I finally build up enough courage to emerge from the ensuite after what had seemed like a lifetime. I had scrubbed myself till my skin became crimson and felt raw while simultaneously attempting to sober up. Staying behind with Davis doesn’t have a nice ring to it after all. Not like it had last night, anyway. By the time I made my decision, though, I was already euphoric from the alcohol I had consumed and had a contemptuous attitude toward myself, Tobias, and everyone else in the room. More so to the goddesses for dishing me such a crappy hand in life. -Suck it up, princess!- As I enter my room, I trip over the threshold and groan to myself as I see Tobias leaning there with a cup of coffee in his hands and a smirk curving at the corner of his mouth. My brows knit together, he looks fresh and wide awake for someone who claims he hasn't slept a wink because he's been trying to do damage control where I'm concerned. Tobias is appetizingly attired in a charcoal suit with the
A brilliant white light flashes before me, and it’s like a switch-flips in my head. “I’m pathetic?” I ask her bitterly. “Says, the one who fucked my boyfriend and trapped him by getting pregnant. If anyone is jealous and pathetic between the pair of us, it’s you, Ava. I would never do what you did to me, never!” As I yell at her, speaking my truth, my heart suddenly feels heavy, like it is weighing me down and I fear the animosity I hold for her is going to consume me. Just by looking at her, I want to yell, kick and scream, and pull my hair as I demand her to tell me the real reason why she chose to destroy my chance at real happiness. I was so close, so fucking close that I could taste it, and it tasted sickeningly sweet. Before I met Chase, I was taking one day at a time, working like a dog to get my bakery off the ground, so I wouldn't go insane worrying about my future. I was shattered, the pieces of my puzzle were scattered, and I had very little hope, if any, for the future
“Mr. Landry, you may place the ring on Ms. Appletons' finger and repeat after me.” Tobias grasps my hand and slowly slides the diamond-encrusted wedding band that matches my engagement ring down my finger. “I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love.” He repeats after our notary who is performing our wedding ceremony. “Ms. Appleton, please, place the ring on Mr. Landrys’ finger and repeat after me.” I shift sideways, picking up the black band that rests on a small pristine pillow held by Melanie, acting on our behalf as a witness to our wedding. Before I slide the ring down Tobias’s finger, I pause, my gaze lingers on the ring before I look up and meet Tobias’s gaze. He doesn’t say anything, nor does he look at me with a particular emotion glaring back at me. The only thing sounding in my head presently are the words he said to me this morning after our dilemma with Ava. … Fake it till you make it… Looking back at the notary, I nod my hea
My breath hitches as Tobias’s tongue darts out between his full lips, sexually sweeping over the bow on his upper lip.Is it possible to desire a man that you despise with every cell in your body?What is wrong with me?I know I have asked myself this very question many times since Tobias came crashing back into my life like a hurricane. But I am still yet to find a reasonable explanation as to why my body reacts to him this way.“I think we both-” He lets out a frustrated growl as he extracts his vibrating phone from his pocket. Scrubbing his face with his other hand, he slowly shakes his head, swiping the green call icon right, and presses the phone to his ear.“This better be good,” He growls over the phone to the poor soul on the receiving end.---He pinches the bridge of his nose, “When?”---“I don’t answer to you, and quite frankly I don’t give a shit what you think. It’s done and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He replies furiously, and it has me wondering whom he is sp
TOBIAS:I walk into my mother’s living room without announcing my arrival and knowing that she isn’t expecting me, will shock her. She is standing, gazing up at the large painting of my father which is displayed above the fireplace.She is mumbling to herself, but I have a feeling she is speaking to my father; telling him how difficult I am being and stepping out of line where she is concerned.“Mother…” I growl upon my entrance.“Oh,” She jumps, turning around to face me with a look of surprise on her face and a hand resting on top of her racing heart. “Tobias…” She whispers, gaining her composure. “You scared the living daylights out of me, I didn’t hear you come in.”After a moment or two, she tilts her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at me, and waves her hand toward the sofa, gesturing to me to take a seat.“I’m not staying long.”“As I suspected. You have come to give me a piece of your mind about our phone call earlier, haven't you?” She sighs tiresomely. “Well, come on th
When I hear a soft knock on my front door, I stop shoving sneakers that I seldom wear into the back of my closet. Time has ticked by quickly, and I’ve managed to rush around the house to give it a quick clean before I leave.I mean… I can’t be the only one who thinks that there is nothing worse than returning home after a lengthy absence to find it in a state of disorder.Rising to my feet, I wipe the beads of sweat from my nape with a sigh and twist my torso from side to side to work out the knots.Turning the brass handle, I pull the door open, expecting to see Tobias.“Kip?” I blurt out, shocked to see him here and a little disappointed that it’s not Tobias.— What is wrong with me? Tobias should be the last man I’d ever want to see. But he’s not, and it’s really starting to fuck with my sanity —“Hey, Keri…” Kip drawls my name out seductively and I let it slide as he looks a little sheepish while he nervously scratches his jaw.“Oh… what are you doing here? Shit… Is everything oka
The look of shock that stains Kips’ face doesn’t surprise me. It’s a reaction that I am expecting to witness frequently in the next coming days. I don’t expect people to understand or be thrilled that I’ve married Tobias because I can relate to their feelings. But I do expect them to respect my decision and support me along the way if they truly do care about me and want to remain in my life. I just don’t have enough headspace or the emotional capacity to carry more dead weight on my shoulders; anchoring me down as they choose to tear me apart and talk about me behind my back. Why? Because I already have a judge, jury, and prosecutor in my life named Ava. And her cruel nature along with her actions has not only driven me to marry Tobias but, it’s also stripped me bare of my self-confidence and trust. I am not the woman I once strived to be. I don’t think I am half of that woman, either. “Well, love, aren’t you going to show him your ring?” Tobias’s voice resonates through the ro
“So, what inspired you to open and run your own bakery, spitfire?” Tobias breaks the awkward silence between us as we eat dinner. After Kip had left, I quickly gathered my things and stormed out of the house with Tobias hot on my heels. He didn't say anything, he simply picked up his pace and opened the back passenger door of the SUV. He waited till I got inside, sliding in after me, and then he told the driver to fetch my belongings and to be sure to lock the house up behind him. Fast forward two hours later and we are sitting down, eating dinner together. I pause with my fork full of pasta touching my bottom lip, and I look up, meeting Tobias’s curious gaze. Clearing my throat, I place my fork back down on my plate and wrap my fingers around the delicate stem of my wine glass, twirling it around in circles.“Well, if you can remember when you used to come and stay with us, I loved to bake and pour my emotions into whatever it was that I was making,” I reply nonchalantly.“I d