Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“And what will your move entail?”
“I’m not sure. Right now I’m thinking either kidnap Laurie or make her a deal she can’t refuse.”
“I vote for the deal. Enough money can buy anything.”
“Yeah,” I murmur as I stare out the window.
For now, I’m liking this little game where I get to watch her without her knowing.
It’s a pity I have to work, and I can’t stalk her twenty-four-seven.
Chapter 4
Laurie
I’ve been running on very little food and even less sleep.
The only thing keeping me going is that the second place I looked at was livable and the owner said she’d hold it for seventy-two hours.
When I get paid in two days, it’s all over. I’ll move into the room and find another job.
In the meantime, I’ve been working my butt off to get the projections done before month-end, but even if I stay at the office twenty-four-seven, it’s an impossible task.
Feeling soul-crushingly exhausted, I push the front door open, and stepping inside, I pull my handbag strap off my shoulder so I can set it down on the side table.
As always, the house is quiet except for the low hum of the TV, and I assume Austin is asleep on the couch.
I can’t remember when we last had a conversation.
Walking to the living room so I can collect his takeout boxes, I glance left into the kitchen and come to a sudden halt.
Oh. My. God.
Amanda, Heather’s best friend, is sitting on the edge of the kitchen table.
For a second, my brain just... stops.
She’s wearing one of Austin’s shirts, the blue one I bought him for Christmas last year.
I watch as his hands rub up and down the outside of her thighs while he’s kissing her like he’s forgotten the rest of the world exists. His mouth moves hungrily against hers, and Amanda lets out a seductive chuckle before her eyes drift open and land on me.
The smile slips from her face as every muscle in my body tenses.
Austin notices the change in her and turns his head in my direction. There’s no look of surprise or guilt that he’s been caught.
He wanted me to walk in on them.
Amanda meets my eyes, her expression tight with annoyance and hatred.
I feel like someone just reached into my chest and ripped the air from my lungs because there’s no way they’re doing this to me.
Yeah, sure, this relationship has been dead for a while, and I know Austin doesn’t give a shit about me, but it’s still a shock to the system that they have the audacity to rub it in my face.
This isn’t about him cheating. It’s the way they’re announcing their affair without an ounce of shame, like they set out to humiliate me.
“What the hell?” I snap angrily.
Austin slowly straightens and moves to stand in front of Amanda, like he actually thinks I’m going to lose it and attack the bitch.
Oh wow.
Amanda smirks as if she’s won a battle between us, a look of pure satisfaction on her smug face.
She’s enjoying every second of this.
Austin drags a hand over the back of his neck and lets out a heavy breath. “Laurie.”
Even though this isn’t funny, laughter bursts from me because I’m struggling to process this insanity. “Laurie?” I echo him. “Jesus! You’re so entitled you have to go to this extreme? You couldn’t just break up with me?”
His eyes narrow as irritation creeps into his expression.
Amanda grips his arm possessively, and instead of the asshole manning up, he lets her talk on his behalf. “Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. Austin is with me now.”
The words hit me so hard that I can only gape at them.
Don’t make this more difficult?
Like I’m the problem?
“It’s over.” She smiles like the cat who got the cream. “He’s been unhappy for a while but felt sorry for you.”
“Unhappy?” I’m beginning to feel unhinged as more laughter escapes me. With my eyes locked on Austin, I snap, “I’ve worked overtime for months while cleaning this house and paying bills when all you’ve done is sleep on the couch.” I wave my hand at Amanda. “You couldn’t lift a finger to help, but you had time to fuck around with her?” I glare at the bitch, “You can have his worthless ass.”
Austin lets out another annoyed breath, like I’m something unpleasant he wants to get rid of.
The bitch points to somewhere behind me, her tone triumphant as she says, “I packed all your shit already.”
I glance over my shoulder, and when I see the luggage, it goes deathly still inside me.
Every piece of the years I’ve wasted on this man has been shoved into a single bag.
“Don’t embarrass yourself any more. Take your shit and leave.”
Slowly, I turn my head back to the kitchen, and as I stare at Austin, who won’t even meet my eyes, I want to scream.