Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“You’re going to lose him,” Price mumbles. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
LIFE IS A JOURNEY, BUT LOVE IS AN ADVENTURE.
I awaken to a banging sound. My head spins for a second as I orientate myself.
I’m at Price’s.
The sun’s not out yet.
And Price has his arms around me, the opposite of how we fell asleep.
“I’ll get it.” I untangle from his hold while he incoherently mumbles.
I run my fingers through my hair on the way to the door and yawn while opening it. And then … my world implodes.
Koen stares at me. His gaze is lifeless, the kind that doesn’t radiate any love or even an ounce of recognition. It’s as if he’s looking through me.
He removes his hat to scratch his head and then replaces it. “Before you fuck another guy, you should turn off your location. I’m going to end him.” He steps inside, forcing me to move out of his way. “It won’t fix us, but I will end him.”
“Koen, no!” I snag his arm.
He jerks out of my hold.
“Stop!” I grab at him again, this time getting a better grip. “We didn’t do anything!”
Koen stops for a second when Price appears at the entrance to his bedroom, slowly threading his arms into his T-shirt.
“Couldn’t keep your goddamn hands off her.” Koen charges at him.
I lose leverage. “No!”
Price doesn’t even flinch, but I do. It takes me a moment to react after Koen’s fist connects with Price’s face for the first time. And my scream sounds like a shallow echo in my head when he hits him a second time. Price stumbles backward a few steps, but he stays on his feet.
He doesn’t speak.
He doesn’t try to fight back.
I begin to rush toward him. His gaze cuts to mine while he rubs his jaw and gives me a sharp headshake.
Koen turns to leave, but I remain, blocking the doorway, keeping my attention on Price the whole time.
“Move or I will move you,” Koen says.
My gaze slowly slides to Koen, his ridged body, clenched jaw, and the world of hurt in his eyes.
“He has cancer,” I say in defeat. And I feel as though it’s spreading and getting worse just from me saying those words aloud—spreading them to another person who can give them power.
I bat away a few tears, but I don’t know why I’m trying to hide it. I love these two men. They own every single emotion I have left inside of me.
Koen glances over his shoulder. I can’t see his expression, but Price bleeds remorse.
“I’m your Plan B,” Koen says, turning back toward me. Then he laughs, shaking his head. “I’m your fucking Plan B.”
This time, I move aside when he steps past me. How can I respond when I don’t know what I’m feeling other than heartbroken in every way possible?
He slams the front door behind him, and I wince.
“No,” Price says, still rubbing his jaw while brushing past me to the kitchen.
“No, what?” I follow him.
“I will not come between you and your happiness. I didn’t come here for that reason.” He wraps ice in a towel and presses it to his jaw.
“You came here for me.”
He turns with a sigh, looking utterly drained. Did I do this?
“Yes, I came here for you. To be near you. To feel your light. But I didn’t come here to be with you. And I’m sorry if I’ve confused you. I never meant to complicate your life.”
“Well,” I slowly shrug and shake my head. “I don’t want …”
What? What don’t I want? What do I want?
“I don’t want to be with you, either. And I don’t want you to die. But I need …” I can’t do it, so I swallow the words, knowing they will eventually suffocate me and ruin my future.
“What do you need?”
Staring at the floor, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just need you to live,” I whisper.
“I’m alive. And you’re only responsible for the good things that happen to me.”
He’s unknowingly slaying me, a noose around my neck that gets a little tighter every day.
“The thought of you dying—”
“Scottie, don’t. Go make things right, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
There’s more to say. There will always be more to say. Does he need to know my truth if he leaves this world before me?
I find Koen’s location on my phone. He’s not too far south of here, so I follow him to a commercial building under construction, congested with workers everywhere.
“Excuse me.” I stop an older gentleman in a hard hat. “Do you know Koen Sikes?”
He shakes his head.
“Uh, he’s a welder.”
The guy glances around and points to his right. “Probably there.”
“Thanks.” I turn.
“You can’t be in here without proper protection. Sorry.”
I frown.
“Sikes you said?”
I nod. “Koen Sikes.”
“Wait outside. I’ll see if I can find him.”