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 wish I could take your fear away,” Kellen says, his voice sounding honest. “I’d rather see you smile than cry.”
“I don’t have a lot to smile about.”
“I know, but I’m trying to change that. You just have to give it a chance…give me a chance.”
A few moments of silence settle over us, and I take that time to think. Giving him a chance would mean trusting him. Opening myself up even more than I already have. He has forced me into a vulnerable position, but he is asking even more now.
The doorbell rings. The sudden sound makes me jump in my chair.
“I’ll get it,” Kellen announces, before getting up and walking to the door. I get up myself and grab two glasses, then filling them with tap water and setting them on the table.
A minute later, he returns with a white bag of food. He sets it on the table and starts to unwrap the containers inside. The savory smell of sweet and sour sauce fills the air and my mouth waters. Kellen opens my box and pushes it right in front of me. I take the chopsticks from the bag and free them from their paper wrapping.
Lucky for me, eating with chopsticks is like riding a bike. Even though I haven’t done it in forever, I can still do it. I take my first bite and almost moan because it’s so good. I shove a few more large pieces of fried chicken in my mouth, chewing slowly to enjoy every bite.
I concentrate on my food until I’ve polished off almost half of my meal.
“Maybe we met at the mall?” I look up from my container and over at Kellen. “You went to the big and tall store. I was smelling candles and sampling the lotions next door.”
He smiles before adding to my story. “We ran into each other on the way to the food court.”
I nod. “You asked me out for lunch, and I said yes. We were going to get a slice of pizza, but the cinnamon rolls smelled so good, we ended up just eating those.”
“We talked while we ate,” he continues.
“I told you all my secrets, and you told me yours in return.”
“And when I kissed you goodbye, I could still taste the sugar on your lips,” he concludes.
“That’s a good story,” I say, wishing it was actually true.
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Kellen agrees, and I can see in his eyes that he also wants this to be true.
Maybe even more than I do.
Chapter 23
Kellen
I can feel her resolve crumbling. Her walls are coming down slowly, and she is giving into the idea of us being together. She is beginning to let go of all the fucked up shit I did to her so we can start over.
I scan her face for any signs of fear, but she simply looks content. Her shoulders are relaxed, and her chest rises and falls at a leisurely pace. Earlier, she even laughed a little. It wasn’t fake or forced, either. It was genuine and came naturally.
“I’m stuffed,” Tamson announces, holding her hand over her stomach.
“Me too,” I lie. I could eat the rest of this and then some, but I want her to have plenty of leftovers. It bothers me knowing she has so little food here. How the fuck does she live like this?
I meant what I told her. I want to take care of her in every way possible. Financially, physically, and emotionally. I care about her in a way I never cared about anyone before. When I’m with her, I’m a different person. I’m the person that I want to be.
We close the containers and put them into the fridge. Tamson places our glasses in the sink before we make our way back to her room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to see a message from my dad has come through. My mood darkens as I read the text.
Dad: I need you at the Den tomorrow.
My chest feels heavy. What am I’m going to have to do this time? Whatever it is, it’s never good.
I don’t respond. I don’t have to. He knows I’ll be there. Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I forget about tomorrow and concentrate on the here and now.
“Is everything okay?” Tamson asks, real concern lacing her voice.
“Yeah,” I assure her. “Everything is fine.”
“What do you want to do now?” Her question is innocent, but my mind immediately goes into the gutter. I want to strip her naked and fuck her again, but I don’t want to push her, either. However, maybe I could get at least some of her clothes off.
“How about I give you a massage?” I suggest, hoping she’ll go for it.
She thinks about it for a moment. “Like a back massage?”
“Yeah,” I confirm.