Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Two tears slid down the sides of my face in perfect symmetrical lines. Hurting for the boy I hated then...
But loved so much right now.
Chapter 10
<>Harley<>
Now: Twenty-four-years-old
Two strong, muscular arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Pullin’ me onto his lap, nuzzlin’ my heated neck with his nose and lips. His raspy voice mutterin’, “Feels damn fuckin’ good to finally hold you in my arms, baby girl.”
Jackson.
I smiled. I had to, all eyes were on us.
Our whole family was at Memaw’s restaurant, celebratin’ the anniversary of her and Papa’s marriage. As much as I loved bein’ around our families, witnessin’ everyone’s dynamic.
Their relationships.
Their happily ever after’s.
Their honest and pure love I always looked up to.
It never ceased to make me feel like a fraud.
“Gremlin, don’t,” Jackson uttered, precisely aware of what I was experiencin’ at the hands of our loved one’s bliss.
Completely in tune with my emotions.
From the corner of my eye, I caught the vision of Shiloh and her man dancin’. Smilin’ big and wide as he twirled his wife around, tuggin’ her back to him with a look of utter contentment. Remindin’ me of the night all those years ago at a similar celebration for Jackson’s dad and new mom, Camila.
It was the beginnin’ of the end of us.
Now we were an illusion.
An act.
A charade.
Nothin’ about our marriage was real. We were Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Pierce on paper for our baby girl, Bailey. For the pure sake of my financial freedom...
But like anythin’ in life, it came at a cost.
Day after day.
Week after week.
Month after month.
Year after year.
We were livin’ a lie, slowly eatin’ away at my entire bein’. Fuckin’ destroyin’ me inside.
From the moment I got pregnant, we became somethin’ I never wanted.
Not like this.
Never like this.
“Momma!” Bailey exclaimed, jumpin’ into my lap.
Suffocatin’ me further into the dark thoughts wreakin’ havoc on my heart. The room began closin’ in on me, holdin’ me hostage against my will. Sweat formed at my temples, my hands began to shake, and my heart started beatin’ so profusely through my chest.
I couldn’t breathe.
All I wanted was to breathe. Just for one second, one moment, one hour in time.
Tick...
“Dada wuves Momma so, so, so, much!”
Tick...
“Bay, you and Momma are all I ever wanted.”
Boom.
I stood up, placin’ Bailey into his lap. Ignorin’ the knowin’ expression takin’ ahold of Jackson’s face.
“Harley—”
I didn’t allow him to finish, quickly walkin’ away. A phony, hiding behind a smile, an imposter. Facin’ what was in front of me and behind me was just too much to bear.
With one foot in front of the other, I went outside. Goin’ to the first place I knew he wouldn’t follow me to.
The soles of my feet burned against the soft, crisp sand. I was a woman possessed, crossin’ the imaginary line that had always been placed in between us. I moved on autopilot, never once lookin’ back.
In a way, I was possessed.
Needin’ to escape, to think, to run...
And I did just that.
I ran.
Faster and faster.
Desperately tryin’ to leave the past behind, but I was bound to my memories.
To my afflictions.
It was my cross to bear.
For all the lies in our past that were killin’ every last part of me.
Four steps.
Three steps.
Two steps.
One.
I stopped right under the pier that held us captive since day one. Finally bein’ able to breathe in the salty air surroundin’ me. Trust me, the irony was not lost on me. I was riveted by the splittin’ pain in my chest and agonizin’ demons on my shoulders. Seein’ my whole life flash before my eyes in the darkness of the night sky.
All that mattered was I was away from pryin’ eyes. Away from Jackson’s soul which always seemed to be connected to mine. There I stood, watchin’ the waves crash on the shoreline for I didn’t know how long, lettin’ my mind wander all over the board. Thinkin’ about how much my world had changed.
I was a trophy wife.
A young mom.
Daughter of The Prez.
Treadin’ down a destructive path brought on by my own hands.
Closin’ my eyes, I waited for the unknown and the inevitable spark to be lit behind my lids. There was no escapin’ our past no matter how much I wanted to.
Tears spilled out past my lashes, my heart broken beyond repair, experiencin’ a strong sense of déjà vu. Even the waves couldn’t wash away all this pain.
These sins.
Suddenly feelin’ overwhelmed, I shook off the sentiment. Realizin’ I just sought refuge in the same spot from the last time I felt my world crumblin’ down on me. With none other than the man...
I was runnin’ away from.
<>Jackson<>
Now: Twenty-five years old
I found her standing with her feet in the water. Not giving a shit that the bottom of her dress she designed solely for tonight was getting soaking wet. Nothing had changed about the little girl who always looked like she got dressed in the dark.