Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
‘No,’ I answer immediately, just as Sarah approaches. If looks could kill, Sarah would be dead on the spot. I just know my expression must be harbouring all kinds of threats, but she heeds none.
‘Jesse. Ava.’ She passes her eyes between us, and the atmosphere thickens in an instant. ‘Lovely to see you.’
Ava looks up at me in question. I shake my head, returning to the counter and pulling Ava with me. I throw my order at the server, beginning to shake with the strength it’s taking not to fly off the deep end. What the fuck is she playing at? Jesus, if Ava were herself, Sarah would probably be swimming in every coffee my wife could find and throw at her.
‘Who is she?’ Ava asks.
‘It’s not important,’ I all but snap, tossing a tenner on the counter and swiping up our drinks.
‘Then why are you all bristly and mad?’
‘I’m not.’ I place her hot chocolate in one hand and take her other, pulling her on, though she puts up a fight, trying to wrench herself from my grip. Damn her!
‘Jesse, let go of me.’
I do, but only because I don’t want to hurt her. Though my relinquished hold causes her to stumble back again, and in the process of saving her from tumbling to the floor, I send our drinks there instead. ‘Ava, damn it, be careful with yourself!’ I kick the cups aside and thank everything holy that she has leather trousers on, protecting her skin from the hot spray.
‘Who is she?’ Ava demands, standing firm, her eyes jumping from me to Sarah, completely ignoring the mess at our feet. ‘I don’t have a good feeling about her. Tell me.’
Jaw tight, I damn her to hell and back in my head. ‘We’re leaving,’ I grate, thrusting my hand to the door. ‘Now, Ava, or so help me God.’
She snorts and turns towards Sarah. ‘Who are you?’ she asks.
Sarah glances at me, absolutely perplexed, though once again she completely disregards my threatening look. ‘My name’s Sarah.’
Ava’s body language changes in a nanosecond. She’s now bristling as much as me. ‘Sarah?’ Her eyes cast to mine. ‘Your friend, Sarah? Your uncle’s girlfriend who’s in love with you?’ If I wasn’t in such a pickle right now, I’d appreciate the fact that my wife clearly isn’t happy about this. She looks fuming mad. ‘The woman who whipped you?’
Sarah, wary, steps back, so obviously confused by what’s transpiring.
‘Just go, Sarah. Now,’ I warn before it gets nasty, because God knows my wife is perfectly capable. Her spunk has only grown with her age. It’s had to, if only to handle me.
Shoulders falling in defeat, Sarah finally turns and leaves the coffee shop, and I brace myself for the wrath of my wife. ‘You said she wasn’t in our lives any more. Not even in the country.’
‘She wasn’t.’
‘So are you telling me I’ve lost my mind as well as my memory? That I imagined that?’ Her hand shoots towards the door that’s slowly closing behind Sarah’s back.
‘She showed up last week,’ I confess. ‘I didn’t get a chance to tell you.’
She laughs, and it’s full of sarcasm. ‘It wouldn’t matter if you did, would it? Because I wouldn’t fucking remember now, would I?’
‘Watch your damn mouth, Ava.’ For God’s sake, it’s getting pottier.
A member of the café staff appears with a bucket and mop, looking at us nervously. I step out of the puddle of coffee and claim Ava.
‘Get your hands off me,’ she spits, shrugging me off and hobbling on. I sigh and follow. Now would be a good time for a Reminder Fuck. Just to remind her of her place.
I keep a safe distance behind her, not too far in case she staggers or trips again, as I follow her back across the park where we left my bike. I can see with each step she’s getting slower, and her limp is more obvious. Though my stubborn little temptress won’t ask for help. Tough. She’s getting it. I pick up my pace and overtake her, dipping in invitation, rather than manhandling her into my hold in my usual fashion. She climbs straight onto my back, no question. ‘I’m only accepting because my leg is hurting,’ she mutters. ‘I’m still not talking to you.’
I roll my eyes to myself. ‘Fine.’
‘Why didn’t you bloody tell me?’ she yells in my ear, making me flinch and wince and close my eyes. ‘It’s bad enough that I can’t remember a thing, and now I have to worry about someone trying to steal my husband?’
‘No one is going to steal your husband,’ I say. Stupid woman. ‘Sarah means nothing to me. Never has.’
‘You clearly mean something to her. What does she want? Why is she here?’
‘Ava,’ I sigh, thoroughly done with this conversation. But through my thick skin, I get that she’s feeling vulnerable. It’s my job to reassure her. ‘Unravel your knickers.’