Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
We both turn to see Laurie standing on the landing, wearing one of my t-shirts and nothing else. She's looking back and forth between us, and has gone pale from shock. "C-Craig…Hi. Uh, is Mom...?"
"She's upstairs." He tries to school his tone now that it's Laurie he's speaking to, but he doesn't do a very good job of it. "And before you ask, yes, she knows."
Laurie pales even more. "Shit."
"I'd say," he replies, "whatever this is, it stops now."
"No."
Dad turns back to me, teeth clenched. "No? You don't get to tell me no, Adam, not after I trust you with the company and with Laurie, and now I catch you trying to blow my new marriage to shreds. Get the hell out."
"No, fuck that. Laurie and I are adults and—"
"Adam, please." It's another voice this time—Melanie, at the top of the stairs, a robe wrapped around her. She's blanched from illness, and her eyes are red as if she's been crying. "This is hard enough. Please get out of my house."
I expect Laurie to back me up like I did for her, but when I turn to her, she's rushing up the stairs to her sick mother's side. Melanie flinches away at first, and I can see Laurie's heart break.
The harsh reality of everything starts to filter through. Shit. What have I done to this family?
"I'm sorry, Mom," Laurie pleads, this time putting her arms around Melanie. "It was an accident..."
An accident?
"Please just leave." Melanie's voice is hoarse, and I wonder how long she's been crying. "Adam, please."
"Fucking fine. I'll come back for my things—"
"Don't bother," my dad says. "Just go. I'll send it all to your place in a company car."
I look at Laurie, expecting some kind of emotion from her, but she doesn't meet my eyes. She's holding onto her mother, her eyes downcast, and I know there's nothing more to be said.
So I turn and head out the door. And the door slams shut behind me.
A week passes. Then two.
Before I know it, it's been an entire month since I was thrown out of the Cartwright estate. I've been back in my oceanside condo, where I've thrown myself into work to try and drown out the memories of Laurie and the precious little time we had together.
It didn't take me long to come to the hilariously sad conclusion that I was in love with her. I'd fallen for her that very first night, and all the rest of the time had just been me coming to terms with it.
Now I can admit it to myself, and she's gone.
Dad let me know that they were postponing their honeymoon until Melanie was fully better, but I know that it probably has a lot to do with the scandal that has now rocked their brand-new marriage. All because of me.
Me and Laurie, but I have trouble blaming her. Even though she was trying to get a reaction out of me for days, we both knew it was inevitable that we'd come back together. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
He also let me know that they were paying for a year's rent in New York for Laurie, so she could give her fashion career another shot. I could read between the lines, though. They just wanted her far away from me.
I still love her, even though she hasn't tried to reach out to me in the last month.
It's a Sunday afternoon when I finally decide to leave the office. The only reason I even make it out of the building is because my assistant practically kicks me out and then threatens to tell my father if I don't take a break.
He knows exactly what buttons to push, the little shit.
Still, the fresh air is nice, and the day is warm enough that I'm able to enjoy the walk back to my condo. Maybe I'll get takeout or order delivery tonight. My fridge has been empty for a few weeks now.
But as soon as I'm close enough, I can see someone sitting on my steps. It's a woman, and she's wearing a big floppy hat, her legs crossed as she looks at something on her phone.
"Can I help you?" I ask, and she jumps, nearly dropping her phone.
"Shit, Adam!" She pulls her hat off, letting her white-blond hair tumble around her shoulders. "You scared the crap out of me."
"Laurie?" I blink several times, sure that I'm dreaming. "What are you doing here?"
She stands up, taking a couple of steps towards me. "I came to talk to you." We stand there in silence for a long moment until Laurie speaks again. "Do you think we can do this inside? Before one of the neighbors calls the cops? I've been waiting out here for over an hour."
This shakes me out of my shock. I laugh and walk up the stairs, unlocking the door and holding it open for her. She walks past me, and I catch a whiff of her shampoo, sending memories flooding back. But I force myself to shut the door and lead her into the living room.