Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
He curses, staring. “Is that thing real?”
“Don’t be a dick.”
“I just mean, that’s worth more money than I’ve ever seen in my entire life, I bet.”
“Double that.”
“Good for you,” he says, smiling a little. He seems to relax. “You always were a survivor, right?”
“Don’t you dare say that shit to me,” I say, taking a step forward. “You ruined my life, Lucas. Because of you, I got into an altercation with Johnnie from work and ended up fired. My entire world crumbled, and oh, yeah, I got pregnant by a stranger, who is now my husband—”
“You’re pregnant?” He leans back, looking shocked.
“Yes,” I say softer. “Things are hard for me, okay? Kathryn shouldn’t have sent you here.”
He stews in that for a moment before straightening. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a thick, white envelope, thrusting it at me. “Here. Take this.”
I hesitate, but accept it. Inside, it’s stuffed with cash. “What the hell?”
“That’s everything I had left of the money I stole from you. I’m going to make payments until we’re equal, starting tonight. I’m going back to being Mr. Dependable. It’s a little less than five hundred, but I’m going to get a job, and I’ll make it right.”
I stare at the money. Some other time and some other world, this cash might’ve meant something to me, but right now I have an Amex with unlimited spending and a rich husband.
But the gesture’s actually kind of nice. Lucas is clearly at rock bottom himself right now, and I bet this money means a lot to him. I shake my head and hand it back. “I don’t want it.”
“Dar—”
“Take the fucking cash, okay, Lucas? Before I grind it in the garbage disposal instead.” I don’t know why I’m taking pity on him. It’s not like he deserves it.
He takes the envelope, looking sheepish. “I’m still going to pay you back, I swear.”
“Don’t bother. I don’t want you to ever think you can make up for what you did to me.” I turn my back on him. “We’re not even. We never will be. But I don’t hate you. I just pity you now. If you really want to do the right thing, get up, walk away, and never look back. Just think the next time you’re going to steal from someone, okay?”
I don’t know why, but I feel strangely better. I hadn’t thought much about Lucas since getting involved with Finn, but seeing my ex like this is cathartic. The asshole clearly got a taste of his own medicine.
But more than that, I’m not holding on to him. Seeing Lucas again doesn’t make me miss my old life, back before things completely fell apart. I don’t miss Mr. Dependable or my old job or my old apartment.
I just miss Finn even more than I thought I would.
“I can do that,” he says softly.
“You should go now,” I say, leaning against the railing. “And don’t come back, okay? Don’t look me up. Don’t contact Kathryn. Just stay away.”
He slowly stands. “Are you sure? Dar, I mean it, I can get you that money.”
“You never will.” I jerk my head toward the street. “Please, go. And Lucas? If I hear you’re anywhere near Boston ever again, I’ll make sure my husband buries you. Or I’ll do it myself. I haven’t decided yet.”
He blanches. “Right, okay. No Boston. I got it.”
“Now get out of here.”
He walks down the stairs, toward the driveway, and stops, looking back. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I’m nowhere near okay,” I murmur as he continues on, hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders rounded, staring down at the ground.
I stay on the porch for another few seconds, thinking about Finn, wishing he was here more than anything in the world, when a black SUV comes rolling toward the house. I frown as it pulls over, forcing Lucas to scurry out of the way.
The engine dies, the door opens, and Genna steps out.
She surveys my childhood home, hands on her hips, eyebrows scrunched down, before she spots me. I stare back in shock as she raises a hand.
“Hey,” she says, waving. “This town is a real shithole, you know that?”
Chapter 42
Dara
Genna groans as she sits on the same chair as Lucas. “Who was that homeless guy?” she asks, squinting toward his retreating form. “You get a lot of drifters around here?”
“That was my ex, Lucas.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “The one you hate?”
“The very same. Apparently, the girl he left me for stole all his money and ran off.”
“Well, fancy that,” she says, grinning. “Did you rub it in his face?”
I hesitate then shake my head. “Not worth it. He came crawling back to apologize. Even offered me some money.”
“You’re a bigger gal than me. I would’ve torn his asshole into pieces.”
I grimace at the image and actually believe she means it literally. “Genna, what the hell are you doing here?”