Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Frustrated, I move on to near-death experiences and get lost in vlogs and YouTube videos. Just when I’m ready to call it quits for the day, I find a vlog on the fourth search page. No one goes to the fourth search page unless they feel desperate.
Hello. My name is Desperate.
It’s a simple vlog about a woman’s near-death experience, not at all like mine. She struggled to deal with voices in her head. I don’t have voices, just visions. At the end of her vlog, she has a link: For More Help.
I click the link.
It takes me to a webpage that’s all black except for a tiny light in the middle of the screen and an email in the upper right corner. Clicking on the email link, I send a message:
Hello,
I came across your information while searching online for near-death experiences. I recently had an experience that has left me with visions that I don’t understand. Would we be able to chat sometime?
Regards,
Josephine Watts
“There’s my fiancée,” Colten says, loosening his tie as he rounds the corner to the living room.
“We’re not using those terms.” I shoot him a quick look before closing my browser and my computer.
“No?” He scratches his stubbly chin, cocking his head to the side.
“No.” I reach for my glass of water on the coffee table, gulping it down until I emerge out of breath.
“Girlfriend?”
My nose wrinkles while I shake my head, returning the glass to the coffee table. “Sounds a little immature.”
“Lover?”
“Not a word I’d want you using in public.”
“My woman?”
“Caveman.”
“Sex toy?”
I snort.
Colten smirks. “Bingo. Sex toy it is. I can’t wait to introduce my new sex toy to my friends. Do you, Colten Mosley, take Josephine Watts to be your sex toy for better or worse in sickness and in health until death do you part? Why yes … yes I do.”
I stand, grabbing his loosened tie and pulling him to me. “Last chance to get it right.”
His face explodes into amusement while he feathers his knuckles along my cheeks. “You’re my Artemis.”
He remembers.
My lips twitch, even if I want to act like I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“She was fiercely protective of those who were considered weak. Reclusive but passionately defensive. A champion of purity … the virgin kind. I have it on good authority that you are no longer a virgin, but I think the rest still applies. Oh … and we must not forget her lack of mercy and an overabundance of pride.”
“I’ve caved to your ridiculous need to be my husband, so clearly I’ve lost a little pride.”
“Ouch …” He stumbles back a step, but I don’t let go of his tie. “You wound me, Artemis.”
“Stop.” I giggle. “Artemis is not going to work. Let’s stick with Josie or Dr. Watts.”
“I knew you before your titties filled out a bra. And I know they didn’t fill out a bra because you showed them to me before you wore a bra. So I don’t think I can call you Dr. Watts and keep a straight face.”
“Do women still show you their tits for half a Twix? Or now that you’re all grown up, do you have to work a little harder for a sneak peek?”
“The question is … what on earth do your dating app pricks get for a six-course meal if you flashed me for half a Twix?”
“Why are they pricks?”
“Because you’re mine.”
I shorten my grip on his tie, forcing him a little closer to me. “I wasn’t yours when I dated them.”
His lips corkscrew, eyes narrowed. “Hmm … you sure about that?” He’s so damn playful. “Do you think it’s possible…” his head ducks, relieving the tension on his tie, coming inches from my lips “…that the reason I’m single and so are you is because I’ve always been yours and you’ve always been mine?”
I slowly shake my head. “What are you doing?”
His gaze sweeps over my face, the way someone takes in a breathtaking view. I feel it everywhere.
Lifting on to my toes, I rub my nose against his. “I already said yes. You don’t have to chase me anymore.”
“You deserve to be chased. Pursued. I fell in love with the girl I knew I could never contain. Let me chase you forever because I love that moment when you look back at me and grin. That moment when I know you love knowing that I always have your back.”
Jesus …
I think he broke my heart so easily seventeen years ago because I knew I would never meet another Colten Mosley. He’s my once-in-a-lifetime.
“Tell me about Tennessee. What are we doing in Tennessee? You threw that into the conversation this morning like asking me for my wallet while undressing.”
I release his tie and head to the kitchen to browse the fridge for dinner options.
“Have a seat. I’ll start something,” he says.