“Don’t poke me in the chest like that again. I don’t like it,” he gripes.
“Yeah, well, I don’t like being ordered around,” I holler back at him.
“Fine, I’m going to work. I have a 6 o’clock meeting tonight, so I won’t be home until late,” he says as he walks past me in the hall.
“Why don’t you just stay at your house tonight? I think we could use a night apart,” I spit out, and instantly regret my words. He halts, but doesn’t turn around to face me. After a second, he continues out of the hall and I hear the front door slam.
Why did I have to be such a bitch? I didn’t mean that. Way to go, Shannon. He’s only been trying to help you all morning.
“Arghh,” I scream out loud, frustrated with myself. I walk out of the hall and into my living room. The dogs are both on the oversized chair staring at me.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I tell them and head into the kitchen. I don’t need his dogs making me feel worse. I walk over to the cabinet, pulling out a glass and fill it with water. I take a sip of the refreshing cool liquid. It feels great going down my throat.
Needing a distraction from my harsh words to Nick, I grab my water and my Kindle off the counter to head out to the deck. Reading will help relax me since Nick wants me to rest.
Taking a seat on my chaise lounge, I sit my glass of water on the table and turn on my Kindle. I begin reading The Dark Prince by S.L. Jennings. It’s the second book in her series. The first one blew my mind, and I can’t wait to start reading this one. A little supernatural is what I need to get my mind off reality.
* * * * *
By the time noon gets here, I’ve spent an hour reading and relaxing on my glorious deck, looking out at the ocean. My ribs still hurt like a bitch, but I’m becoming accustomed to the breathing and not moving in certain ways. Turning my Kindle off, I sit it on the table and get off the chair to walk into the house.
Locating my phone, I don’t have any missed calls or text messages from Nick, but I do from his sister.
In the mood for company?
Something tells me she has spoken to her brother. I sigh then shoot a text back to her.
Sure, bring Starbucks.
I’m not allowed to leave.
Sergeant’s orders and all! :)
I set my phone on the kitchen counter, but she quickly replies, so I picked it back up.
Be there in 30!!!
I place my phone back on the counter and walk out of the kitchen. I haven’t collected my mail in a few days, so I walk out front to retrieve it. Once I’m back in the house, I shut the door, but don’t lock it so Nikki can come in.
I toss several magazines on the couch and take the rest to the kitchen. Standing by the trash, I toss anything looking like junk straight in the garbage without opening it. The rest are bills so I stick them in a drawer until I can take them to Jenny to handle.
I grab my phone and walk out of the kitchen to go to the couch. I can at least read a magazine while I’m waiting on Nikki. Really, I should call Nick to apologize. I just can’t bring myself to do it. Maybe he is right. Maybe I really am stubborn.
Getting comfortable in the corner of the couch, I bring my feet up tucking them underneath me and grab one of the magazines lying on the cushion. I toss my phone on the couch next to me.
I’m about to open the magazine in my lap when my phone chirps telling me I have a text message. I notice it’s an unfamiliar number as I open the message.
It’s James
We need to talk…PRONTO
I drop the phone in my lap and my body freezes. How did he get my phone number? I don’t want to talk to him. I didn’t want to see him yesterday, let alone ever again.
No.
Leave me alone.
I grab my phone again, looking at the message once more, hoping I imagined it, but no, I didn’t. I bite the corner of my bottom lip to stop the tears at the back of my eyes. I won’t do this. I won’t cry again. Not over him.
I quickly delete the message and throw my phone in Niko’s chair. The dogs must have gone outside at some point, because they are not on the oversized chair any longer. Having a doggy door leading out to the deck comes in handy.
Pushing the magazine out of my lap, I bring my knees up to my chest and hug myself, causing pain to pierce my ribs. I ignore the pain as images of my seventeenth birthday flash before my eyes.
It was the worst day of my life. It was the day my innocence was stolen. How can someone be so cruel, so evil?
“Shannon?” I hear over my left shoulder. I release my arms around my legs and look over to see Nikki walking in the door.
“Hey,” I say.
“I knocked. Didn’t you hear me?” she questions.