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"Cole's not going to chase afterit's true The look in Cole's eyes said it all Every wall I er than ever Cole shutabout hi, I look up at hiether "What about me?"
"Life isn't filled with do-overs How et at love? Most people are lucky if it cooing to let him walk away?"
I smile at Daddy, like he doesn't understand "I don't have a choice I went to Cole I told him the truth, and it didn't matter Lies are easier to believe"
Daddy smiles back like he knows better "That's true, but you knohat? Anything that's worth having is worth fighting for Love is a strange thing It shows up when you least expect it and defies expectation
"Ya know, I actually du souy, that he could take care of her in a way that I'd never be able to I said I didn't want to see her anymore Your Granny even sent me a thank you card with a bunch of cash inside to stay away" He s red marker I didn't walk away for ht your Ma would be happy Two days later, your Ma shows up, suitcase in hand, and that letter I saw the red
"Money's like poison, Anna Too hwho - if anybody - loves you, and who's just trying to get a piece of you Truth be told, no one loved your Ma, not even Granny
"The ones we love are worth fighting for Me and you are fighters, Anna We don't let things slip between our fingers, unless ant the a dark brow It see I'm made of thicker stuff - that I shouldn't slink away if I want Cole - but I have no idea how to fix so that's so broken
Chapter 3
Before sunrise, I'm back on the parkway, headed toward my apartment I need to stop there, ditch the bike, and put on clothes for Sottero's My internship only has a few days re My heart pounds harder as the clock ticks closer to eight I hate her I don't want to see Sottero, but I feel like there's so I should do
I walk into my room with a torapped around my body and another one in oose bu, I clutch the towel and turn around expecting to see solance at the , and see peopleif soone now Just in case I have a peeping to sure the closet door blocks my naked body
As I walk toward the front door, I see E in?"
I nod, "What am I supposed to do?"
"Kick her in the balls, because she e cojones to use you like that" Emma's eyes narrow as she shakes her head, like she's disappointed "What are you going to do?"
"I honestly don't know Part ofAnd I need to graduate"
"Do you?" Em plants a seed in , asking questions that I don't want the answers to She continues, "I raphy studio?"
Why did I choose this path? Why did I get two degrees to do a skilled job? Why did I have plans to get a doctorate? Because that was pretty much what Sottero did, because I had idolized her and was following in her footsteps My head turns slowly, as my eyes widen I didn't realize it, but I based my entire future on this horrible woman
"Oh, shit" Em mutters, "I broke your brain" She rushes out of the kitchen, dressed in a nice suit - which is weird - and wraps her ar stupid I didn'tFinish what you started" She setting through because of that dazed look on my face "That's what you always say, 'finish what you start' It's classic Anna Do that"
My eyes come into focus and I look at E slowly, I say, "That's exactly what I' to do I'll finish what I started"
E after ed out my heels for my sparkle yellow Chucks and take off for Sottero's I know exactly what I'hs pull at the scab onas I walk in deteretting ready for a bride that should arrive any second I grab her cup of coffee along the way The light brown liquid swishes as I walk, and gets close to the brim, but it doesn't spill
Deter this woman ruin my life I'll take the rubble and rebuild from the ashes I'll be better for it The only way I can fail is if I don't get up again, and I have no plans of staying down Screw that