Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 142818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“What are you doing here?” I asked. I had intended on making the question biting, accusing, loud. But it came out quiet and flat. The effort it took to speak and stare at him drained me.
“What do you think I’m doin’ here?” he growled, rounding the table and pulling me from my chair.
I expected him to drag me out of the bar. To curse me for drinking, for being alone in a bar, for whatever else I’d done wrong in his eyes.
But to my surprise, he didn’t do any of those things. He cupped my face in his hands, so gently, and stared into my eyes.
Suddenly, I was devastatingly sober, and all of the feelings I’d been drowning in booze came surging forward.
“Kiss me,” I whispered. “I need to taste something other than tequila and sadness.”
His searing gaze dropped to my lips at my plea, my words so similar to the ones uttered on a rooftop when we were strangers. But he didn’t hesitate like he did then. Not for a moment.
His lips found mine. Not the same way they did on that rooftop, but softer. More knowing. This was not a frantic, desperate kiss.
I didn’t quite know what it was.
His face hovered in front of mine. Music thumped from somewhere faraway. People were laughing, talking on another planet.
We were the only ones there.
“You can’t keep on saving me,” I rasped, breathless.
“Can’t I?” His gaze pinned me, brushing hair from my face. “Because I will. Long after this is over, when you’ve found yourself a different life, a better life … a better man. When I’m nothing but a memory for you, I’ll still be there. Happy that you’ve found what you deserve and watching to make sure no fucker takes that from you. Taints it. Hurts what’s mine.”
My hackles went up, even while my heart grew to an aching size in my chest upon hearing his words. “You mean this future—this ridiculous future that I apparently have no say in—when I’m with another man…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence, sickened by the mere prospect. “When I’m with another man,” I repeated, just because I wanted those sour words, that bitter thought to poison him too, “you think I’ll still be yours?”
His expression didn’t waver, no fury danced in his eyes. “Yes, Violet, you’ll always be mine.”
“I leave you for five minutes, and this is what I find?” a voice cut into the moment.
Both of our heads turned to regard Sariah, looking at us with her hands on her hips. She did not look surprised.
“Took you long enough.” It took me a second to realize she was talking to Elden.
I looked between the two of them.
“You called him?” I asked Sariah, trying to move out of Elden’s grasp. That only served to have him tuck me into his side.
I leaned into him on instinct, comforted by the softness of his cut, the scent that was unique to him.
“Of course, I called him,” she said as if it was obvious. “Now, I know a girl needs her best friend throughout the tough times in her life, and I’ll always be here for you. But I know that there are also jobs better suited for a tall, very attractive biker who looks like he might just burn down this bar if you told him you were cold.” She winked before her eyes went to Elden. “You got this?” she asked.
His response was a quick dip of his chin.
“Good,” she walked forward, kissing my cheek. “I’m here for you, babe. Whenever. Wherever. Just like Shakira said.” Her eyes turned more serious. Sadder. “But right now you need to go home.”
Home. She didn’t mean to the house we shared together.
She meant Garnett, New Mexico.
Not Carver Springs.
Maybe that had been my home when I believed the lies that had made up my childhood.
But Garnett was my home.
“What about you?” I asked with concern.
“Well, I’ve got a date with a hot blond,” she grinned wickedly, motioning to a pretty girl sitting with her friends two tables over. She was staring at Sariah.
“As long as you’ll be safe,” I told her, already worried about my friend who was finally beginning to heal. To date.
Something sparked in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived. “Of course, I will. Call me when you get home.”
And then she was gone.
Once again, it was just me and Elden.
I didn’t say anything more about that future, the one where I was with another man. I didn’t say anything, I just let him walk me out of the bar. Despite how drunk people were, the crowds parted for him effortlessly. It was impressive.
“Don’t want you to freak out,” he said when we made it outside. I had been expecting it to be bright, but night had long fallen. We’d been in that bar for hours.