Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“You’re not running anywhere,” Easton mutters. “Not without me.”
I let out a chuckle. “I love how protective you are.”
Tyler pulls our luggage from the trunk while we walk to the front door. Entering the home that’s decorated with sunflowers and chickens, I call out, “Hello? Maggie? Anyone home?”
“Coming,” Maggie replies, and a few seconds later, she walks into the foyer. “Nova. It’s been a while since I last saw you in town. How are you, dear?”
“I’m good. Do you have a couple of rooms available?”
“Business has been as dead as a doornail. You can have your pick of the rooms,” she replies, then her eyes lock on Easton, and her mouth drops open. “It’s . . . it’s . . . it’s . . . Easton Rowe.”
Honestly, I don’t know how Easton does it. All the attention makes me super uncomfortable.
“Hi, Maggie,” Easton says when she just keeps staring. “How about those rooms?”
“Oh, of course!” She hurries to the small desk and grabs keys from the keyholder.
“Four rooms, please,” I add.
When we follow her up the stairs, Easton says, “I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell anyone I’m staying here. I’ll sign the wall in the foyer, which should be good for business.”
“Of course. My lips are sealed. It’s such an honor. Here are the keys. Have you all eaten? Should I make something for dinner?” She thinks for a moment, then her face falls. “Gosh, I don’t think I have enough ingredients to feed you all. I didn’t expect to be fully booked tonight.”
“It’s okay.” I pat her arm. “I’ll grab something from Reggie’s Diner.”
“Oh, good. Let me know if you need anything. You’re welcome to make yourselves a cup of tea or coffee. There’s also some lemonade in the fridge.”
“Thank you.”
Instead of leaving, she hesitates before saying, “I heard about Rachel. She was always such a sweet girl.”
The whole town must know of her passing.
When Maggie walks away, she keeps glancing over her shoulder until she heads back down the stairs.
“I have no idea how you deal with all the attention,” I mutter to Easton as I walk into the first room.
Tyler places our luggage near the double bed, then says, “Should I go to the diner to get food? That way, you can stay here.”
Easton glances around the room. “Yeah. Thanks, Tyler.”
“Just get us each a cheeseburger and fries. It’s the best thing they have on the menu,” I tell him.
When we’re alone, Easton shakes his head. “Wow, this is one hell of a blast from the past.”
“Yeah.” I let out a chuckle.
We look at the double bed with sunflowers on the covers and pillowcases, then glance at each other.
“Maybe we can sit outside for a bit,” Easton says. “I could do with some fresh air.”
“Okay.”
We leave the room and head back downstairs. Maggie’s sitting in the living room with the TV on, and I almost burst out laughing when I see she’s watching one of Easton’s movies.
I take hold of his arm and push him to keep walking out the front door while teasing him, “Don’t you dare offer to show her how to kiss.”
He lets out a bark of laughter. “I only did that so I could finally kiss you.”
We sit down by a small wrought iron table, and Easton shifts his chair so he’s partially hidden behind a pillar.
“It’s actually a nice night out,” I say as I glance up and down the street. All the houses are on the older side, but the gardens are filled with pretty flowers.
Even though I wasn’t happy in Verona, it’s a charming little town.
We’re quiet for a moment, then Easton shakes his head.
“What?” I ask.
He locks eyes with me, and just from the guilt on his face, I already know what he’s going to say. “I should’ve let you stay with us after I became Rachel’s guardian. That old bastard wouldn’t have put up a fight. I don’t think he would’ve even noticed you were gone.”
“It’s in the past,” I murmur.
He shakes his head again while taking hold of my hand. “God only knows how you survived in that house.”
“You and Rachel always gave me food,” I remind him.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “And after we left?”
“I got odd jobs wherever I could.”
“When did you move out?” he asks.
I glance at the other houses again. “A month after you left, I moved in with my first boyfriend.”
When I didn’t have any money to give him, he would beat the crap out of me. I ran from him, straight into Trent’s arms.
A man comes walking up the road, and when he flicks his cigarette into the road, my eyes widen.
Oh no! Talk about the devil.
I sit dead still, praying Trent doesn’t look our way.
“Nova?” Easton gives my hand a squeeze. “What’s wrong?”
Trent glances in our direction, and my heart sets off at a crazy pace when his features grow dark. “The fuck? Where have you been, bitch?” He picks up speed, and turning up the path leading to the porch, he shouts, “You left me hanging high and dry. I got kicked out of the apartment because of you.”