Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“That I have years of celibacy to make up for and it’s highly unlikely you’re going to wear out your welcome anytime this century.”
“But you’ll tell me if you feel that changing, right?” he asks.
“I do. I mean…I will. Yes.”
“Good.”
He’s so pretty when he smiles. A sight guaranteed to make my brain go to a galaxy far, far away. How he woke up my libido and shook up my life when he moved into the neighborhood. My world has changed more in the last month than it has in the last decade.
I am about to pour my heart out and tell him all of this when my canine house guest starts barking. Auggie races in through the open back door, making a mad dash for the front of the house. Noah takes the frying pan off the heat and follows with a frown.
My cell is in the next room on the dining room table. Just another sign of my lust-addled mind. Normally I would never have my connection to the security cameras out of reach. I jump down off the counter. This feels bad—whatever it is. And I seem to have developed a sixth sense for this shit over the years.
Auggie is busy growling when Noah swears and says, “Baby, there’s a news crew filming on your front lawn.”
CHAPTER TEN
The phone is ringing. It’s an unknown number and the timing sure is uncanny. I wouldn’t normally answer. Just let it go to voicemail. But whatever is happening out front has got me distracted for the second time today. There are texts from Muriel on screen too. Asking me to call her urgently. What the heck is going on?
I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Will you accept charges for a call from Vermont Regional Correctional Facility?” asks a robotic voice.
He’s never called me before. Not once in all these years. Those creepy letters arrive now and then, but they’ve been his sole means of communication. But he is bound to be the cause of whatever is going on right now. It’s a definite. And the way fury fills me from head to toe at the thought. I don’t even hesitate in my reply. “Yes.”
“Your call will be subject to recording and monitoring.”
Noah is busy drawing the curtains on the front windows and giving pats to Auggie. Trying to calm him down. The good boy is not happy about people hanging outside his home talking nonsense. Which is a sentiment we strongly share.
“Sidney,” says the horribly familiar voice. And he sounds so fucking happy with himself. Just so very pleased. “How nice to talk to you. What’s it been…ten years?”
“About that.” Hearing my ex’s low amused laugh sends a shiver down my spine. It makes my skin crawl. I hate him with everything in me and I don’t care if it’s healthy or not. “Ryan, how did you get this number?”
Noah’s head snaps around at my mention of the name and there’s a sudden wariness in his eyes. All of which is absolutely valid. I am not sure I should be giving my ex the time of day. It is in fact most likely an awful fucking idea. The worst I’ve had in a long time.
“What have you done?” I ask.
“Me? How could I have done anything? You’re forgetting I’m still stuck in jail.”
“Then why are you calling? Why now?”
“So many questions.” He sighs. “It’s important to me, for my spiritual and personal growth, to tell you that I forgive you.”
My eyebrows reach for the sky. “You forgive me?”
“Yes,” he continues. “Whatever demons forced you to carry out these terrible deeds are your own to deal with. I see that now. As much as I loved you, it was wrong of me to try and help you cover up your crimes.”
“Your love almost killed me.”
“Attacking you was a momentary lapse of reason on my part. Something I very much regret.”
“Do you really think there’s a chance they’ll drop your charges to accessory and time served?”
“Anything is possible through the power of prayer. My therapist has also helped me understand myself and be a better, more empathetic person. To prepare for my return to the world and life outside of prison,” he says. “Prayer and therapy are how I turned my life around and learned to accept the unfortunate role I played in enabling you.”
“Enabling me?” I shake my head. “How many hours did you sit in your cell rehearsing this speech?”
“Sidney, I don’t expect you to understand. But I found God and—”
“Oh, yeah? Where was he hiding? Behind the sofa?”
Noah pushes aside the curtain and checks on whatever is happening out front. The man is now as unhappy as the dog. Though he’s doing a lot less growling.
“Don’t interrupt me, please,” says Ryan, an edge coming into his voice for the first time. “Hearing your name mentioned on the morning news made me realize some things. That this violence and corruption…this evil in your soul is a disease. One that’s sure to catch up with you sooner rather than later.”