Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
I lift my head, ready to tell Elise to get her butt out of my room with that mess, only to find Jess lying beside me with her mouth hanging open, looking like a blonde Princess Anna from Frozen, bed hair, drool, and all.
It’s her phone lying beside her that’s making all the noise. It buzzes with another text as I look at her, trying not to laugh. The poor thing was so stressed out.
She probably needs this sleep. I look at her phone and see she has several missed calls and text messages. Her phone is locked, but I can see the last panicked text from Daddy, pleading with her to answer him.
I look to Jess, then back to her phone. I don’t really want to wake her, but I know her daddy has to be freaking out. Her phone buzzes and lights up again, bringing the time to my attention.
I grumble to myself and get up to grab my phone. Nanna made it her business to program Trevor’s number into my phone. I should wake this girl and make her call her father, but I don’t have it in me.
Something more was bothering her last night. More than she was willing to tell me. My gut is telling me to allow her to rest.
I move out of the bedroom and press call as I pull up Trev’s number. My heart is pounding as the line rings. I close my eyes and force myself not to hang up.
“Hello,” he answers with worry in his voice.
“Um, Trevor. I mean, Mr. Monroe.”
“Lynn?”
“Yes.”
“It’s so good to hear your voice, but I’m kind of in the middle of a crisis. I can’t find my daughter.”
“That’s why I’m calling. I couldn’t unlock her phone to reply, so I had to call you from my phone. She’s asleep.”
“Darlin’, I’ve been up all night and worried out of my mind. Can you slow down and repeat that? How is Jess with you?”
“She didn’t tell you?” I smile to myself.
She didn’t tell anyone I’m here, not even her daddy. That just won her a ton of points with me. I like my little friend.
“Tell me what, darlin’?”
“I’m staying at the hotel she works for. She’s known since the night I checked in. She was working the reception desk.”
“That’s why I couldn’t find you. I never thought you would be staying in a hotel.”
“Why would you need to find me?”
He sighs heavily. “I want to talk to you. We need to talk, but I … I didn’t think it would happen like this.”
“I just wanted you to know Jess is here, and she’s safe. She’s tired, and I don’t want to wake her. I’ll make sure she gets home later. Trev?”
“Yeah, darlin’?”
“She’s a good kid. You did real good. Paige is a little sweetheart as well. I’m happy for you,” I choke out and hang up.
I stumble for the couch and flop down on it, placing my head in my hands. Hearing his voice was too much. My heart feels like it’s breaking all over again.
Trevor
I stare down at the phone in my hand. She sounds good, she sounds real good. Now that I’m not losing my mind wondering where my daughter is, it settles in that Lynn has been right here under my nose this entire time.
“How the fuck did I get here?” I bellow into the truck cabin as I stare out of the windshield.
I loved that woman more than anything. It was supposed to be her in my life, lying next to me at night. Raising our children in a happy home.
There’s a part of me that wants to run into that hotel and demand the room number so I can get to my woman. Then there’s the part of me that knows it ain’t right. This isn’t the time.
I start the truck and speed off. If I don’t, nothing will be able to stop me from getting to Lynn. My bones ache for that woman.
Her voice has ignited something inside me—a fire that only burns for her. It’s been lying dormant until now as the sound of her sweet voice reached into my cold, frozen heart. My eyes burn with unshed tears as I think of all the years I’ve missed without her. I feel robbed.
I run a light and horns blare at me, bringing me back to my senses. The last thing I need is another accident to come between us. I turn into a strip mall and pull into a spot.
I shove a hand into my hair and tug at the roots. Now that I know where to find her, it’s like I can’t breathe. I’m losing control.
Trying to clear my thoughts, I grab the steering wheel and hold on tight. It’s all I can do not to break down sobbing. If my divorce were final, I’d be standing before the woman I love laying my shit bare.