BAILEE My phone ringing startled me awake, though I hadn’t intended to pass out on the couch. Usually, when Brinley was sick, I would sleep in her room to ensure she was okay. I jumped for the phone to keep the ringer from waking Brinley. It had been pointless, though, because I cursed loudly as
My heart was pumping loudly, the blood whooshing in my ears as I stared at the closed door, hoping he would look in the bedroom, see it was empty, and leave. Instead, a blood-curdling scream ripped from my throat as the closet door was thrown open to show a large figure in the doorway. “Ms. Evans
ALEXANDER I scowled as I stared at the back of the bottle, reading the dosage as Bailee turned on the bath in the adjoining bathroom. “How much do I owe you?” She asked, and I looked up to see her leaning against the door frame, staring at me stone-faced. “For the medicine, how much was it?”
BAILEE My knee bounced as we sat in the waiting room. I was nervous, but not because of my meeting with Mr. Collins. I was nervous about giving Alexander the apology he was owed. He had hurt me beyond belief when we were younger, but the way I had treated him today was unacceptable. Over the p
ALEXANDER Entering through the parking garage, I took my private elevator directly to my office, wanting to avoid passing Caleb in the main lobby, where I had Nathan seat him. He could have waited on my floor, but I didn’t want him to overhear anything he shouldn’t or go snooping. “Mr. Kingston
“Then you should probably worry a little less about me and a little more time with a math tutor.” I lifted my coffee mug, taking another sip as I held his stare. “Just stay away from my wife and child!” Caleb yelled. “Oh, but they’re no longer yours, are they?” I said as all the pieces fell into p
BAILEE “You bitch!” Caleb screamed. I had heard him call me countless times before, but it was humiliating having witnesses. Yet, even though he was shouting behind me and I could hear the commotion of the security guards escorting my ex-husband from my ex-boyfriend’s office, I couldn’t pull away.
BAILEE EIGHT YEARS AGO (Sixteen years old) “If it isn’t Baby Evans!” Jacob mocked, pulling on a chunk of my hair and jerking my head back. “Ow!” I snapped, spinning around to swat his hand away. “Leave me alone!” “So touchy! What’s wrong, Baby Evans? I thought you liked getting your hair pulled. I've heard all about you.” Jacob said, grabbing a fist full and yanking on my hair again, this time forcing me back so far that I stumbled, crashing into a warm body. “Let her go,” The deep, familiar voice made me tense, but as his arms wrapped around me, I froze. “Come on, Xander!” Jacob laughed, grabbing the strap to my backpack and tugging on it. “Lighten up. Ben’s not here, and she’s not your sister. I’m just having a little fun.” “Don’t fucking call me that, and get your hands off her!” Alexander growled, and my hands grabbed his sides to hold myself up as Jacob gave one last tug on the strap. Ben’s friends hadn’t always bothered me, not until I hit puberty a few years ago,