Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Hey, girl, how are you feeling?” he asked, rubbing at her head. “Don’t look at me with those judgey eyes. They’re not wrong. Throughout high school I bullied Maddie because of her weight.”
He didn’t have any excuse for the shit he called her either, and he’d made her life hell. Even when she came to work for Bull, like his brother said, he’d continued to call her “Chunk,” as well as tease his brother about his choice in women.
“I’m a fucking asshole.”
Aria was … she was … he couldn’t get her out of his fucking mind. She was the only person right now that made sense in this world.
He didn’t understand why he was suspended, not really.
Running a hand down his face, he kept his other hand on top of his dog’s head. Grant leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, thinking about Aria and then about the two missing dogs. The club hadn’t called in Dylan, the local sheriff. They never liked to include Dylan, but what if that in itself was a clue? Someone had been able to get through their security, tell Hellen they were sent by the club, and remove two dogs.
He sat up, still stroking Wanda’s head. Sometimes sudden movement startled her, and he didn’t want her afraid of him.
Picking up his cell phone, he dialed the sheriff’s office and waited. He continued to wait until Grace’s gruff voice picked up.
“What the fuck do you want?” she asked.
He couldn’t help but smile. Grace was an old woman, and at times had everyone believing she was even alive at the dawn of time, the way she talked. Most people were afraid of her and she had the ability to instill the fear of death into most. Grant found her adorable. Growing up with an asshole as a father made people like Grace seem adorable to him.
“Grace, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Grant Reynolds, what did you do?”
“Ah, it’s not what I did this time, but what someone else did. Is Dylan around?” he asked.
“Yeah, he’s in his office, causing all kinds of paperwork I’ll have to fucking deal with.”
Grant snorted. Poor Dylan. The man didn’t have the heart to fire her. She was a big help in keeping kids from reoffending, and did more than her reception job. He didn’t know if Dylan would willingly listen to him, but it was worth a shot.
Chapter Six
Aria still felt like shit. She couldn’t believe she had allowed herself to get so drunk. This was not like her, but being around Grant, at times, made her feel reckless. Why did she try to be nice and perfect all the time? It wasn’t like her mother ever cared, not really.
On her way to the gym she thought about Grant, about his lips, about how it would feel going all the way with him.
Stop doing that.
She gritted her teeth and was so focused on the ground, she didn’t see who was coming toward her.
“Whoa, Aria, stop.”
She crashed into her once best friend, Lidia, sending the other woman to the ground.
“Crap, I’m so sorry,” she said, immediately grabbing her hand and helping her to her feet.
Lidia chuckled. “It’s okay. I saw you down the street and I’ve been trying to get your attention. You were so far away.”
Staring at her best friend, she couldn’t help but think about Sean’s words the last time she saw him. “Yeah, that is not coming to my party. Take your ugly ass away. Lidia is too fucking nice to tell you this, but your fat fucking face is no longer welcome here. She can do so much better than you. Leave.”
Halloween night. Not too long ago.
“Hey,” she said. “I, er, I actually have an appointment that I don’t want to be late for.”
The gym was only a few feet away and as she pointed in the general direction, Lidia turned to see where. “The gym? You’re going to the gym?”
“Yeah, it’s, yeah, I’m going to the gym now.” She forced herself to look at her friend.
Lidia Onslow, perfectly beautiful, slender, and she used to be so nice. At least, Aria had thought she was nice until Sean told her the truth.
“Aria, what the hell is going on?” Lidia asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You didn’t show up at the party. You’re going to the gym now. You don’t return my calls and you make excuses to not hang out. What have I done?” she asked.
Aria felt her cheeks heating up at even allowing herself to open up to this woman. Going to the gym, fighting her weight was never an easy battle. In the past, Lidia was there, telling her she was fine, that she was beautiful and sweet, but it had all been lies.
“Why don’t you ask Sean?” Aria asked. “You seem to tell him the truth and me, well, you just lie to me to suit yourself.”