Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I don’t feel emotions very well. Physically, you’re much better.”
I nod. “Have you talked to Theo lately?”
“Yesterday. He’s done with the place. I’m surprised you moved out so soon. You were paid up through the month. I take it something went wrong?”
I laugh. “I didn’t die as expected. My ex-fiancé showed up unannounced and met the man I’ve been fucking for months—”
Nolan chokes on his coffee, holding his fist to his mouth. “You … what?”
“Oh, Theo didn’t tell you?”
He shakes his head while clearing his throat.
I watch the wind whip around the tall grass in the distance. “It was just sex, boredom—nothing.” Everything. It was everything.
“I didn’t know you were engaged.”
“Yes. I had a new job. A really good-paying job.” Turning, I narrow my eyes at Nolan.
He grins.
“A new car. Money in the bank. My dad is in prison, but hey, no one has a flawless life. Then there was Daniel. We were perfect together, or so it seemed at the time. Then I got my diagnosis and that perfection just … shattered.” I still can’t talk about it without emotions stinging my eyes.
“To sum it up, I didn’t want to ruin Daniel’s career, or his life. One was enough. So I said goodbye—forever—and I came here to die. Theo was …” I shake my head. “I don’t know. Something physical I needed at the time. It wasn’t until I found out that I wasn’t going to die—at least not right away—that I realized I …” I press the pad of my finger to the corner of my eye, trapping my tear before it falls.
“You fell in love with him.”
I nod.
“You should tell him.”
I laugh. “I did. I told him right in front of Daniel. I thought it would mean more if he knew I was willing to hurt one man that I loved to prove my love to another man.”
“He didn’t say anything?”
“He said he doesn’t love me.”
My name is Scarlet Stone and my biggest fear is that someday I will find what I want most in life and it will be impossible to steal.
Nolan has no response. There really is none. I fell in love with a man who never hid his complete detest for me since our first encounter.
“Mr. Moore, your mother is awake.”
We both stand and nod at Sofia.
“Don’t take it personally. Theo is pretty messed-up. You’re better off without him,” says the man whose parents define completely insane. “He’s moving out this weekend anyway.”
I follow him up the stairs. “Where is he going?” I’m doing a shit job of acting like I don’t care.
“Nashville … Tennesse.”
He’s leaving. I can’t believe “I don’t love you” was his goodbye. Fuck cancer. Nothing is more painful than love. But I won’t feel sorry for myself. Daniel has to feel the same way right now. I gave him a life again … and then I took it away.
Nolan turns. “I didn’t tell her I hired you. She thinks you need a friend.”
My head bobs a bit side to side. Then I shrug. “It’s not entirely untrue.”
He grins and knocks twice on Nellie’s door. “Mom, Scarlet is here.”
“Perfect timing.” The door opens.
Nolan doesn’t flinch. How is it possible that every muscle in his face remains completely relaxed? His mother has on a powder-blue felt skirt with a poodle appliqué and a pink corset. I’m not sure anyone has ever paired these two items of clothing before now.
“Be a dear and tie this for me.” She turns.
I grab the corset laces and give them a gentle tug with my eyes on Nolan.
“Thanks for spending time with Scarlet today, Mother. I think she said something about shopping. Lorne will be here soon.”
“Thank you, Nolie.” She sucks in a deep breath.
I cinch the corset.
“Has Nolie proposed to you yet?”
I look toward the stairs, but Nolie is gone.
“No. We’re just friends.”
“Oh? He said you didn’t have any friends.”
“I don’t have any female friends.”
Nellie looks over her shoulder. “You do now.” She smiles, orange-red lipstick stuck to her teeth.
“There.” I tie the bow. “Shall I see if Sofia has your breakfast ready?”
“Please.”
*
Nolan hired me under an agreement that I wouldn’t ask his mum about her past. He didn’t say she wasn’t allowed to talk about it on her own.
“You’re quite fashion forward, Nellie. I bet you’ve always had an eye for it.” Not a question—just a statement. I watch her rummage through rack after rack of secondhand clothes, picking out only the most hideous and outdated pieces.
She stops and looks at me with her head cocked to the side like she’s searching for an answer, but I didn’t ask a question. It’s her past. She’s trying to remember if in fact she has always had an eye for fashion.
I grab a fancy wide-brimmed black hat with three soft pink roses in the front and slip it on. Nellie’s gaze moves to the hat and becomes even more intense.