Eruption (The Hunted Series Book 3) (28 page)
Read Eruption (The Hunted Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Ivy Smoak
"And? Was he right?"
Rob nodded. "They only offered her one million to walk
away. She took the money without a second thought."
"That's awful."
"It's certainly fucked up."
I took another sip of my beer. No wonder James felt like no
one ever loved him. The love of his life chose money over him. Maybe she had
only ever been with him for his money.
The love of his life.
Was she?
Was Isabella? It didn't feel like I was anymore. "He looked so happy to
see her."
"He just needed closure."
"Maybe."
"Penny, he loved her once, but not as much as he loves
you now. Tonight was the only time I've ever seen him more upset than the day
Rachel called things off. I know he probably said some stuff he didn't mean,
but he needs you, Penny. I don't want to see him hit rock bottom again. You
fixed him."
"I didn't. This place did. Teaching. He should be a
professor again. He loved teaching."
"If you think that's what saved him, you're lying to
yourself. I've never seen him happier than when he's with you. He was even
agitated during his bachelor party because you two weren't together. He needs you
and only you."
"So, he's addicted to me. I can't..."
"No. Penny, he's devoted to you. There is a huge
difference."
I bit my lip. I wanted James to be here telling me these
things. But Rob was right, there was a huge difference. If it was true though,
James wouldn't have said those things to me. He wouldn't have told me to leave.
"I'm not sure he is anymore."
"Look, if I didn't think what you had was real, you'd
already be naked in my bed."
I laughed.
"Seriously. I know it's because you're cold, but your
nipples are so hard right now and I'm having trouble not staring."
"Shit." I put my beer down and crossed my arms in
front of my chest again.
Rob laughed. "And if James wasn't a fucking mess
tonight, I also wouldn't have..." Rob picked up his phone "...17
missed calls from him."
"Does he know you're with me?"
"I haven't told him. Do you want me to?"
I swallowed hard. "No. Not yet. I just need some
time."
Rob slid his phone back into his pocket. "Then I won't.
But time is one thing you don't have much of. I already rented my tux for the
wedding and I hate wasting money."
"I thought James paid for the tux rentals?"
"That's beside the point. Now, how about that pizza? And
I'm sure I have a bra that's your size. 32 B, right?"
"Why do you know that?"
"I know things." He got up off the couch. "By
the way, I saw you staring at the kitchen counter like you were remembering
being fucked against it. I've always wondered...exactly how many places in this
apartment did you bang my brother?"
I looked around the apartment. "None of the guest
bedrooms."
"You're both disgusting." He laughed and
disappeared into his room.
I pulled out my phone. James hadn't called me at all. I
wasn't mad at him anymore. I was just sad. If he called, I'd answer it in a
heartbeat.
Call me. Say something. Anything. Give me something to hold onto.
Friday
When I woke up, I had almost forgotten where I was. I
expected to open my eyes and be in my apartment with James. Instead, my head
was resting on Rob's shoulder on the couch. We were both sitting up and his arm
was wrapped around my shoulders. He always joked around about sexual stuff, but
Rob really was like a brother to me. And he had been there for me when I needed
him. I quietly ducked out from under his arm.
He groaned in his sleep. His ankles were crossed and his feet
were on the coffee table. He must have been uncomfortable but he had stayed
with me instead of going to his bed. I really hoped this wasn't the last time
I'd get to see him.
I grabbed my phone. There were still no calls from James. If
he hadn't meant what he said, wouldn't he have contacted me by now? The reality
seemed even more alarming than it had last night. Rain was pounding against the
windows, somehow reminding me of what I had just lost. I wanted to see James,
but I knew I couldn't. He had to be the one to reach out to me. He was the one
that had told me to disappear. So instead of going to him, I'd go to a place
where it would feel like I was close to him.
I walked into Rob's closet. I had been wearing high heels
last night and I didn't want to change back into my dress. There were a pair of
girly flip flops in Rob's closet. Those would do. I slid them on even though
they were a little too big. Taking something from Rob's closet reminded me of
when I had run back to my dorm in just one of James' t-shirts. I would never
forget those memories. Even the bad ones just seemed good now. Because they
were with him.
Rob groaned in his sleep again. I didn't want to be here when
he woke up. He needed to go back to New York. James was the one that needed him
right now. Not me. I was stronger than James seemed to realize.
I glanced at the clock on the oven as I walked toward the
elevator doors. It was only 6 a.m. The coffee shop wouldn't be open for another
hour. But I didn't care. I'd just stand outside. I just needed to be there. It
felt like I was being drawn to it. I needed to remember the best day of my
life.
Before I pressed the elevator button, I froze. I'd do
anything for James. If he asked me to jump, I'd jump. He knew that. He knew how
much I cared. And he had asked me to disappear. He knew I'd do it for him. I
looked down at the ring on my finger. He hadn't called. He hadn't reached out
to me at all. This was what he wanted. I loved him. I loved him so much. And if
this was what he wanted, I'd give it to him. I pulled the ring off my finger
and set it down on the kitchen counter. If James needed me to disappear, I'd
disappear.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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continues in DEVOTION. Available this fall.
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Nothing seems to be going Bee's way. She's been knocked down by her ex, her
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When Bee is already running late, a sexy stranger steals her cab. And once she
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Except Mason Caldwell is not a good man. A renowned playboy, heir to his
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Like this book? Want more? Check out these other books by
Ivy Smoak!
Novels
Temptation
(The Hunted Series Book 1)
Addiction (The
Hunted Series Book 2)
Eruption (The
Hunted Series Book 3)
Novellas
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,
and incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or
dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No
part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled,
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ASIN: B01D917CL6
Cover art copyright © 2016 by Ivy Smoak
Cover photos:
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Background photo by Manamana/Shutterstock.com
2016 ebook Edition
Copyright © 2016 by Ivy Smoak
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