Four years and then forever.
That’s what she said. What she promised.
But as I read the last word, finding my entire world crumbling beneath my feet, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Marlee May Parker is a motherfuckingliar,because she’s no longer promising me forever.
“I want a big life, Kade. Cities, adventure, the world. Something more than a dusty town and a farm that smells like hay, horse shit, and honey. You dream small, and I can’t shrink myself to fit it. I don’t want this. I don’t want you. I can’t do this anymore. I don’t love you.”
The paper slips from my fingers, fluttering gently in the air, like a delicate feather on the wind, instead of a death knell in my entire relationship.
Fuck… in my world.
Nausea swells rapidly in my throat, and I swallow it down, refusing to give way to the emotions battering against my insides.
Not yet.
Not right now.
Instead, I slowly push to my feet and roll my shoulders back. I inhale once, hold it for ten beats, then exhale, releasing every aching pain and desire to scream,to fucking rage, out with it.
Not yet.
Not right now.
It takes me less than five minutes to make it to the administrative building and even less time to barge into my C.O.’s office. He’s probably pissed, and I’m more than likely about to get my ass reamed but I don’t care.
I don’t care about anything.
Not even as the words that will once again change my life slip from my lips without pause.
“I’d like to extend my contract, Sir. I’m no longer going home.”
Fuck forever and fuck happily ever after’s.
Chapter One
WiFi Strong, Life Weak
9YEARS LATER
Fuck is that?
An incessant buzzing noise tries to pull me from my dreamless sleep. I ignore it, willing it to shut the fuck up. Hold my breath, head pounding as the seconds tick by.
When it finally stops, I exhale roughly, shoving my face deeper into my pillow, and pray for darkness to find me again.
Half a minute later, it starts up again.
“Goddammit!” I snap, shoving upright in my bed.
My world spins, blurry vision straining against the burning light spilling in from my window. I squeeze my eyes shut, breathing deeply. My head pounds, and my right eye twitches so rapidly, I seriously consider taking a knife to it.
The laminate floor is cold under my feet. I really need a rug. But getting a rug means going out, means shopping and buying things for this shithole of an apartment, and if I do that…
Shaking my head, I spear my fingers through my hair, getting caught up in the tangles halfway through.
My phone buzzes, and I yank the fuckin’ thing from my nightstand. The charger releases with a jerk, and the rickety, hand-me-down end table wobbles precariously. My brow arches as I eye the ancient wood for a moment, wondering if this will be the day it finally gives out.
It sways once, twice, before settling with a creak. Could just fix it, but again, fixing reeks of permanence, and the only thing I want permanently in this life is a good buzz and some fucking silence.
