Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Probably shouldn’t have called his wife a whore,” Lucas says, smiling, and finally reaches for Brian’s hands, holding them down as I pull a little tighter. “He’s a real cunt when mad, and now I have to deal with him. Thanks, Brian,” Lucas adds with an eye roll. “You can die now.”
Keir pulls down a dark alley as I feel Brian’s struggle weaken, and when we get to a stop, I pull his lifeless body from the car and throw him in the river.
Where he belongs.
Only I can call my wife a whore.
My little whore, to be precise.
THIRTY-TWO
ADORA
Adora
* * *
It’s been a week since Becca passed away, and her ashes sit in our house in a beautiful vase. Her parents didn’t want them. I’m not sure what to do with them or where to put them, but I’m sure that will come with time.
Joey has been… nothing short of amazing. He’s working a lot. But he always makes time to come check in on me. It took me days to go through all the pages Becca left for me because tears would clog my eyes, and I couldn’t go further. But today I didn’t wake up and start crying, so I guess that is progress.
I’m used to not waking up with Joey now. I took me a while, but finally, I know he will be all right and he always comes home. In the morning, he heads for work before I get up and kisses me every morning before he leaves. I feel it on my cheek as he lingers, and I promptly go back to sleep.
Walking down the stairs, I hear soft music. It’s Sunday and, even though he usually works all the time, he told me he was going to have the day off to spend some time with me.
His voice echoes through the downstairs area as he sings. He has a lovely voice, one I could listen to for days. I follow the sound and stop just inside the door. He looks up from his spot on the floor and studies me for a reaction—I’ve had so many emotional reactions this week I am not surprised he needs to check to make sure I am okay. He brought me dessert home one night, and I put it straight in the sink and walked off. Another night he came home, and I ran into his arms and couldn’t seem to let go. So he carried me awkwardly up the stairs to our bed and laid me on his chest, and that’s how I fell asleep.
Ups and downs.
But I’m ready for the normal now.
If that’s even possible.
Yesterday he sent Troy to stay with me all day, and that helped more than I care to admit. Sometimes all a girl needs is her best friend. They just get you, help you.
“You built me this?” I ask in awe. I told him I wanted to change it, and he completely changed it, and now it’s covered in books. “Where did the books come from?”
“I bought them all.”
I’m too stunned to speak. He remembered from when I first came to his home that I wanted to change the bookshelf area and make it more… mine. He did everything I said. It’s full of romance, fantasy, and paranormal books—every single one of them are my favorites, but he also has an all-time favorite area.
Stepping up to them, I run my hand along every spine.
“How did you have the time?” I ask as he sorts through the bottom shelf.
“I painted it when you fell asleep, and I’ve been up for a few hours adding the books,” he says simply. I look down at him, shaking my head at how incredibly thoughtful and sweet this whole thing is and how he’s acting like it’s no big deal.
It is a big deal.
It’s a major act of kindness, and I will never forget how he caters to my wishes.
“My badass husband is sitting on the floor, holding romance books in his hands instead of a gun to make me happy?” I offer him a smile that’s quickly taking over my face.
He gives me an eye roll in return. “Would it be more macho if I went out on the street, shot someone, and came back with blood on my hands? A man’s gotta do what a man’s got to do.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I mean if that’s what floats your boat.” He reaches for me and pulls me down to him, my ass landing on his lap. He pushes my hair back behind my ear and kisses me tenderly on my neck. “Thank you,” I tell him, feeling myself melting into his hold.
“What for?”
“Everything.”
“It’s what a husband and wife do. We don’t keep secrets and we help each other when we need to.”
“No secrets,” I repeat, nodding my head.