Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81581 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
I don’t want to remember the years I spent with Vaughn.
I don’t want to recall how he went from possessive boyfriend, to monster, to my worst nightmare. I don’t want to think about the things he made me do. Things that still embarrass and horrify me. Things that would tear apart everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve if they ever got out.
Hot, furious tears are spilling from my eyes. I hastily swipe them away as I leave to do my weekly shopping. Gray, my stupid boss, has grabbed my now normal life and given it a hard shake. I don’t like that he’s rattled some memories inside me that I prefer to keep hidden.
In an effort to block his annoyingly handsome face from my mind, I think about my new job. I’m eager to learn something different. On the way to the market, I pass by the post office where my PO box is located. I check it but don’t find any correspondence. That both hurts me and relieves me. The last few cards I sent, I foolishly included my PO box address. I pull the sealed envelope that holds ten crisp one hundred dollar bills inside a funny card out of my purse and slip it into the outgoing box.
Just once I’d like to receive a letter back. To be acknowledged. But that would invite problems. Problems I don’t need, no matter how much my heart aches.
The walk to the market is cold. I doubt we’ll have snow, but it looks like a chilly rain is imminent. I’ll need to hurry with my shopping today.
Normally, I spend several hours at the market as I take my time and enjoy the day. But today, I’m too wound up. My tension is like the cold wintery rain that will most likely hit before I make it back to my place. Whipping all around me and stressing me out. I grunt all the way back to my building with my haul.
It’s times like these when I wish I had actual friends. People I could chat with and talk about my day. A girlfriend to groan to about my annoying boss, my terrible drunk night with my future boss, the fear my psycho ex will hunt me down, and all of the other awful things in my life.
Unfortunately, I don’t.
The moment I feel the first drop of cold rain on my forehead, a shudder of defeat ripples through me. In this big bad world, I’m all alone. By nature, I’m not normally a crier. But today, I let it go. I sob as I run three long blocks through the soaking rain with my arms full of groceries. My teeth are chattering by the time I reach my building. Out front sits a shiny white Range Rover that seems to sparkle in the pouring rain. I suddenly wish I owned a car. I suddenly wish I lived somewhere with a garage, reliable heating, and tenants who aren’t drug dealers.
I stomp through the puddles and seek refuge in the dilapidated building. Gray was right. I live in the ghetto. This place is all I can afford by the time I send away most of my wages. It’s sad. My entire life is just pathetic.
Eventually, I make it up to the third floor but I’m exhausted and soaked to the bone. So when I see a familiar face, I’m too tired to fight. In some stupid way, I feel a sense of relief.
“What are you doing here?” I mumble as I rummage through my purse for my keys.
Gray frowns at me. He’s holding a folder tucked under one arm and a dripping umbrella in his other. The man still looks every bit as sexy as he did at breakfast. Too bad he’s such an asshole. “Can we talk a minute?”
Letting out a sigh, I unlock my door and gesture for him to come in. My place instantly smells like him. Clean and masculine. A hint of cinnamon.
Once inside, I make a beeline for the kitchen to drop my bags. He follows me into the small space making it seem even smaller with his imposing presence.
“Let me unload those while you take a hot shower and change. You’re turning purple, Violet.” At his silly pun, he smiles. The man is ridiculously good looking and it makes me angry. I hate that I react so easily to him. My stupid heart patters away in my chest just from the way he looks at me. As if he’d like to lick away every droplet of the rain. I suppress a whine because that sounds a lot better than I want it to.
“Thanks. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Don’t steal anything,” I threaten.
He chuckles as he starts unloading the bag. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Eighteen minutes later, I’m dressed in a warm hoodie and a pair of yoga pants. My slippers cover my frozen toes and I’ve pulled my wet hair into a messy bun to keep it off my neck. When I enter the living room, Gray is sitting in the middle of the only piece of furniture I own as he sips on some coffee. He looks like he belongs here. Like this is his place. The thought irritates me.