Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Logan tenses next to me, and I watch as he and Bree stare at each other. Logan’s voice is thick. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Bree lifts her chin and walks into the office, setting down the folders in her arms on top of my desk. “I mailed out the forms you asked me to send and opened a PO box.” She looks between Logan and me. “I’ll be at my desk.”
Without another word, she walks out, and Logan turns to me. “What the hell was that? What’s going on? What is my ex-girlfriend doing here?”
I brace myself. “I hired her.”
“You did what?” he bellows.
I nod and decide to just give it all to him at once. “And there is a contract. She’s guaranteed a job for a full year.”
His mouth drops before snapping it shut. “You know what?” He shakes his head. He’s practically trembling with emotion, and I want to tell him why I did it, but he’s not ready to hear it. He holds a hand up. “I came straight from the airstrip. I need to shower and get my shit together before I do something I’m going to regret. I’m going home, Zach. I’ll be in tomorrow, and hopefully, you have shit fixed by then.”
I follow him through the office, and we pass Bree on the way. She’s looking down at some papers on her desk as if she doesn’t even see us. “I told you there’s a contract, Lo. Bree is employed at Stronghold Security for a year.”
He stops and glares at Bree and then back to me. “I mean my sister. Fix this with my sister.” He waves his hand toward Bree. “I’ll deal with her tomorrow.”
He slams his way out the door, and I turn to Bree. She’s still looking at the door Logan walked out of. I’ve wondered if I made the right decision hiring her, but seeing the look between the two of them earlier, I know I did. Whether they fix it or not, they need to deal with it. I try to reassure Bree. “It’s going to be fine.”
She blurts out a laugh. “No, it’s not. It’s going to blow up in all our faces.” She sits up a little taller. “But I can handle it.”
I nod. “Okay, well, let me know if you need anything.”
I walk back into my office and drop into my chair, exhaustion pulling me down. I lean my head back and close my eyes. For the first time since yesterday, it’s not Skyler with a knife to her throat that I see. It’s Skyler with a swollen belly, carrying a child… our child. The sight hits me hard. I want her. I want us. I may never be enough, but I will spend the rest of my days trying to be. I have to because a life without Skyler is no life at all.
CHAPTER 22
SKYLER
I take a few deep breaths. It’s time for my live on ClipClap, and I’ve told myself all day that I’m ready for it, but now that I’m about to hit the live button, I’m not so sure.
I finally convinced Aria that I was okay. She helped me with my makeup to hide the bruise on my face, and then she went home. I spent the afternoon planning for tonight’s live, and as I look at the counter, seeing all the ingredients and everything set up and ready, I try to focus. I can do this.
I take a deep breath, let it out, and then hit the button to go live. With a smile on my face, I wave at the camera. “Hey Cookie Crew! I’m here, and I’m ready to get lost in the baking. You know how when sometimes you need to take a break and do something that doesn’t require a lot of thinking? That’s how baking is for me.”
I suck in a breath. Already, I’m off track. Focus, Skyler.
“All right, friends, I have a treat for you. Today, we’re making an apple pie. I don’t know about you, but homemade pies make me think of home, cozy, safety… love.”
The word catches in my throat, and I turn away from the camera to get myself together. Maybe Aria was right; maybe this was too soon. Forcing a smile to my face, I hold up a bowl and point into it. “Okay, to start, we’re going to make the dough.” I mix in the flour, sugar, and salt and then add cut-up slices of butter. I mix and then add ice water until the dough comes together. I work the dough, shaping it as I instruct how to do it.
I wrap the two discs of dough in plastic and then put it in the fridge to chill.
I hold up an apple. “Okay, guys, are we having fun? Next, we’re going to make the filling.”