Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 90972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
I expect him to push me down and shove me into the car, but he just waits for me to get in myself.
“Nothing bad is going to happen,” he offers, but I don’t know if I can believe him.
“Where are you going to take me?”
“Dinner.”
“Dinner?” I ask, dumbfounded.
He nods his head. “You just said you haven’t eaten, so let’s go eat.”
I’m starving, but I'd rather go to bed hungry than to go to dinner with Kellen. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he is giving me a choice. His body is caging me in and the only place for me to go is inside of his car.
I look around the street again. The couple is gone now and the man sweeping has his back turned to us. There is no one here to help me.
I let my head hang low with defeat as I climb into the car. Kellen waits for me to sit and get buckled before he shuts the door and walks around the car, watching me the entire time. He gets behind the wheel and starts the engine.
A knot forms in my stomach as he pulls out onto the street. He said nothing bad will happen. I probably should not believe him, but my anxious brain wants to really badly, so I give in to the thought. I convince myself that I’m really safe, and he is just going to take me to dinner.
It works for a bit, but doubt and worry creep their way back into my mind. Why would he want to take me out to eat? There has to be more to this. I just can never figure him out. Why is he doing all these things to me?
Kellen drives us out of town and gets onto the highway.
“Is this place you’re taking me far away?” I ask, when I can’t take not knowing anything any longer.
“No. We’re almost there.”
A few minutes later, he takes the exit. We drive for another mile or so before a small diner comes into view. A large neon sign, Ruby's Diner, sits on top of the building. Kellen pulls into the parking lot and finds an empty spot. I’m still nervous, but I’m not panicking anymore. So far, he is keeping his word.
I unbuckle and get out of the car. Kellen meets me in front of the hood and together we walk into the diner. The hostess gives us a warm smile as we step up to her table.
“Hi, welcome to Ruby’s Diner. Is it just the two of you today?” she asks in a friendly customer service voice.
“Yes,” Kellen answers her.
“Awesome! Please follow me,” she chirps before grabbing two menus. Spinning around, she walks us through the restaurant and takes us to a booth.
“Your server will be right with you. Enjoy!” The server walks away, her high ponytail swaying with each step. She probably thinks we’re a couple. What would she do if she knew I was here against my will?
I sit down on the bench, and Kellen takes the seat across from me, his big body filling almost the entire side of his booth.
“Why am I here?” I ask.
“To eat dinner,” he answers.
I give him a pointed look, not satisfied with his answer, and try again. “Why am I really here?”
Kellen puts his elbows on the table and leans forward. “You are here because I want you to be here.”
“But why do you want that?”
Kellen shrugs. “I just do.”
“You always get what you want?” I don’t even know why I’m asking. I already know he does.
The corner of his mouth pulls up into a smirk. “Usually, yes,” he confirms.
Must be nice.
A waitress stops at our table, ending our conversation.
“Hi guys! I’m Wendy; I’ll be your server today. Can I get you started with anything to drink?” She looks down at me with a wide smile, notepad in hand.
“Water, please.” I order the only thing I can afford.
She scribbles it down on her pad before looking over at Kellen.
“We’ll have two cheeseburgers with fries and two vanilla milkshakes,” he tells her, before handing her his menu. She grabs the second menu off the table.
“You got it,” Wendy confirms before taking off.
“What if I’m a vegetarian?” I snap, irked by him ordering for me.
“Then I would say you are missing out. The burgers here are amazing.” His eyebrows raise slightly. “Are you a vegetarian?”
“No,” I admit. “But that’s not the point.”
“What is the point, then?”
“It’s that you shouldn't order for other people. I don’t even have money to pay for this,” I explain, my voice laced with irritation.
“Don’t worry about it.” He dismisses my concerns. “I’ll pay for your food.”
I hate the idea of him paying for me. It’s something he can hold over my head later.
The waitress returns with my water and the two milkshakes, setting everything on the table in front of us. “Your food will be out soon,” she says in a cheerful voice before taking off again.