Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I need you to meet me at the house. Now.
I got a single word back.
OK.
I assumed the asshole knew why I was so abrupt in my texts. My heart winced at even calling him an asshole in my head. But he was! He was such an asshole for turning out to be just another asshole!
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up to the house behind Murray’s Discovery. He leaned against it and my heart hurt at how handsome he was.
A handsome asshole!
It was too difficult to dwell on how devastated I was, so I grabbed the reins of my rage and flew out of my car. “How dare you!” I yelled, stopping a good distance from him.
Murray’s expression was pained as he pushed off his SUV, palms out to me like I was some kind of frightened animal he was trying to coax. “A ghràidh, please hear me out.”
“Don’t call me that!” I spat, my entire body vibrating with the aftermath of my panic attack and my wrath.
He had the audacity to flinch.
“You went behind my back and told Nee I didn’t want to work for her. That I wasn’t happy.”
“I didn’t mean to do that. I just want you to be happy and she deserves to know.”
“That wasn’t up to you!”
He winced again. “I know. I’m an idiot.”
“No, you’re worse than an idiot!” I took a step back as Murray walked toward me. “Stop. Don’t come near me.”
Murray appeared shocked. “I would never hurt you, London.”
I guffawed. “What the hell do you call this? Because I call it trying to control my life and I will never let a man try to control my life. Ever again.”
He shook his head, seemingly horrified. “That was never … London, no—”
But I couldn’t see past my blinding heartbreak and fury. “You’re just like Nick. Trying to control my life to suit yours. Alienating me from Nee! She won’t even talk to me!”
I barely registered the way Murray stumbled back like I’d hit him.
Heavy, awful silence fell between us, interrupted only by the sounds of the water and the seagulls overhead.
Murray looked at me like he’d never seen me before. “I shouldn’t have said what I said to Tierney. She approached me about it, and I couldn’t lie. I wasn’t thinking beyond wanting your happiness. But how fucking dare you compare me to a monster who abused you.” He turned and yanked open the driver’s door and jumped inside.
I stumbled out of the way as Murray swung the large vehicle around and sped away from me just as fast as Nee had.
This morning we’d been lying in bed together and I was happier than I’d ever been in my life.
How had everything changed so quickly?
A sob burst forth before I could stop it. I cried so hard, my ribs ached. I wanted to call Nee, but she wasn’t talking to me. I couldn’t call Taran or Cammie because we were all supposed to leave for Glasgow today and I didn’t want to ruin Taran’s bachelorette weekend.
I felt so alone.
For the first time since Murray and I got together for real, I felt so deeply alone.
37. London
Ididn’t see Murray before Quinn arrived to pick me up. He was dropping Taran and me off at the ferry terminal that afternoon. I’d already said goodbye to Kelly at breakfast, so I locked up the house, hoping my misery wasn’t written all over my face as Quinn got out to take my small carry-on from me.
Giving him what I hoped was a breezy smile, I thanked him as he loaded my luggage into the back of the truck with Taran’s.
“All okay?” Taran frowned at me over her shoulder from the front passenger seat as I slid into the back.
“Excited.”
My friend narrowed her eyes but didn’t respond.
Poor Quinn tried to make small talk, but I couldn’t seem to force out anything more than one-word answers. By the time we reached the harbor, I wished I’d made my excuses not to go to Glasgow. I didn’t want to ruin such an important weekend for Taran.
Once Quinn pulled the truck to a stop, Taran squeezed his arm. “Sweetheart, can you get the luggage? We’ll be out in a second.”
He flicked me a look before leaning over to give his fiancée a peck on the lips. Then he jumped out to give us privacy.
Taran half turned in her seat. “London, what has happened?”
Her concern made me feel even guiltier. “I don’t think I should go. Nee isn’t talking to me, and I don’t want to cause drama for you this weekend.”
Her brows drew together. “Why aren’t you and Tierney talking?”
Renewed hurt and heartbreak reared its ugly head, transforming into anger. “Murray broke my trust and told her something he shouldn’t have. Now she’s not talking to me and he’s—” I looked away, almost choking on his betrayal.