we’d smelled perfume on him. It was hers. She’s who he’d been with at the opera. I don’t know much about her. But she seems to know a ton about me, though.
“You befriended me.” I can’t help the hurt that comes through in my voice.
“You stole my man.” She shrugs. She’d gotten me to confide in her. I’d told her about how I was in love with Drix but he didn’t see me that way. Until that night in the kitchen. I’d told her about that, too. She’d told me to forget him. Listed off reasons why I shouldn’t be with Drix and then… oh, God. She set me up last night.
“Why are you here?” I take a step back as fear starts to take hold.
“I thought you should know that while you were away at school, your man was fucking me. That when he sends you away again to college, he’ll be fucking me again.”
“I think you should leave,” I say, not willing to give her a reaction. That only seems to enrage her. She suddenly lunges for me. That’s when something shiny catches my eye. She has a knife.
“You bitch!” she screams. I jump, darting away from her. She stumbles, falling to the floor. She quickly gets to her feet, holding the knife out in front of her, pointing it at me. I hold my hands up.
“Mari, I think that—”
The front door swings open, slamming against the wall as a handful of police come flooding into the home with their guns raised and pointed at Mari. I don’t know where Drix has come from, but he’s suddenly there in front of me. He scoops me up into his arms.
“Tell me you’re okay.” He carries me through the house and away from a screaming Mari. The cops are still trying to convince her to put the knife down. Drix doesn’t stop until we’re in the bedroom. He sits down on the bed with me in his lap. “Tell me you’re okay,” he says again, his hand cupping my face.
“She didn’t touch me.”
“That’s not what I asked.” His eyes search my face. “She’s crazy, Lila. She’s also what I had to handle today after I dropped Beau off. You were drugged last night, and it was her that did it.” I nod. I had a feeling that was the case. “When the police raided her home today, they found the drugs, but she wasn’t there. When no one could find her, I called you and you didn’t answer. I rushed home.” He closes his eyes, dropping his forehead to mine. “I could have lost you.” His words are thick with emotion.