Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
When I think about that short era when Ma smiled, hugged us, kissed our foreheads, and shared cinnamon rolls with us, I couldn’t believe it either. It’s astounding how much a good woman’s whole life can change because of one bad man.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Just one night?” The hotel clerk smiled wide with lips covered in burgundy lipstick. A tiny smudge of color was on the corner of one of her front teeth.
I looked away, digging through my purse for my wallet. “Yes. Just tonight.”
I’d found the best hotel closest to Sage Hill in another small town called Green Pines. It was sixteen minutes away. And the perk? There was great cell service and Wi-Fi here. After the clerk handed me my key card, I boarded the elevator and watched the digital floor numbers climb. As soon as I’d made it to my room, I sighed with relief.
I changed into pajamas, washed my face, tied my braids into a bun, then sat on the bed with my purse. I dug through it until I found my phone and Eve’s camera. I wanted to contact the police of Green Pines, but if they were this close to Sage Hill, they probably knew James Reed personally.
I didn’t trust James.
I didn’t trust anyone in that damn town.
Instead, I sent a text to Nico: Anything?
Not yet
I typed up another text, this time to Zoey. Have you gone back to school?
No. Took the day off. I can’t concentrate knowing Eve is gone.
Eve is gone.
Something about those words haunted me. I didn’t want to believe she was gone either. She could still be out there somewhere, waiting for someone to rescue her. I chewed on my lip, debating on what to tell her next. If I told Zoey what I’d discovered so far, she’d panic. Zoey had really bad panic attacks. If she was alone, no one would be able to console her. I had to let her know the truth though.
Do me a favor and go to my dad’s house. There’s something I need to tell you, and I want to make sure you’re not alone.
Zoey replied almost instantly. WHAT? ROSE! WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT. SERIOUSLY I NEED TO KNOW. NOW
She didn’t even give me the chance to reply. Her name appeared on the screen. It wasn’t a text, but a call this time.
I answered. “Zoey, I’m not telling you anything until I know you’re safe.”
“Why do I need to be safe?” she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
“Because I don’t want you to freak out too much and have another panic attack. You need someone to keep an eye on you.”
“Okay—fine. Fine. I’ll go. But—just stay on the phone, okay?” I heard keys jingling in the background and then a door slamming.
“Rose?” she called.
“I’m still here.”
“ ’Kay.”
Her car door closed. I could tell she was driving by the steady whooshing noise in the background.
“Make sure you’re driving the speed limit, Zo.”
“I am, I am.” She released a heavy breath. “Was I right? Was she kidnapped?”
I hesitated before answering. “I’m not sure.”
“Oh Godfrey,” she whined.
“But I don’t think she’s hurt,” I added. A lie, of course. “So don’t work yourself up.”
“Did you guys get into an argument or something?” she asked. “I mean, before all of this? Maybe that’s why all of this is happening. She’s been so sad because you guys aren’t as close anymore.”
I swallowed, swinging my gaze to the dark curtains. “Eve and I aren’t on good terms anymore for good reason, Zoey. I haven’t talked to her in in about three months, so I don’t think that’s why she’s missing.”
“I don’t get why you’re avoiding her,” she said.
“Because she . . . she did something unforgiveable.”
“What could she have possibly done for you not to speak to her for that long?”
I paused before saying, “She slept with Cole.”
The line went quiet. The seconds ticked by, one after another, until Zoey spoke up again.
“She wouldn’t do that,” she muttered, finally.
“Well, I’m telling you she did. I literally saw them with my own eyes.”
“What the fuck,” Zoey breathed. “WHAT THE FUCK!” she screamed this time. “Why would she do that?”
I refrained from crying and instead squeezed my eyes shut. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t get it,” she whispered. “I—I really don’t get it. That’s why she was acting so weird. She kept saying something about how she needed to forgive people for their mistakes because she was always making bad ones.”
I had no idea what that meant, and right now I was too tired to care. “Are you close to Dad’s?” I asked.
“Just a few minutes away.”
“ ’Kay. When you get there, don’t tell him what I told you about her and Cole, okay? He doesn’t know but Diana does.”
“Okay.”
She didn’t speak much until she’d made it to Dad’s. I heard him in the background asking her what in the world was she doing home. I heard Diana shrilling, some rustling, and then it was quiet.