Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
I pause when I reach her bedroom door, listening for any sign that she’s still awake on the other side. I hear nothing, so I knock softly. No answer. I press the door handle down. The creak of the door opening jars the silence. My eyes flicker to the bed, where I can make out Liz’s figure even in the dark. It’s one that I’ll never get tired of seeing; I know that already. I’ve never felt anything close to what I feel for her for anyone else.
Taking a deep breath and then growing silent, I listen to her breathing, nice and even. She’s already asleep, and as much as I want to wake her up and talk to her, the rest is good for her with all the stress.
I’ll have to talk to her in the morning.
With that, I close the door, leaving her be. Part of me wants to crawl into bed with her, pulling her to me and holding her all night long. Honestly, there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to sleep like this.
CHAPTER 21
Liz
I wake up to an empty bed and an empty soul.
Rolling over, I try to pretend like I didn’t just agree to be married off to some man I don’t even know. I can’t comprehend what’s happening. I can’t believe the fate of the man I love relies on me marrying someone I don’t know or care about. The thought of being in someone else’s arms makes my stomach churn.
Ugh.
I bury my face in the pillow, swallowing the bile that shoots up the back of my throat. I need to get up and get dressed. I know that my dad will be coming this morning, and I’m sure I’ll be finding out even more about the fate that I’ve been handed.
“Liz,” Troy’s voice rouses me, and I flip over onto my back, my eyes meeting his steely gray gaze. “We need to talk before your father gets here.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I say flatly, my voice thick with sleep. “Nothing is going to change my mind, Troy. I’m going to do what it takes to save you.”
He sighs heavily, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “That’s a very noble choice, but it’s not what I want for you or me. I don’t want you to marry Vitali.”
My eyes flicker to his fists, clenched tightly at his sides. “I don’t like the idea of marrying him, either, but I don’t want to see your family struggle.”
“I don’t have any family,” Troys says, sounding strained. “I don’t want you to do this. You need to know that you don’t have to. I will tell your father, and I’ll also take care of the repercussions.”
I hold his gaze for a moment longer. “I don’t want my dad’s anger aimed at you. I don’t want to ruin your friendship, either.”
“We can work through it,” Troy reasons, reaching for my hand. “I just want you to know I’m going to talk to him about it.”
I bite down on my lower lip, my heart jumping in my chest. I don’t like the idea of confronting my dad about our relationship, but I don’t get the chance to voice my fears before he stands and heads for the door.
“He’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” He smiles halfheartedly before opening the door and slipping out, leaving me alone.
I try to run the scenarios through my brain as I get up and prepare for the day. I don’t think my dad would kill Troy. I might be off on that, but he is his best friend. However, the more I spin the idea of being with Troy in my head, the more questions I have.
What happens to my dad and Troy if I don’t agree to this marriage? Will Dad suffer, too?
After all, no matter how much I want to be with Troy, it doesn’t change the big picture. The marriage is about a lot more than just me, and I don’t want to be the reason everything explodes.
I pull on a pair of dark wash jeans and throw on a sweater. The last thing I want is for Troy to start talking to my dad without me. I want to feel at least like I have some say in the matter. I swing the bedroom door open and take off for the stairs, apprehension thrumming through me.
“Hey,” Troy says as soon as I enter the kitchen.
I glance around, noting Gerard’s absence. My eyes rake over Troy, really taking him in. He looks just as handsome as ever in black slacks and a dress shirt but also looks exhausted now that I’m more awake to study him.
“How did you sleep?” I ask as he hands me a mug of coffee.
“I didn’t,” he grimaces. However, then he smiles, tugging me by my elbow toward him. I shut my eyes and inhale deeply as his cologne fills my nostrils. He leans over and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m sorry I didn’t join you last night. I didn’t want to keep you up.”