Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
I’m about to swoop in and remove her from her feet, when she stops abruptly, causing my front to collide with her back, knocking her forward a few steps. I catch her elbow and curse her. ‘For fuck’s sake, Ava.’
She pays no attention to my irritation, her focus remaining forward. ‘Matt?’ she says.
My neck cracks with the speed I lift my head, and my hand automatically moves from Ava’s elbow to her waist. I also step forward and close the mere inch of space between her back and my front. Anger races to the surface. It’s made worse by the fact that she recognises the wanker she was with before she met me. It’s a fucking kick in the teeth. A baseball bat to my gut. And it only fans the flames of my anger.
Time hasn’t been kind to Ava’s ex-boyfriend. Not kind at all, though I can tell by the way he’s drinking in my wife that he thinks otherwise where she’s concerned. Fucking hell, hold me back.
‘Ava?’ He moves forward, oblivious to me looming beyond. I’m head and shoulders above Ava; you can’t fucking miss me unless something more pleasurable is stealing all of your attention, and my wife, especially in that ridiculously short red thing, is definitely a more pleasurable sight than me. My face is twitching, caught between snarling, growling and glaring. ‘Wow, you look amazing.’
She shifts before me. Is she trying to break away from me? Or is she nervous? I don’t know, and I like the thought of neither, so I lock my hand tighter on her waist. She’s going nowhere. But Matt is if he doesn’t fuck off. Like into space when I launch him there with my fist.
‘Thanks, Matt.’ Ava looks back at me, though I can’t tell if her look is wary or warning. My eyes are preoccupied burning holes through her arse-wipe ex. Just hearing her say his name causes all kinds of fury within me.
‘I read in the paper that you were involved in an accident. Sounded pretty bad.’ Matt keeps his focus on Ava. ‘Though I have to say, you’re looking very well.’
‘I’m getting there. You’re looking good yourself. How have you been?’
Seriously? I’m expected to stand here like a spare part while my wife and her ex-boyfriend have a fond reunion? Not happening. Over my dead fucking body. Or maybe it’ll be over Matt’s because, I swear, I will fucking kill him.
‘We’re leaving.’ I tug Ava on, keeping my deadly stare trained on Matt as I escort her away. He finally looks at me, and I will him to have a little think about what happened the last time he came sniffing around my wife.
‘That was rude, Jesse,’ Ava argues pointlessly as I walk us to the car.
I stop her and bend, bringing myself to her eye level. ‘You don’t remember what he did to you, but I do.’
Instant bitterness travels in waves across her face, and I fear it’s not bitterness towards her ex, but towards me. ‘What did he do?’ she asks, all cocky.
‘He cheated on you. You lived with him, Ava, and you moved out when you found out he’d cheated on you. He’s an arsehole.’ I see surprise on her face, and definitely hurt. Over him?
‘So he cheated on me, you cheated on me.’ She laughs wickedly. ‘What the fucking hell is wrong with me? And since I’m supposed to love you madly, your transgressions hurt more! So the only arsehole I see right now is you, Jesse. Just you! And I fucking hate you!’ I can tell she regrets the words almost immediately by the quick press of her lips together, plus her small step back away from me.
But I don’t think she will ever appreciate how much it really does hurt. I think I’d rather take another knife to my stomach. She hates me?
‘I’m putting your cruelty down to too much alcohol. Get in the car. Now.’ I sound possessed, and I don’t give a fucking shit.
Without another word, she slides into the passenger seat and buckles up, not taking her wary eyes from me as I slam her door and stalk around the front of the car. Throwing myself in with force, I start the engine and screech off recklessly, fighting to cool my burning rage. It’s bad enough she recognised him – bad enough that the last man she remembers in her life was that scumbag. But her words?
I look down at my white knuckles gripping the steering wheel, the strength of my hold doing nothing to stop my shakes. I’m fucking livid. Her hateful claim has put me in psycho territory. It’s been years since my temper has reached these heights. Years since I flew off the handle and went on a rampage of destruction. I feel like every shitty thing is coming to a head. I’m at boiling point.