Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“That’s not going to happen,” he says calmly as he loosens his grip. “You’re going to get up and follow me out back.”
I shake my head. Why can’t I scream? I look around, wide-eyed, trying to catch anyone’s attention, but they’re all on their phones and computers. Fuck.
“If you try anything stupid, I’ll wait outside of the Duke building or the apartment until your little boyfriend leaves,” he says, eyes narrowed. “Is that what you want?”
My lip trembles. I shake my head and look outside, breathing easier when I see Ronnie. He doesn’t come inside, though. He’s on the phone, pacing up and down in front of the doors. Since my voice won’t work, I wave my left hand wildly in the air, trying to call his attention. Suddenly, Jameson lets go of my hand, stands up with his glare set on me, and walks toward the back. I count to five, get up, and run to the front door. I’m sure the people quietly drinking their coffees think I’m insane right now, but I don’t stop running until I exit and hit Ronnie’s muscular back. He turns around with a frown and hangs up the phone when he sees me.
“What’s going on?”
I point at the coffee shop. I’m shaking hard, and I can’t speak. Ronnie springs into action and goes inside. I follow him. I can’t stay on the sidewalk by myself right now. We look around, but Jameson is gone. Just like that. I almost think I may have imagined him, but when I get inside the SUV, the scent of cigarettes on my hand makes me gag, and I know it was real.
CHAPTER 50
LYLA
Lachlan books a two-night stay at a swanky hotel in Fairview that overlooks the ocean and is just a ten-minute drive from the university. We take two separate SUVs — one for us and one for the security coming along — to a private airport where Lach’s dad’s jet is waiting for us. I’m too nervous to comment on carbon emissions, even though it is on the tip of my tongue. It wouldn’t matter anyway. This is the fastest way to get there and the quickest way to leave. He hasn’t left my side since I told him what happened. I almost didn’t, since I didn’t want to worry him, but I couldn’t keep it from him. I haven’t told Marissa, and I’m not going to tell Prescott. When this is over, I will, but I don’t want more people to worry about me.
Thankfully, talking about the wedding lightened the mood, and he hasn't brought up the coffee shop again. His mom is helping me plan an intimate wedding, so I'm getting the romantic wedding I wanted. We have an idea for a venue to host us, and everything should run smoothly since it'll be a daytime wedding. At least, that's what Valerie said.
On our way to the private airport, I pull out my phone and go to Settings to text Prescott about where we're going. I already sent him pictures of my ring, so it doesn't surprise me that there are texts from him when my phone comes back on.
Prescott: WTF!
Prescott: CALL ME NOW
“Why do you always set it on airplane mode?” Lach asks beside me.
“Because that way, I only deal with people when I choose to.”
He starts to shake against me, and I look up and find him laughing. I nudge him hard, and he wraps an arm around me and pulls me even closer. My phone rings immediately.
“Did you say yes or did he force you to say yes?” Pres asks, as a greeting. Lachlan makes a disapproving sound but stays quiet otherwise.
“I chose to say yes,” I say. “And I’m choosing to go to Fairview right now.”
“You told him everything?”
“Yes.”
“Lyles, you shouldn’t go back there.”
“We’ll have security. It’ll be fine,” I say. “Besides, I never packed up my stuff. I even left my freaking Hermann trophy behind.”
“And what exactly are you guys going to do when you get there?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Pres sighs into the line. “You do realize Lachlan is going to actually murder him, right?”
“He won’t. I’ll. . .”
“Lyla, listen to me,” Pres says interrupting. “If you told him everything that happened to you and showed him the pictures we took at the hospital, Lachlan will commit murder. I’m telling you right now, he will. He’ll kill him and end up in jail.”
My eyes widen. I bite the inside of my cheek and look out the window. Oh, fuck. Lach doesn’t know about the pictures, and after what happened yesterday, I was hoping to keep it that way until Jameson was locked up and we got back to Chicago. I know he heard what Prescott said, so the fact that he’s completely silent is not a good sign. I know Prescott’s worry isn’t for naught, which terrifies me.