Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
A fond smile pulls at my lips and I hug her back, knowing just how much she needs it. “You’re acting as though you won’t have Addie here keeping you busy. With all your fundraisers and country club events, you’ll be the one who has to remember to check in with me.”
“You’re right,” she says, a soft chuckle in her tone. “I am a busy woman. My social life is much more interesting than yours. You know they’re considering me for the event coordinator position at the club? Seems I’ve got a knack for it.”
I nod, feigning surprise but knowing more than I let on. I may have been the one to subtly suggest it to Heather Fox, knowing her father is the president of the country club. “That’s amazing, Mom. No one throws a casino party quite like you do.”
“Too right,” she laughs. “Who would have known at my age, I’d be cooler than my kids?”
I scoff. “Bossing around a bunch of bored, money-hungry moms is hardly the definition of cool.”
“Oh, stop,” she says, finally releasing me from her crushing embrace. “You wouldn’t know cool if it hit you in the face.”
I roll my eyes and let out a shaky breath, thinking about everything Bri and I spoke about this afternoon, and knowing she was right. I won’t be able to move forward and make amends until I’m honest about everything that went down. I just hate that in the process of moving forward, I’m going to break my mother’s heart. She doesn’t deserve this, especially with all the stress she’s already been facing with Addie and her son possibly being a murderer, but I know at the end of the day, she’s still going to love me. And despite probably wanting to beat the crap out of me, she’ll figure out how to help me.
Leaning back against the counter, I glance up at Mom, the heaviness of what I have to tell her weighing down on my shoulders. “Mom, do you have—”
A soft knock sounds at the door and her gaze shoots up to mine. It’s after 10 p.m. Who the hell would be knocking on the door at this hour? Mom’s brows furrow. “Are you expecting someone?”
I shake my head, unease pulsing through me. “It’s probably just Hudson,” I lie. “He and Addie had a weird moment at school today. I’ll check the door. You stay here.”
Mom nods as I break away from the kitchen, making my way to the front door, but the closer I get, the more my hands shake. The only time someone knocks on the door this late at night is when someone is either desperate for help … or it’s the cops.
Reaching for the handle, my stomach twists. There would only be one reason the cops would be on my doorstep. Had Colby woken from his coma, I would have received a call to let me know I was off the hook, but if it warrants a visit late at night, that could only mean one thing. He’s dead, and that blood is on my hands.
Pulling the door open, I prepare for the inevitable arrest that’s about to go down, only to come face to face with something equally as horrifying.
Rachael Jacobs, Colby’s older sister.
“The fuck?” I grunt, standing in the open doorway, gaping at the biggest mistake of my life.
“Ummm,” she says nervously, glancing anywhere but at me as she unconsciously picks at her fingernails. “Can I come in?”
I narrow my eyes and try to figure out the best way to say fuck no, but Momma raised me right. If she’s here to tell me I killed her brother, the right thing to do would be to let her in, rather than having to break news like that on the doorstep. I’m not always a complete asshole.
I cautiously step out of the doorway and wave her into the foyer, but there’s no way in hell she’ll go any further than that. I don’t trust this girl one bit, especially considering she shares DNA with Colby Jacobs.
Rachael walks in, and I make a point to keep a good distance away as she takes in the larger-than-life foyer. I keep a hard stare trained on her, knowing what kind of effect it can have on people. “What are you doing here?” I demand, my tone suggesting I’m not in the mood to be fucked with.
Rachael’s stare flicks to mine and her eyes widen just a fraction before taking a hesitant step back. “You put my brother in a coma.”
“He raped my sister while she screamed for him to stop.”
She presses her lips into a hard line and glances away, not denying it despite the bullshit Channing fed to the judge. “I’m not here to fight with you.”
“Then why the fuck are you here?” I demand. “You’re not welcome in my home, especially the home where my sister sleeps.”