Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
“A lot,” I tell her. “But everything’s fine. She’s safe with me in Sanoa Bay. She loves it here.”
“Have you rented a place?” she asks. “I can be there today.”
And I can almost hear her grabbing her handbag and keys and moving for the door.
I scoot to the back of the kitchen, where it’s quieter. “We’re staying with the Jaegers.” I plug my ear with my fingers. “But just for a couple of nights. Don’t come back yet.”
“Callum—”
“She’s on top of the world,” I say in a stern voice. “And she’s safe. I’m making sure of it.”
I crane my neck to see her around the rack. She bounces, bobbing her head to whatever reggaeton song is playing. She’s already begun sampling the tarts.
I come back to my stepmom. “I need more time to deal with him, and I have help,” I state. “You’re just going to get in the way.”
I feel bad for my bluntness as soon as it’s out, but I’m a little overwhelmed right now and it’s the truth. She’s just going to worry about Anna-Katherine, and my sister doesn’t want to leave. Ava’s not actually going to help me accomplish anything.
I even out my tone, trying to calm her. “Don’t worry about us,” I say. “Start looking for a house or something. Somewhere close to her where you can pursue a life.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to be free,” I promise her. “One way or another.”
She doesn’t have to live in St. Carmen, but Anna-Katherine will choose to stay. Her mother can live where she wants, close but not in my house. Not that I don’t like her, but it’s for her own good as well as mine. We all need to get on with living. It won’t do Anna-Katherine any good to have her mother hovering daily.
We hang up, and I head back out to my sister. Dallas wants to take the airboat out and check the floodwaters. Alligators hunker down in deep water during storms, but they can get displaced during a storm and float inland. I want to go with him.
I touch the back of my sister’s head. “Anna-Katherine?”
She turns, beaming as she doles out scoops in little tart crusts.
The pocketknife is still hooked to her shorts, and I think I should try to get it from her. I want her to feel safe, but if she tries to use it, it could hurt the wrong person.
“I need to go to Marymount in a while,” I tell her. “How long till you’re done?”
“No, Miss Aracely is taking me to the drive-in,” she rushes out, looking worried again.
The old drive-in here? “Why?” I ask.
“They’re meeting with builders, I think.”
“A contractor?”
“Yes.” She nods. “She said I could see it. And they have a golf cart I can drive around to the different screens. And they’re planning the concessions and the ticket booths and—”
“Who else is going?” I press.
“The girls,” she says. “Paisleigh, Krisjen, and Olivia. Clay has to work.”
I twist my lips to the side. They’re all capable enough even if I have trouble looking at Aracely without remembering that I came on her stomach last week.
I’ll let my sister keep her knife for now.
“Is your phone charged?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“What happens if someone upsets you?”
She stops and looks up. “I sing.”
“What happens if you see a man who will hurt you?”
“I run to someone safe.”
Okay, then. I kiss her cheek. “Have fun.”
Backing away, I lock eyes with Mariette. No more sugar, I mouth.
If she has an episode, sugar makes it worse, and it’s going to be hard enough to keep her on a consistent routine for the time being.
I can certainly eat one, though. I snatch two cups—one for Dallas—hearing Anna-Katherine behind me. “They need to chill!”
“You chill.”
I wink at her, catching her little scowl, and get back to Dallas.
34
Callum
Dallas and I enter his bedroom, and he slams the door shut as I drop the towel I used to dry my hair. Backing him up to the door, I fist the back of his hair and nibble his jaw before I snatch up his mouth.
I pull off the towel around his waist, stroking his long shaft.
He goes for my towel, but I stop him. “You already took care of me.”
We had the shower for ten minutes, but that was long enough. Fuck, he loves to blow me.
“It’s your turn,” I whisper.
I trail kisses down his body, but he pulls me back up. “I want you to blow me in a Fox Hill Country Club shower.”
I laugh, coming back up and gripping his jaw as I kiss down his neck.
“Or in my father’s desk chair?” I ask. “Hm?”
“Or on my lawnmower.”
I can’t help it. I break into laughter, burying my face in his neck.
“That would be hot, actually,” I tease. “Just your jeans, no shirt. I always wanted you to take off your shirt.”