Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Now I was really going to cry. “Thanks.”
He nodded, and I got in quickly before tears fell from my eyes. As I drove away, I let myself imagine what it would have been like to be married to Mitchell. And as quickly as the thought surfaced, it died. There was another man who held my heart in a vise grip.
When I pulled up in front of the diner in Mountainside, I opened the phone box and powered it on. It took a few minutes to go through all the setup screens. I wasn’t sure how much a fancy phone like this would cost me for monthly service. I installed the app for my provider and logged on. There my account said it had been paid and set up for automatic billing. The last four digits of the credit card shown weren’t mine. Mitchell.
I sent a text to Avery and asked for Mitchell’s phone number, something I hadn’t really thought about getting until now. In fact, I hadn’t thought about my phone at all. I hadn’t called a lot of people before and Avery, the main person I would have called, had been with me.
She sent back a quick reply. At the same time, old notifications began hitting my phone. I ignored them and texted Mitchell another thank you.
Now that I had the phone, the urge to call Agan hit me. I deserved answers, didn’t I? He should have told me about his fiancée. Then again, guys who cheated didn’t admit that fact until caught.
I dialed his number.
FIFTEEN
My heart thundered in my chest the second it took for the call to be connected. Only I got that “I’m sorry. Your call can’t be connected as dialed” message.
“Prick,” I muttered under my breath and got out of the car, vowing not to date again, ever.
Morning rush was over, so when I entered the diner, it wasn’t packed. A girl so young she made me feel old greeted me.
“Welcome to Smiley’s. You have your pick of seats.” She was about my size, though a little more rail thin. Her eyes were a little too sunken in for a girl her age.
I had expected Smiley would replace me, considering I’d been gone longer than I’d told him I’d be without a word. However, I was surprised at his choice of replacements. I knew better than to judge anyone on reputation, but this girl’s family was notorious. I suspected she was the youngest daughter of the Raven family.
“I’m here to see Smiley,” I said with a smile and walked toward the back.
As soon as I passed through the door that led to the kitchen, Smiley looked up and gave me his signature grin. “Haley! You’re back.” He came over and enveloped me in a hug. Smiley had become my unofficial second dad. Avery’s dad was the first. “I’m so glad you're safe, honey.”
“Me too. I see you hired the Raven girl.”
“She’s a good sort. Trying to change her life. She moved out and got a place…”
When he trailed off, I picked up on his thought. “I bet she moved into the trailer that came available.”
“Shit.” He ran a hand through his thinning hair. “No one had heard from you.”
I waved him off. “It’s fine. She probably needs it more than me.” Even if the trailer had been available, I wouldn’t have moved back. Zoe was happy in her new room and new school.
“I have your last check.”
“Yeah, sure.” With the check from Mitchell, I didn’t need the money from this job as much. When Smiley came back and offered it to me, I got an idea.
“So where will you be?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. But I’ll land on my feet. Thanks for everything you did for me.”
He hugged me again. “You were the best employee I had.”
Laughing, I said, “I bet you say that to all your girls.”
He grinned, and I had to wipe a tear from my eye. What was going on with me? Generally, I was better at keeping a hold of my emotions. When I walked up front, the Raven girl left the customer she’d been helping. The woman was the last customer in the place for now, but that would change soon.
“I’m Haley,” I said, holding out a hand to the Raven girl.
She shook it and said, “Amber.” She didn’t mention her last name, and neither did I.
When she looked reluctant to say more, I added, “I believe you moved into my old place.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re the missing woman.”
“Guilty,” I said, lifting my hands in surrender. “I’m found now.”
Suddenly, she appeared nervous. “Do you want your place back?”
Slowly, I shook my head, knowing what I was about to say was the absolute truth. “No. Not at all. It’s yours. And I may have some things I won’t need that I can give you.”