Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 133224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
“I know you don’t mean that.”
“Are you ignorant, dumb, or just plain stupid?” I whisper angrily. “We are over—forever.” I look around to see if anyone can hear me.
“If we were over, you would have divorced me.”
I frown.
“But you didn’t, and you don’t even realize it yet, but deep down, you didn’t want to get a divorce either.”
Honestly, this man is the living end. I’m selling pictures of my damn feet just to pay the fucking bills. How dare he think that he can even call me, let alone demand a date.
“The only reason I signed that contract is because I want the house.” I hold the phone really close to my ear, hoping that nobody else can hear me. “That’s it. Get the hell out of my life, and if you call me again, I’m blocking your number.”
“You block my number, I’m coming over to your house.”
“Then I’m getting a restraining order against you.”
“Do that and I am pressing assault charges on your psycho neighbor.”
“What?” I screw up my face. What the hell is he talking about now?
“I’ve got the photos of his little fist party on my face. I went to the hospital that night and made a full report of the incident. If he comes anywhere near you, I’m having him charged with aggravated assault.”
He wouldn’t.
“Go to hell, John. You’re such a liar.”
“You think I’m joking? Check the law. A pediatrician can’t hold a medical license if they have a criminal record.”
Reason two million why I hate this man. I begin to feel the hot surge of adrenaline as it rushes through my body.
“Don’t call me again.”
“We’re going out on Saturday night.”
“I won’t be blackmailed into anything. If you have a bone to pick with Blake Grayson, you take it up with him.”
He stays silent.
“But we both know you won’t because you’re a fucking coward, and we both know that Blake will beat you to a pulp again and rightly so.” I hang up the phone and throw it into my bag.
Fuck.
I think on it for a moment. I have to tell Blake so that he knows what the idiot is threatening.
I dig my phone back out and dial Blake’s number.
“You’ve called Blake Grayson. I can’t come to the phone right now. Please leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“Hi, Blake, it’s me. I think we’ve got a problem; can you call me when you get this, please?” I hang up and sit and stare at the wall for a while as my mind races at a million miles per minute. I can hear the other teachers all chattering happily in the background.
He wouldn’t do that to Blake . . . would he?
Yes. He would.
My phone rings, and the name Blake lights up the screen. I scramble to answer it.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Bec, what’s up?”
“Um.” Oh man, how do I put this? “So . . . John just threatened that if you come near me, he’s going to have you charged with assault.”
“Why were you speaking to John?” he fires back.
I screw up my face. Seriously? That’s the only thing he heard in that sentence? “He called, and I told him not to call me again, so then he got nasty and threatened that if you come near me, he’s going to have you charged with assault.”
“Of course he did,” he replies casually. “Don’t worry, I’ve already covered my bases.”
I frown. “I don’t understand.”
“Henley and I went down to the police station the day after it happened and made a formal complaint about him.”
“You did?”
“I’m not stupid. I knew it was coming.”
“How?”
“Not hard to work out. The man’s a fuckwit.”
“This is true.” I twist my lips as I think.
“Did you tell him we’re together?” he asks.
I hesitate before I answer. Wait a minute . . . “Are we together?”
“Yes. We’re together,” he snaps.
“Oh . . .” I think on this for a moment. “Are we not having a conversation about this?”
“This is the conversation.”
“Oh.” I smile. Why is his caveman act exciting to me? “How very presumptuous of you.”
“Not presumptuous, just stating the facts. Tell him.”
“No, because then he’s going to file a complaint.”
“He can do whatever he wants. I have it on record with a witness that he came over and caused a disturbance, and I was simply defending myself.”
Relief fills me. This won’t turn into a huge mess after all. “Oh, I love you.” My eyes widen. I did not just say that. “I mean . . . not love, love, I just . . .” Oh my god . . . help. “You know, relieved. For you and Henley. I love you and Henley, like friends . . . you know?” I’m spluttering and tripping over my words.
“Relax.” He chuckles. “I know what you mean.”
I close my eyes as my face flushes with embarrassment. I just told him I love him, and we haven’t even slept together yet.