Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“All right. I’ll give you twenty-four hours. If you haven’t told him by then, I will.”
I wrap my arms around my waist as Mike walks away, leaving me in the middle of the floor.
My heart pounds, and my palms sweat.
I knew this day would come, but I’m not prepared for it to be here so soon.
Everything is about to change, and I’m petrified.
I’m going to lose Aiden again, and my heart can’t handle that.
Not now. Not when I know who he’s become.
A man so much better than I could’ve ever imagined.
I’m falling in love with him and that’s the most heartbreaking of all.
30
CASSIDY
The night crawls by as Aiden rubs elbows with the city elite. I’ve been introduced to far too many people I’ll never remember. We’ve eaten, drank, danced, and now we’re back to schmoozing. And every moment was brutal.
To pretend everything is all right when I’m dying inside is the hardest of all the lies. I’ve been silently freaking out, trying to determine the best way to break the news about who I am to him. Mike made it very clear. I have twenty-four hours to come clean, or he’ll tell Aiden himself.
I can’t allow that to happen.
I’ve watched Aiden so closely tonight, soaking in every last memory that I can. It’s likely that when he learns the truth, he’ll want nothing to do with me. All this time we’ve spent together will be like the past, discarded and forgotten, while he moves forward with his dreams.
You’d think it would be hard to keep the resentment at bay, but it’s not. I’ve seen Aiden’s struggles. I’ve witnessed how hard he’s had to work to get where he is. And if what he said earlier is half as bad as I suspect, he’s still running away from his past.
“He’s very good at hiding how uncomfortable he is…isn’t he?”
I turn over my shoulder to see Billy, eyes trained in on Aiden like a snake in the grass, except he’s not even trying to stay hidden.
Gone is the repentant act he’d been playing as of late. In its place is something devious. Calculated.
“What the fuck are you up to, Billy?”
He turns his head, looking down at me with a wicked half-smile. “You’ll see. Everyone will.”
My blood freezes at his words.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but you need to stay the hell away from me and Aiden.”
“Aw…are you afraid of little ol’ me?” He barks out a humorless laugh. “I’m harmless if you stay out of my way.”
“Get away from me right now. I don’t want anything to do with your sick and twisted mind games.”
The most sinister smirk spreads across his face. “You have no idea who Aiden Slate is. But I do. I know far too well, and one of these days…very soon…he’s gonna fall from that ivory tower he thinks protects him.”
“And how would that be?” I take a step into his space, the anger fueling my actions. “Let me guess. You’re single-handedly going to ensure it happens.”
“I don’t think I need to. There are plenty of players in the game. Aren’t there…what’s your name again?”
The blood drains from my face. The way he said that, and his facial expression have me teetering on the edge.
Does he know who I am?
“What’s going on?” I hear Aiden’s familiar voice, but my eyes remain fixed on Billy’s, trying to determine what his words mean. Is he only messing with me? Or does he know my secrets too? When I don’t answer he says my name, but it’s Aiden’s hard tone that has me peeking over my shoulder. But Aiden isn’t looking at me. His glare is fixed on Billy.
“Nothing,” Billy answers before I can say anything. His nonchalant tone takes me off guard. You’d think Aiden hadn’t just used his I’m going to kill you, tone. “I was just complimenting her on this dress. She looks rather beautiful.” He turns to Aiden. “Don’t you think, Aiden?”
Aiden takes a threatening step forward. “I think you should refrain from making comments about my girl.”
Billy chuckles darkly. “Have a good night.”
He turns around and walks off like there wasn’t about to be a throw-down in the middle of a black-tie event.
“What is it with that asshole?” I say under my breath.
“He’s a spoilsport. Pissed off that he’s not as good as he thinks he is.”
I lift an eyebrow. “That he is.”
Aiden blows out a harsh breath, rubbing at his chest. “I don’t give a fuck about anything he says or does, but I don’t want him anywhere near you.”
“That makes two of us,” I say, inhaling deeply. “I just don’t understand him. You know, he did apologize to me for being an ass at one point, but he just continues to be an ass.”
Aiden bobs his head. “I don’t think he knows any different. From what I understand, he comes from a rich family who was able to buy his way to the top of whatever he wanted. But it isn’t working that way in the NHL. Coach sees he’s a subpar athlete that made the team because Billy’s daddy plays golf with the team’s owner.”