Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“What are you talking about?”
“I knew something was wrong when you came home, but you brushed it off and acted like everything was fine,” I say. “It wasn’t fine. At all. And you knew it.”
“It’s not as cut and dried as you’re making it sound.”
“Really? Because I think it’s pretty cut and dried that you knew Berlin and Donovan were messing around behind my back and you let me carry on this friendship with her like a damn fool . . .” My voice breaks, and my throat tightens so hard that speaking is painful.
“I found out yesterday,” he says. “At the bank. I was just as shocked about all of it as you, and when I came home, you were in such a good mood, and I was still processing how I was going to tell you.”
“You don’t get to play God with other people’s emotions, Lachlan.”
The red-hot sting of betrayal pours over me, head to toe, igniting my skin and my thoughts all the same. The room grows ten degrees warmer, and suddenly his imposing stance in the doorway makes the space feel that much smaller.
I need air.
I need space.
“Anneliese.” He follows after me, his footsteps heavy on the creaking stairs by the time I reach the front door. I step into a pair of tennis shoes and yank the front door so hard it smacks the wall behind it. “Anneliese, wait.”
Stopping in my tracks, I turn to face him. “I’m going for a walk so I can cool off. Please don’t chase after me. I just . . . I need to be alone right now.”
He doesn’t move a muscle. He simply stands there quietly, observing me, his expression so blank I can’t tell if he feels remorse for breaking the only promise that mattered to me or if he’s watching the inevitable play out.
And to think I was planning on telling him I didn’t even want the house anymore, that it was rightfully and lawfully his and I understood his reasons for wanting it to go up in smoke.
Deep down, I think we both knew . . . whatever this is, whatever it was, was destined to go down in flames.
THIRTY
LACHLAN
hamartia (n.) a flaw that causes the downfall of a hero
I watch Anneliese grow smaller in the distance before completely disappearing around the corner when she reaches the end of the street. She asked for space, so space she’ll get. By the time she gets back, she’ll have come to her senses. She’s just in shock right now. As soon as she calms down and listens to me, she’ll understand my reasoning, and we can pick up where we left off.
I head to the kitchen to grab my truck keys off the counter, along with my wallet, and then I pluck out the business card I found on the gas station bulletin board this morning and dial the number.
“Arcadia Grove Realty, this is Debra. How may I direct your call?” a friendly voice answers.
“I’d like to speak with Callie Hodges,” I say.
“Just a moment, please.”
Hold music fills my ear for all of ten seconds before an even friendlier voice takes the call.
“This is Callie. How may I help you?” she asks.
“Yes, I’m looking to sell my house in the next couple of months, and I was wondering if you could run a quick market analysis for me?” I ask. “Just trying to get a ballpark estimate for now. It’s an old house that’s mostly renovated, and I haven’t the slightest idea what it’s worth.”
“Sure,” she says. “And you’re in luck because I just happen to have the next couple of hours free. Why don’t you come down to my office, and we can pull some quick comps and go from there?”
“Will be there shortly,” I say before hanging up.
My plan was to deliver the bad news to Anneliese later today, when she was back from running her errands, and then I was going to soften those blows by telling her my intentions to sell the house so she could recoup her money.
I should know better than anyone that even the best-laid plans often miss their mark.
I’m flooded with discontent on the drive to the realty office, playing out Anneliese’s emotional outburst and hating that she’s out strolling the neighborhood, cursing my name, but everything will come together soon enough.
It has to.
I can’t leave this town without her.
THIRTY-ONE
ANNELIESE
ignify (v.) to form into fire, to burn
“Anneliese, hey,” Berlin says from behind the register of her flower shop. Concern colors her dark gaze, and rightfully so. With my sweat-dampened face and bloodshot eyes and breathlessness, I’m sure I’m looking every bit a cause for concern. “Is everything okay?”
She doesn’t answer, peering out the shop door instead.
“Where’s your car? Did you walk here?” she asks. “That’s, like, five miles. And we’re in the middle of a heat wave . . . do you need some water?”