Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Candy Gwendolyn Snow. I don't know how my birth mother came up with that, but then again, I don't really know her at all. Still, the name Candy never bothered me. Until he pointed out that it was trashy.
“Max, we talked about this.” This isn’t the first time he’s brought this up, nor the second. But I thought we were past that. It was when we first became friends that he mentioned it.
I quickly let him know that I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. Not only that, but I didn’t see him that way at all. There was no spark or anything. I often still wonder how we’re friends. I was sure that idea was ancient history, but I have been told I’m rather naïve when it comes to men.
“Just think about it. Really think, Gwendolyn. We could be a family. I’d give you everything you ever wanted.” I don’t think that’s love. Not my definition of it, anyway.
“I—”
“Don’t answer me now.” I bite the inside of my cheek, hating when he does that. He’ll cut me off so I can’t give my opinion, and then we never get back to it. He’ll push through, but this isn’t one he can sway me on. “You need me.” I fight not to flinch.
That’s a loaded three words because I’m not sure he’s wrong. If he tossed me out, where would I go? That’s not even my biggest concern. What would happen to my baby?
The more I think it over, the more my reality settles in and my perspective swings to another vantage point. All the small things Max has done for me are pulling me more and more under his control. He’s making it so that I’m dependent on him fully. It doesn’t bring comfort; it brings panic.
It started with small things, like we can share a phone plan, let me help set up your bank account; you should always have a secondary person on it in case of emergencies. Right, because Max has no need to steal from me. My bank account is laughable compared to any of his. Except it might not be about that at all. Control is more like it.
“Let’s go.” Max stands. Why does it feel like I don’t have a choice right now? I’ve done this to myself. This isn’t the moment to push back. Not when I still have this folder right here, so I simply stand and let him lead me out of the coffee shop, where, of course, Bailey is waiting.
Bailey gives me the creeps, and he’s Max’s right-hand man for everything. He can be a driver, a bodyguard, or an errand boy. Bailey opens the back door for me, and I slip in.
“Make sure she gets home,” Max tells him before glancing back down to me. “Stay home,” he orders before he gives me a soft smile that is different, or maybe I’m only seeing it differently. It doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s fake. “You need your rest. You’re pregnant. Think about the baby when you’re running around this city.” Aka, stop being childish.
"Of course." I give him back the same smile in return before he closes the door on me, thinking this is over.
I reach down and rub the small bump there. It's not only me anymore. I'm going to figure out what the heck is going on.
This Christmas is going to be a whole lot different than any other before.
Chapter Two
HOLLIS
When I left the city years ago, the plan was to settle into a small, quiet town. The goal was to lead a simpler life. I could run my company from anywhere in the world, and at this point, it merely involves keeping up on my portfolio and investing in different projects that snag my interest. Not that much catches my attention anymore.
That was the plan. It was simple and straightforward. That might have been the problem because simple things can become mundane. I’m new-ish to the town and have been making some donations here and there to help somewhat settle into the community. I was an outsider, and the town is tight-knit.
The only connection I have here is my mother. She grew up in this town before going off to college and meeting my father. We’d come back now and then to see my grandparents when I was younger, but as I got older, the visits became less and less frequent. Especially after my grandparents ended up retiring down to Florida, not liking the cold winters in Maine.
But as a kid, I always enjoyed the town. That's why, after the accident, I came back. I can’t really explain it, but I felt a pull to return and recover here. But, I'm not sure it helps when I see all the families. I never considered the idea of having a family of my own.