Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“We know you’re in there, so you might as well open the door, Riley,” Kayla declares. I’ve heard her being friendly, giving her brothers shit, and being polite. This version of Kayla is none of those. She sounds like a cold, hard bitch, and I wonder if this is the professional version of her. Cameron told me she’s a beast in the boardroom and takes special delight in mercilessly correcting people when they underestimate her.
I’ve never underestimated her. I thought she was amazing. I wanted us to be friends and hoped we were on our way to developing that type of connection.
Apparently not, because I have no doubt she’s here to have me sign an NDA and severance package contract, something I’ve done before for employers. She’s here to be Cameron’s iron fist.
I might as well get this over with, so I stiffen my spine and open the door. “How did you know where I was?”
It’s a valid question. I’ve been here less than twelve hours and obviously had no plan to come here, picking the first decent hotel I saw when I felt the tsunami-size crush of tears coming, but I think what I really mean is why are they here and not circling around Cameron.
Janey looks at me like I asked her how they knew the sky is blue because the answer is obvious. “Cole.”
The tears start again, and I’m instantly a blubbering disaster. “Sorry, I’m a mess,” I tell them. Well, mostly Janey because she’s the one who immediately wraps her arms around me.
“Be a mess. It’s fine,” she whispers soothingly, not caring that I’m getting snot on her fuzzy sweatshirt when it likely has Emmett’s breakfast on it somewhere too.
“We’re all a mess, the world is a mess, the universe is a mess. I think messy might be the proper order of things,” Kayla agrees, waving a hand in cynical exasperation as she struts right in. Even at this early hour, she looks impeccable in heels, tailored jeans, a cashmere turtleneck, and a wool overcoat, with perfectly curled hair and fresh makeup. I think this is her version of ‘casual’. Though, considering it’s a weekday, I’m surprised she’s not dressed for work. I’m surprised she’s not at work and is here, which again reminds me that she probably has some paperwork for me to sign.
Miranda follows her, and I feel her concern when she lays a warm palm on my back. “Oh, honey.”
I glance at Kayla. “I think your brother would disagree with you on principle.”
She rolls her eyes and huffs, “My brother is a fucking idiot.”
I blink, not expecting that.
Miranda tuts, at least slightly. “Now, Kayla, don’t speak poorly of your brother like that. Let me do it. My son is an idiot, Riley. I’m sorry. I did the best I could, but there are things broken in him that I had nothing to do with.”
“What?” I look from one to the next, more confused now than I was before.
“Can we sit down and talk?” Miranda asks gently. I think I nod, or maybe I just don’t say no, because she scoots the pile of clothes on the bed out of her way and sits down, crossing her legs like she’s sitting on a throne, not the ruins of my life.
Kayla drops her coat on the desk and takes the cheap wooden chair, and Janey guides me to the other bed. I sit, and she plops down right beside me. It feels like this conversation is about to suck really badly. But if I’m ever going to feel anything other than hurt again, I need to process this, and Janey’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a best friend so I appreciate her presence.
“What happened last night? I heard Cameron’s version last night when he came over to pick up Grace, but—”
I interrupt to ask, “Are they okay?”
She nods, but her eyes say she doesn’t really think so. “They’re at home today. Cameron didn’t want Grace to go to school. I think he needs her close.”
My eyes fall to my lap. It makes sense that he’d want to wrap Grace up in bubble wrap and also keep her in the bubble of his arms too, but it only makes me feel worse.
Guiltier. Because I brought this to their door. It’s my fault.
“Can you tell us what happened?” Janey asks again, and Miranda nods in agreement. They have a plan, that much is obvious, but rather than feel manipulated by it, I’m glad. At least someone knows what’s going on because I sure as shit don’t.
“You know the part with Austin?” I clarify. Janey was there with the police, so she heard it all, probably several times between them talking to me, Grace, Cameron, and Cole. And I assume she’s shared that with Miranda and Kayla. They all nod, agreeing. “After that, Cameron asked what had happened and I told him about Austin showing up sometimes. He asks for money and tries to manipulate me, but never anything dangerous. Until yesterday.”