Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
“I have to go.”
She shakes her head. “How long will you be gone? Are you coming back?”
Fuck, she’s a temptation I can’t resist. It’s probably good that I’m leaving because I need to put some distance between us. “I’m not sure. A week or two.”
She nods but asks again, “And then you’re coming back to Whiskey Run?”
Fuck, I should run as far and as fast as I can. How am I going to live in the same town with her and not be with her? A bomb didn’t kill me, but this likely will. “Yeah, I’m coming back to Whiskey Run.”
She’s just staring at me, and I can see in her face that she has a lot she wants to say. I wasn’t lying. I’d feel better if she just cussed me out and told me to leave her alone, but that’s not who Chloe is. She has such a good heart and wouldn’t think of kicking someone in the gut.
“Are you seeing that guy?” I point down the street at her gym.
Her mouth drops, and her eyes widen. “Who?”
I cross my arms over my chest. It’s none of my business if she’s seeing someone else—that’s what I’m telling myself anyway—but of course I want to know. “The guy at the gym.”
She looks almost pissed as she stands up, cocks her hip out, and crosses her arms over her chest. “Really? Is that what you think of me?”
I hold my hands up, but she doesn’t stop. She moves her hands to her hips. “You really think I’d be dating someone else and fucking you?” She rolls her eyes. “Not that it’s any of your business, but that was the first date with Ronnie, and I told him that night I couldn’t see him anymore.”
I practically growl out my response. “Really? Well, it doesn’t look like he’s taking no for an answer. Do you want me to take care of it?”
She laughs. “Take care of it? You sound like you’re in the mafia or something. Should I worry about Ronnie disappearing in the middle of the night or finding him buried out at the lake at the edge of town?”
I don’t laugh. If anything, I look at her with even more intensity. “If he doesn’t take no for an answer, then yeah, that’s a possibility.”
She laughs again, and when I don't even crack a smile, she stops and raises her eyebrows. “Elias! That’s not funny. I can handle Ronnie.”
I take a step toward her. “You shouldn’t have to handle Ronnie. If he doesn’t leave you alone, I’ll handle it.”
I’m taking in deep breaths, and I try to control my anger as she walks to me and puts her hand on my chest. “Elias. I’m okay. He’s not bothering me.”
Her words don’t make me feel any better. “If he does, you’ll tell me?”
She’s shaking her head. “Elias—”
But I cut her off. “Promise me. If he bothers you, you’ll tell me.”
She takes a deep breath, searching my face. I can’t blame her for the look she’s giving me. One minute I’m telling her I’m leaving and can’t be with her, and the next I’m acting like a jealous boyfriend. I know I sound insane, but this is important to me. I won’t ever stand by while someone bothers her. “Promise me, Chloe.”
She blows out a breath in defeat. “I promise.”
I uncross my arms and run my hand through my hair. “I need to go.”
I barely get the words out before Chloe hurls herself at me. Her arms go around my waist, and she holds me tight. I forget to breathe, and when I feel as if I’m going to pass out, I suck in a breath as if I’ve been drowning. “Chloe—” I start.
She shakes her head against my chest. “I know, Elias. I know you’re leaving, I know you think you don’t deserve this and are dealing with demons, but please let me hug you.” She sniffles. “I need this.”
I can’t hold back any longer. I wrap my arms around her and hold her flush against my body. The feeling of her pressed against me feels perfect. Fuck, it feels like home. I give myself a minute and rub my hands up and down her back, trying to soothe her. The very last thing I want to do is leave her, but I know I need to. She shouldn’t depend on me because I’m not a good bet. But I can’t let her go.
I shouldn’t give her hope, but I rest my cheek on the top of her head and find myself murmuring, “A week. I’ll be gone a week.”
She holds me tighter. “And you’ll be okay? You’ll come back to me… I mean Whiskey Run?”
I turn my head and kiss the top of her head and then breathe her in. “Yes, honey. I’ll come back.”