Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
There’s not just one person carrying a single bouquet of roses, but six men and women, each holding two large vases. “Where should we put these?” the older man in front of the group asks.
“I guess anywhere you can find a free space.” I step back out of his way and wave my hand out to encompass the room.
“Someone must really like you.” One of the girls smiles as she walks past me, heading into the living room, since the kitchen island and counters have already been covered. I want to tell her she’s wrong, but I keep my mouth shut, mumbling a quiet “thank you” as they start to leave.
Once they’re gone, I close the door then lean back against it, taking in the multitude of different-colored roses now littering every free surface in my apartment. A card attached around one of the vases on the counter catches my attention, so I walk toward it and slowly detach it from the ribbon holding it secure. The small white card fits in the palm of my hand and is light as a feather, but it still feels like it weighs hundreds of pounds as I read the rough writing scrawled across the surface.
You were mine.
You’ll be mine again. BA
I bite my lip and look around the room, unsure how to feel. Part of me is elated that Braxton didn’t forget me the minute he left; another part of me is holding on to the anger of his deception. Needing to clear my head and figuring some fresh air might do me some good, I grab my key pass and leave my apartment, heading to the elevator and taking it down to the first floor. When I reach the lobby, I wave at the doorman as he opens the door for me and look both ways when I reach the sidewalk before I take off on a jog.
I pull my hoodie up over my hair when it starts to drizzle and run down the block toward the park, enjoying the cool breeze and even the mist as it brushes against my skin. Ten minutes into my run, I notice a black car with dark-tinted windows on the street seems to be following me. I shove my hands into my hoodie pocket for my cell just in case then bite back a curse when I don’t find it and realize I left it next to my bed. The sidewalk is quiet; just a few people are out, so I follow my gut and turn left when I reach the end of the block, noting the car mirrors my move.
I pick up speed when I spot a drug store and dip inside, waiting at the door for the car to pass, but it doesn’t. It stops right out front. With my heart pounding, I figure it will take them time to turn around if I head back to my building, so I exit when the next person enters and run at full speed down the block and around the corner. I don’t even look to see if the car has turned around and I’m so focused on breathing and not tripping over my feet, I don’t have time to stop when someone steps into my path. I barrel into them at full speed, hearing them grunt as they wrap their arms around me to keep me from taking us both to the ground.
“I’m sorry, so sorry.” I place one hand against a hard chest and attempt to push away.
“Dakota.”
No, it can’t be.
I lift my head, coming face-to-face with Braxton.
“Are you okay?”
“W-What a… are you doing here?” I pant, trying to catch my breath.
“Why does it look like you’ve seen a ghost?” he asks, ignoring my question, and I look behind me then along the street to see if the car is there, but it’s nowhere in sight.
“I…” I lick my lips, shaking my head knowing I just freaked myself out for no reason. “I haven’t ran in a while,” I lie, and the air around us seems to fill with electricity as I look into his eyes. “Why are you here? I thought you were going out of town?”
“I am.” He glances toward the street, and I follow his gaze, noticing a silver SUV waiting near the curb with a large man standing outside near the driver door with his eyes on Braxton. “Did you get the flowers?” he asks, touching my cheek, and I focus on him then drop my eyes to his side and the suitcase there, putting two and two together.
“Do you live here?” I ask, taking a step away from him and watching his jaw twitch and his hand form a fist as it drops to his side.
“I do.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around my middle, wondering why he never mentioned living in the building when I told him it’s where I lived. Oh right—because he’s a big, fat liar.