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)
“So, are we finally going home?” Jayson asked.
“Yeah.” I met his eyes. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Eve Castillo journal entry
Holy shit! I didn’t expect last night to happen the way it did.
One minute I’m eating dinner with Alex and Damian and the next Alex is kissing my neck and Damian has his face between my thighs. I’ve only had one threesome before. I was nineteen and it was horrible. It happened with two frat boys I met at the liquor store.
But Alex and Damian . . . there are just no words. Who knew small-town men were so good?
They took turns with me. I knew Alex was more than he revealed. He was perfectly rough, hands around my throat as he fucked me like he owned me. Damian was gentler . . . but he accidentally came inside me.
I wish I could say I regretted it, but I don’t. In fact, they made me feel better after talking to Victor yesterday morning. They made me forget the things Victor promised me. They made me forget that he would never, ever choose me.
Just use me. Lie to me. Fuck me over.
Victor McDonnell is an asshole.
I hate him and wish him a shitty life forever.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
As soon as I made it to my apartment, I collapsed on the bed and buried my face in the comforter. For a few seconds, I couldn’t breathe. I was okay with letting the breath dwell in my lungs. It gave me a chance to listen to my thudding heart, to feel my face being covered, and for the darkness to consume me. Gave me a chance to remember I was still alive.
When I couldn’t stand another second of not breathing, I flipped onto my back and stared at the ceiling fan, gasping. Jayson had followed me home, making sure that I arrived at my apartment safely before returning to his bar. Now, I was all alone with racing thoughts. I showered, changed clothes, then went for my laptop. It was hard not to glance at Eve’s purse on the dining table.
A memory struck me. We’d gone to the Michael Kors store in the outlet mall. She couldn’t decide between beige or black for her new purse. She’d gotten a huge check from some deal with a yoga company and wanted to splurge.
“I always get black stuff,” she’d griped, putting the darker purse back. “I think it’s time to lighten it up. And here, I’ll get you one too.”
My eyes shifted left to the other Michael Kors purse hanging on the coat rack with the tags still attached. I have yet to use it . . . and probably never will after what happened between her and Cole. I didn’t need the reminder. I figured I could give it to Zoey or Diana instead.
Thinking of my sister and Eve’s made me want to talk to them. Be around people I loved and trusted. I abandoned the laptop to go to my bedroom and slip into an olive-green hoodie and white sneakers. I collected my purse as well as Eve’s, my keys, and was in my car again before I knew it.
CHAPTER FORTY
Dad’s house always smelled like cinnamon. Not an overwhelming amount, but a subtle hint, like someone was sprinkling bits of it in the corners of the house every week. It was a comforting, nostalgic scent. Pair that with being seated around our six-top dining table with a bowl of freshly made chicken soup, and there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
“I can’t believe any of this.” Zoey stared at Eve’s purse in the center of the table as I slurped my soup. Daddy was biting into a hunk of sourdough bread while Diana topped off our sweet tea. “Why would they have her purse? It doesn’t make any sense, Rose.”
“I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” I placed my spoon down to take a sip of my drink. “The whole town is shady.”
“Yeah, well, you’re lucky you aren’t missing too.” Diana pursed her lips as she sat back and folded her arms. I could tell she’d just gotten her hair done. Two-strand twists that curled at the ends. She and I had the same complexion. Her eyes were a little bigger than mine, but other than that, we looked very much alike. “What if Eve is just messing with us? She always liked playing those dumb games where people have to find her.”
“Like the time we went to Carowinds, and she disappeared out of nowhere,” I said.
“Right. We were all in line, ready to get on the roller coaster, and she just disappears on us. Doesn’t show up again until the amusement park is closing. Didn’t answer her phone, didn’t respond to our texts.” If Diana could’ve folded her arms any tighter, she would have. “She’s so extra—sorry, Zo.” She gave Zoey a sympathetic glance.