Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“You would like to believe that, wouldn’t you? That I was lying.”
“Yes.”
“Pity, really. I was mad at you. Found his address and sent it to him,” she says simply. “He didn’t even know it was me.”
“I’m sorry you have so much hate in you. I’m sorry that you think the world owes you something.” I shake my head.
I can’t fix her.
I can’t keep on helping her and trying and trying.
It doesn’t get me anywhere.
“Becca, that was her name, right? The one you were with before Joey?” she continues as I start walking ahead, not wanting to speak to her anymore. If I do, I know I’ll say something I will regret. And unlike her, I care. “Here you were, living your best life while I was trapped in a boarding school.”
I spin around to face her, getting right in her face. “That was a great school. I picked that school for the privacy and freedom you got with it. There was not a better school,” I argue.
She doesn’t even react. “Yeah, it was great. But what would have been better was having someone who loved me. Papa loved me.”
I throw my hands up in the air, withholding the scream that wants to tear from my throat. She doesn’t get it.
“Okay, let’s make me the villain. You’re good at that. Aren’t you? Just like he was. Never taking accountability. It was his downfall in the end.” I smile at her, the same smile she’s been showcasing.
“Do you plan to kill me too?” she asks, glaring as she looks at me.
“Push me, and I very well might.”
“If she won’t, I will.” Joey’s voice echoes from behind me.
Abigail and I turn to find him there with Merci. She was helping me look after the bookstore before it was burned down.
“You two deserve each other. You know that, right?” Abigail remarks, disgusted.
“This your sister?” Merci asks. I nod, and Merci just smirks and looks her up and down. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Abigail snarks, turning her back to her and looking at me one last time. “I need money, a lot of it.”
Merci laughs at her words.
Joey just stands there.
“I can’t,” I tell her. And right now, I don’t feel guilty about it. “I owe someone.”
“You don’t. And let’s be real, you have ways of getting it. We all know your boy thing over here…” she points her thumb to Joey, “… will give it to you.” Then she’s huffing a laugh and stalking off without another word.
“I could kill her,” Joey offers.
“No,” I say immediately.
“So, new bookstore?” Merci muses, clapping her hands excitedly. “Joey told me last night at Chanel’s. I took his credit card and ordered some of what you had in stock before for rush delivery, and it should be coming today.” She smiles proudly. “And Joey said he will cover my wages until the shop’s up and running.”
“He what?” I ask her, shaking my head as I try to process what she’s just said. “So, first, we need to find bookcases, tables, well… everything.”
Joey holds his credit card out to me, but I make no move to take it.
“I already owe you money,” I remind him and push his hand away. I really need to work that out soon. It’s been a while since I’ve dipped into that account of my father’s money. I try never to use it since I was hoping one day to give it to Jerome for his twenty-first birthday. To me, it's blood money.
“Take the card, Adora. It’s an investment,” he says, still holding it toward me again. “I know you’ll be good for it. Lucas shared sales on the last one.” Merci takes the card from his outstretched hand when I still can’t get myself to.
“Don’t worry, boss. If she won’t, I will.” She smiles and links her arm through mine. “How long until you have to be back to get your boy?” she asks.
I tell her as we walk off.
Joey’s already left without a goodbye.
I’m knocking on his door, and there is no answer. Merci and I shopped all day, then collected Jerome and shopped some more. We got everything we needed, and I wanted to personally hand his card back. It’s late. Jerome is asleep at Bianca’s place, and I’m standing in front of his apartment, knocking with no answer. I try to call him, but he doesn’t pick up.
My phone rings as I hang up from trying Joey.
It’s Merci.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Forgot to say, we have to work out an opening day and promote it as much as possible.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Where are you? It doesn’t sound like you’re in bed like you should be,” she jokes.
“I’m at Joey’s, but he isn’t here. I was going to give back his card.” I hear Merci yelling, and when she comes back, she huffs.
“Chanel says Joey was with Lucas. Best bet would be Lucas’ club.”