Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
“Felix, I’m most likely going to die. Look at it this way. If you knew that your wife’s heart was going to stop beating, would you rather it happen when she’s alone or when you’re right next to her with a defibrillator, oxygen, and medication to restart it regardless of the statistical chances of bringing her back?”
He frowns. “What happens if you don’t make it? Or what happens if I restart your heart, but you’re in a coma? What happens if—”
“Again, I’ll go over all of this with you.”
“This is too much.” He shakes his head.
“You owe me.”
“Not this.”
“Look around, Felix. The house. Your family. Your job. Hell, probably even those two dogs. You have this life because of me. And for the record, I was never planning on asking you for a single thing. But I’m in a dire situation, the way you were in a dire situation. I need you to step the fuck up and help me. I need you to take a little risk the way I took a risk covering your ass.”
He rests a hand on his hip, head bowed. “You are not a good person.”
“But I want to be,” I whisper. Again, I tear up. “I want to sleep and dream like a normal person. I want to smile because I’m happy not because I’m hiding the pain. I want a job. I want love. I want what you have. I want what I gave you.”
I hate this.
I am not this person.
Desperation squeezes every last ounce of humanity from my soul. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here. Maybe I should have just … ended everything for good.
“I have a storage unit with electricity.”
My gaze lifts to Felix’s. I was right. He was worth saving.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
“I don’t understand,” Colten whispers against my head. “Help me understand.”
“This might not be the best place for a reunion,” Felix says.
“Colten … I’ll uh … grab a cab home,” the pretty woman in a red dress says.
He doesn’t respond. He doesn’t move.
Pressed to his chest, I make eye contact with her. She offers a sad smile, touches his arm, giving it a tiny squeeze, and clicks her heels toward the exit.
Colten doesn’t stop her. Not a single word of acknowledgment.
He moved on. In his mind, I died, and he moved on. And now a pretty lady in a red dress is brokenhearted because she thinks I’m back from the dead? I can’t walk unassisted. I’m skin and bones.
Colten should let me go and follow the red dress woman. She’s beautiful and vibrant. She has life in her eyes. I am the echo of death. Alive, but just barely. And it feels like years since I’ve seen him. I’m still making sense of what I know and what I’ve been told.
“I don’t know who you are, but you can leave,” Colten says to Felix.
Oh, Colten …
With what little strength I can muster, I push against Colten’s chest, forcing him to lighten his grip. Taking a cautious step backward, I rest my hands on my walker. He’s so handsome in his suit. Tan from the summer’s sun, not pale like me. My heart hasn’t stopped galloping since my eyes landed on him. I can’t imagine a day when my heart can control itself around Colten Mosley. And I can’t imagine a day when seeing him with a beautiful woman doesn’t sting. Is it just not in the cards for us?
Colten uses one hand to wipe his face.
“I’m glad you’re good.” I push my way past him. I need conditioner and toothpaste. Felix said he’d get it for me, but I wanted out of the house. I wanted to do something on my own.
“Are you joking?” Colten asks, following me less than a step back. “I thought you were dead!”
“I was,” I murmur, choosing the sensitive toothpaste. My teeth have been terribly sensitive lately.
Damn … the woman in the red dress was so pretty. Such soft skin. So blond. So opposite of me.
My brain won’t shut off. Did he kiss her? Have they had sex? Does she know about me? How did he meet her? Is she like Tessa or nicer than Tessa? And why is my brain comparing red dress lady to high school slut?
“Josephine Eleanor Watts, you left me on our wedding day. I haven’t seen you in nearly six months. I spoke at your memorial service or ‘celebration of life.’ I’ve grieved you. Your family and friends have grieved you. Yet you’re shopping for toothpaste at a fucking CVS like it’s no big deal?” He turns toward Felix. “Who the hell are you, and why are you still here?”
“I’m uh … her ride. Felix. Dr. Trevino. She’s living with me. And uh … my wife. We’re helping her rehabilitate.”
“Rehabilitate from what? She looks emaciated. Whatever you’re doing, it’s not working.”