Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“The place hasn’t been the same without you,” he says, glancing at me.
“That’s a cliché.”
“In this case, it’s true. I found a new assistant, but she’s—” He makes a face. “She’s too chipper. I’m probably going to fire her.”
“Sorry to hear it.” I look at the floor. I knew that’s all he missed. My freaking work ethic. Not me.
“The house hasn’t been the same, either. Although I’m sure you don’t want to hear it.”
“No, I really don’t. Why are we out here again?”
“I wanted to catch up.” He sighs and looks up at the moon. “How’s the diner job treating you?”
I open my mouth to answer, then pause. “How do you know I work at a diner?” I haven’t posted about it anywhere. Unless Allison told him, there should be no way for him to know.
“I hope the tips have been good. I know it’s tough, working those waitress jobs, if the tips aren’t good.”
“It’s been fine,” I say, wondering what the hell he’s talking about, and then it hits me. I sit up straight, staring. “You’ve been sending him, aren’t you?”
He doesn’t even deny it. “I just wanted to make sure you’re taken care of.”
“You asshole. All the other girls there think I’m fucking him.”
He smirks. “I can see why they’d think that.”
“Could you stop it? I don’t need your money. We’re even in my mind, okay? You don’t owe me anything.”
“I know I don’t, but I like taking care of you. I want to take care of you, even if you’re not interested in letting me.”
I glare at him, taking slow breaths to keep myself calm. “You’re the truck too, aren’t you? I thought I was going insane with that stupid thing.”
“I’ve been following you, yes.”
“You could at least pretend like you’re not being a total freak.”
“This is who I am, you know that.” He looks at me, smiling softly. It’s strange, how at peace he seems. “Honestly, ever since I gave in and began keeping tabs on you, I’ve been a lot happier. It was hell, not knowing how you were doing.”
“Well, stop it.” I tug at my necklace. What’s he doing right now? What the hell does this mean, he wants to follow me around? “I don’t need a stalker.”
“Stalker, husband, same thing.”
“Uh, no, definitely not the same.”
He waves that off. “Come back home and I won’t have to follow you around anymore.”
“Conlan—”
“No, it’s okay, you don’t have to turn me down. I just wanted to say it out loud so you knew exactly where I stood. I want you to come home. We’re still married.”
“We are,” I say, looking at the pool. “But for how long?”
“As long as you don’t press for a divorce, we’ll stay married.”
I clench my jaw. A burst of anger hits me again. “Why?” I ask, but before he can answer, I press on. “Why are you playing this game? You reel me in, you get me hooked on you, and then you prove to me that I’ve only ever been an afterthought. I get it, you were trying to protect me, but that’s the problem. You don’t know the difference between having a mature relationship and being the boss. That’s just who you are, Conlan, but I can’t let myself fall for a man that’s going to break my heart eventually. I just can’t handle another loss like that.”
I lean forward, closing my eyes. I can see my father in his bed, wasting away. I was broken after he died, and I won’t let myself be like that again. I can’t do it.
“I won’t break your heart,” he says simply. And it sounds like he means it, but I’ve known Conlan for a long time now, and I know he can’t help himself. It never lasts, not with him.
“Can’t we just agree never to find out? It felt good for a while, but it won’t ever work. We’re just too different.”
“I don’t want to be anything else. You aren’t getting rid of me.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” I stand, shaking my head. “We can’t do this. I can’t let myself do this.”
“Come home to me,” he says, still watching, still sitting. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I say, choking out the words. “But that’s the problem.”
“Isabel.” He slowly stands. I back away, afraid of what he’s about to say—
And slip. For a second, I’m teetering on the edge of the pool, inches away from falling in. I can almost feel the water already, seeping into my dress—
Until he’s there, grabbing me by the arm and the waist, and pulling me back. He topples and falls against the chairs, and I land on top of him in a sprawl, breathing hard. He’s gripping me against his body, holding me tight, and I’m staring into his eyes, inches away from his mouth.