Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
I slump in relief when I find Julius sitting by me. His voice is just above a whisper. “Hey.”
My mouth is dry, and I swallow hard, blinking drowsily. “Hi.”
It’s been a long few weeks. My mind aches. My body aches. My bones ache. My goddamn soul aches. I’m exhausted in every sense of the word.
As I take in Julius’s soft expression, my selfish thoughts fade to nothing. “You okay?”
He glances over at me, and rather than answer with words, he trains his gloomy eyes on mine and shakes his head slowly.
Julius has thrown me a lifeline. I hold onto it, onto the optimism it brings.
Shuffling forward, I climb into his lap, facing him, and place my legs on either side of his. I reach up to cup his warm, stubbled cheek lovingly, inching closer to coax his lips with mine. His warm mouth neither welcomes nor rejects me as I press soft, closed-mouth kisses onto his full, tempting mouth.
He doesn’t respond to my touch, but his groin tells me he enjoys my attention.
What bothers you so, my love? Why won’t you speak to me, cariño? Let me help you.
My hands slide down his neck to cup his shoulders, and I squeeze, explaining quietly, “I need to believe everything is going to be okay.” He shakes his head at my naivety, but I don’t budge. “Go on. Ask me if everything is going to be okay.”
With a light sigh, I refuse to show he’s broken my spirit. He holds me, his fingers gently stroking my back, and semi-sarcastically, he asks, “Is everything going to be okay, Ana?”
I blink, throwing him a look that tells him he’s clearly nuts. “How the hell would I know?”
Clearly surprised at my answer, he lowers his face, resting his forehead against mine in a show of closeness I silently preen under, and chuckles softly. With his face so close to mine, I clutch at his neck and hold him close, while whispering, “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
I mean, I can’t possibly promise something like that, because, quite frankly, the circumstances have all the hallmarks of a situation that is going to end in tragedy.
But Julius doesn’t call me out. Instead, he feeds the lie, as if he realizes how much I need for him to play along. “I know, baby.”
He reaches up, gripping my chin between his thumb and index finger, and assaults my mouth with a deep, punishing kiss that tastes like utter desperation on my lips, like a good-bye.
I don’t like it at all.
“Come for a drive,” he states roughly.
I lean back to look him in the eye, and he searches my face quietly. Making the inch across, I press a long, soft kiss to his stubbly cheek and mutter, “Of course.”
I’ll be glad for the diversion. Lord knows Julius needs one.
We drive for a long while, hours even, but I don’t question Julius on where we’re going. I’m just happy he wants me with him.
The roads are relatively deserted, being the early hours of the morning, and I like it that way. No honking horns or bright lights beaming in through the windows, completely uncrowded, free to drive at your own pace. Peaceful-like.
I begin to doze, only to be jostled awake when the car comes to a sudden, jarring halt.
Frowning at the abrupt stop, I look around, blinking blearily. The dark and desolate highway breathes chills down my neck, and the skin on my arms breaks out in goose bumps. I turn to Julius, who looks out at the road in front of him. We sit there a while with the car still running. The longer we sit, the faster my heart beats.
Just as I open my mouth to ask him what we’re waiting for, jaw steeled, he orders an emotionless, “Bounce.”
What?
My heart shrinks in on itself.
No.
My breathing comes in faster, and the blood rushes out of my face, leaving me pale and cold. This can’t be happening.
Sitting up in my seat, I ask a hushed, “What?”
His expression impossibly hard, he repeats himself, “Bounce.” I don’t move. I don’t believe him. He doesn’t mean what he’s saying. His words come out hoarse, as he utters a callous, “Get out of the car, Alejandra.”
I’m still sleeping. This is all a dream.
My body stiff with shock, I blink over at him, unable to speak. But I don’t need to. Julius speaks for the both of us, and it rips me to shreds. “Didn’t think hard enough about what it meant to be your husband. Never dealt with this kind of headfuck before. Every day you’re with me is a day distracted. No.” He shakes his head. “You gotta go.”
Oh, my God. He changed his mind.
I’m officially a returned bride, and he wants a full refund.
“We’re married,” is all I can think of saying, my stunned disbelief obvious. “I’m not a dog you can return to the shelter because it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, Julius.”