Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22495 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Troy didn’t like traveling around with security, but the moment his wife’s safety was compromised, his wants had immediately ceased to matter.
Burton’s team—a dozen of big guys in dark suits and shades—barricaded the press from each side.
“What’s the plan?” Burton asked.
“I need to talk to the school about my wife taking an indefinite leave,” he said under his breath. “In the meantime, I want you to have another team guarding my wife. She’s in the car. I don’t want anyone to come close enough to take a photo of her.”
Burton nodded. “On it.”
Troy stepped inside the hallway...and found both kids and faculty staring at him in shock.
“A-Are y-you T-Troy B-Barrymore?”
The talk lasted just about thirty minutes. The school principal, a man in his early fifties and was, fortunately, a fan of the Waymakers, was very understanding and even reassured Troy that his wife would be welcomed back to work, once things had calmed down.
Her fellow teachers had only the nicest things to say about Laina, and so did her students. He was also invited to take a look at her classroom, and he found himself saying yes to this...even though he had a feeling the sight of it would only hurt.
And he was right.
In the past seven years, this room had been his wife’s domain. Bright-colored walls. A bulletin board with an assortment of portraits and artworks pinned up with animal-head thumbtacks. No one had to tell him that this was a place where the purest of joy came to life. He only had to be in it to feel it.
And that was how his wife had always been.
Until the day he had made her walk out on their marriage.
SHE WAS HOME AGAIN.
Home.
And it was just so, so hard to believe.
Wasn’t it just days ago that she had walked out of this place, thinking that would be the last time she’d see it?
And yet here she was, back where she first started, and this time, she didn’t even have her suitcase with her.
She turned around to face Troy...and it just hurt.
Being back home with him...
It just hurt for some reason.
“Separate rooms,” she managed to whisper.
“Whatever you want.” His voice was taut. “Consider it done.”
Laina wanted to think he was being considerate...but what if he was only saying yes because he had once again changed his mind about her? He might have wanted Laina back when he visited her apartment, but now that the secret of their marriage was out?
Maybe he had once again changed his mind about her, now that the world knew someone like her was his wife?
“Laina?”
Troy’s gaze narrowed at the way his wife was suddenly avoiding his gaze.
“What’s w-wrong?”
“Sorry, I was just...” She knew she wouldn’t be so obvious if she could just make herself meet his gaze. “I’m sorry. Which room are you giving me?” But she just couldn’t do it.
“Do you have any preferences?”
“Um, the one at the end of the hallway.”
“Of course.”
She might as well have said he wanted the room farthest from the master’s.
“I’ll go ahead if that’s okay.”
“Whatever you want, Laina. I mean it.”
“Right.”
Troy watched her hurry down the hallway while still avoiding his gaze. The door closed behind her a moment later, and yet...
It was enough.
Knowing that she was back home with him...
And he was still alone in the same room that they once shared...
Just having his wife back with him...
It was enough to give him hope.
Chapter Four
NOT MY HOME.
Not now.
Not ever.
Those were the three things she whispered to herself when she woke up or had her shower. Three things she reminded herself whenever she was alone or her heart felt as if it was about to break.
Three things she whispered to herself every time she got a well-meaning call or text from one of Troy’s relatives, telling her that there was still hope for them to get back together when there wasn’t.
And when it was time to finally answer her mother’s call and tell her the truth—
I’m sorry, Mom.
Those were the three things she desperately held on to...when her mother asked if there truly wasn’t a chance for Troy and her to get back together.
I’m sorry, Mom.
She told her mother it was too late for her and Troy, and that as soon as things died down, she would fly out and explain everything. But for now...her mother had to accept the same thing Laina herself was struggling to accept.
Her marriage was over. Nothing had changed...even though she had also accepted that it just wasn’t easy to stop herself from loving the man she had married.
One day at a time.
That was the only way to survive this. She would take things one day at a time while making sure never to forget that this wasn’t her home. Not now. Not ever.
ON THE FIRST THREE days, Troy had tried to invite her to share a meal with him. Or spend time with him in any way.