Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Something snaps inside of me, and I go to reach for her with my other hand, but she pulls back, my other hand dropping from her face.
“You want me to leave.”
“And never come back,” she says with a shaky breath.
“Never come back,” I mutter her words trying to get it straight.
I think on this for a few seconds then say, “This is what you really want?” I ask her again to make it absolutely clear, but before she can utter another word, I move forward, and my lips crush on hers.
Theadora’s hands press on my chest. She tries to push, but then she clasps my shirt in her hands and pushes forward. I slide my hand in her hair and grip on with everything I have in me. Her hand moves and touches my scar, causing me to flinch, but I don’t remove my lips from hers, until finally we part but only a fraction of an inch as I rest my forehead on hers.
“Yes,” she says.
At first, I think it’s an answer to our kiss, but then I realize it’s to my earlier questions—she wants me to leave.
Theadora pulls back, her lips pink and swollen as she looks up at me. “I want to thank you for what you have done for me. For this…” she waves her hand around the office, “… but I’m going to ask you to leave.” She offers me a forced smile and then pleads with me, “Please take Ronnie and the other security guards you have stationed everywhere as well.” She takes another step back away from me.
“Goodbye, Theadora,” I say while walking to the door.
When I look back at her, she’s looking down at the floor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Theadora
Atlas leaves, as I asked him to, and he takes his security team with him, and for this I am appreciative.
Tina walks into my office with a pile of clothes in her hands. “How’d it go?” she asks, taking a seat in front of me.
“Ended,” I say.
A life with no Atlas—I’m not sure how I go back to normal now. It’s been months since I first met him, and even through all the bad, I have developed feelings for him. Strong ones at that.
“Are you okay?” Tina leans in and touches my hand with hers.
“I will be.”
She pauses. “Okay, good. How about we go to the shops before dinner and get you a cell. Because girl… you know I need to text you when I have my freakouts.” I smile at her words.
Freakouts, as in, Am I doing the right thing with Sydney when I was all about men for so long. And, What if I want dick again? I simply remind her about how much she likes Sydney during these freakouts, and it doesn’t take too long for her to calm down.
I don’t know if it will work out between them, but I can see Tina does feel something for Sydney, more so than I have ever seen her with anyone else before.
“So, shopping?” Tina stands, offering me a smile.
“Shopping,” I reply, smiling back. For some reason my fingers touch my lips as I lean down and grab my bag and I think, That was a great last kiss.
I purchased a new cell, and they helped me set it up. Tina dropped me off at the hospital so I could spend some time with baby Benji. The nurse smiled when she saw me and told me Benji is doing well. I was able to hold him, and as I did, I only wished the best for him.
“Would you like to meet them?” the nurse asks. I look up to her a little startled by her words. “The adoptive parents, I mean. It’s a brave thing you are doing.”
I simply nod, and she also nods her head to a couple who are at the door, washing their hands before they enter the nursery. The man is tall, older, possibly early forties, the woman is about the same age. A soft smile graces the woman’s face as she walks over to where I’m holding Benji.
“Hi...” I stand with Benji in my arms.
“You must be Theadora, it’s really nice to meet you. We have heard so much about you.”
“Ummm… thanks. I’m sorry, I don’t know your names.”
“I’m Giles, and this is my wife, Willow.” He offers me his hand, but I don’t take it. Not because I’m being rude, but because Benji is asleep in my arms. “Oh, sorry, of course you can’t shake my hand while you are holding that beautiful little boy. Well, anyway, it’s nice to meet you. Seems we will be seeing a lot of each other in the future.” Giles looks at the baby and smiles. The wife’s smile hasn’t left her face as she stares lovingly at Benji in my arms.
“We hope your sister is okay. We didn’t want to delve too much into what was wrong, but we heard she’s in a hospital,” Willow says. “We want you to know, whatever you need, just ask. What you are giving us…” she wipes away a few stray tears, “… it means the world to both of us. We have been trying for many, many, years to have children of our own. And we have lost many along the way.” Her eyes well with unshed tears, while her shoulders droop as she speaks of her loss, but then she locks eyes on Benji. “He really is a miracle… our miracle, and he’s doing so well.”