Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I grabbed my purse and fished for my phone. “I should call for an Uber ride.”
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, but I just remembered I have some work I need to finish.” Not the best lie, but it was the best excuse to leave that I could come up with at that moment.
“What? I thought you were spending the night?”
I couldn’t look at him. If I did, he would see the fear in mine. The fear that I would do wrong by little Kayden. Luckily the Uber driver called me to say that he was outside Rex’s gate.
“I can’t, I’m sorry.” I shot to my feet. “The driver is waiting.” I grabbed my weekend bag from the table at the foyer and literally ran out. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what Rex was thinking. But whatever it was could not be worse than him knowing the truth. That I was afraid I would make a terrible stepmother to his beloved son.
I was glad that he had not followed me.
I got into the Uber and as I fastened my seatbelt, I felt sick to my stomach. When the car dropped me off at home, I popped into the neighbor’s apartment and picked Pogo up, before I went to my own place. I’d never been so grateful to be home. Even Pogo caught my emotions because he wouldn’t leave me alone. He followed me to the bedroom and curled up with me on the bed.
I let the tears come then.
I cried until I had no more tears. I kept wondering what Rex was doing. So much for a weekend together. I was glad that I’d kept my mouth shut and not told him what had been on my mind.
I’d promised myself to stay away from my phone, but I had to check if he’d tried to call me. He had. Five times and texted a few messages.
I don’t understand what happened. Talk to me Willow.
Are you okay? Did you get home safely?
If you don’t text back, I’ll send someone to check in on you.
I hurriedly checked the time of that message. Ten minutes ago. I texted him back. The last thing I wanted was to have someone who was not Rex come and check up on me.
Me: I’m okay. I fell asleep.
Rex : Why couldn’t you fall asleep here?
Me: Told you. Work.
Rex : Will we see you tomorrow?
Me: Yes.
41
WILLOW
The first thing I did when I woke up was reach for my phone. Rex had not texted again. Disappointment crashed into me.
“What do you freaking expect?” I scolded myself. “You walked out of there with an obvious lie for an excuse, what else was he going to do? Keep begging?”
I got up to feed Pogo then jumped into the shower. Until Rex called, the day stretched out ahead of me, and not in a good way. I ate fruit for brunch.
While I was cleaning up my dishes, the doorbell rang.
Rex.
I was so happy I felt almost dizzy. Wiping my hands on my jogging pants, and checking my reflection in the mirror by the hallway, I hurried to the door and hit the buzzer, releasing the lock for the entrance door. Thank God the house was neat. Still, I fussed with the seat cushions until I heard footsteps. I flung the door open with a huge smile on my face.
“Tiffany?” I blinked rapidly, sure that my brain was playing tricks on me.
She let out a strange laugh. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” I tried to act like I was not bitterly disappointed but I was. I stared at her closely. Her eyes were bloodshot as if she had been crying. Then I noticed the bag that she was carrying. What the hell?
“Can I come in?” she asked in a small voice.
I didn’t really want to invite her in, but curiosity got the better of me. I stood to the side and shut the door after she entered. Pogo came tearing towards her, growling and barking like a mad thing.
“Sorry,” I said, as I scooped him up and took him into the bedroom. I kissed him between his eyes and put him on the bed.
“Calm down boy. She’s not worth having a heart attack over.”
But he was not appeased. He jumped off the bed and tried to run back into the living room. Somehow, I managed to slip out.
I only noticed after I had sat down that we were both occupying more or less the same positions we had all those months ago when she came to my place to tell me she was sleeping with Steven.
“You’re a long way away from home?” I observed casually.
Instead of answering, she started crying. I didn’t know if it was her acting or she was serious, so I said and did nothing until she got control of herself and faced me.