Page 21 of Bought and Broken

“How many Tatums do you know, Summer?” I snap back.

“Sorry,” she mutters.

I hear a door squeak and picture her walking out of her room and down the hall. There’s the soft click of the toilet lid and then her peeing.

“Really?” I ask.

“I had to go!”

“What am I going to do?” I whine.

“Why are you stuck there? I’m confused.”

“I just have to stay here. It’s part of the contract.”

“Did you do something illegal?”

Uhm, is this illegal? I’m honestly not sure…

“No,” I say carefully. “At least, I don’t think so.”

“Devon!”

“Don’t yell at me. Don’t make this worse. What do I do?”

“How did you end up there? Did he kidnap you or something?”

“His limo dropped us off.”

The toilet flushes and another door squeaks. “So, you went there willingly?”

“Stop asking questions I can’t answer!”

“I’m trying to understand so I can help!” she whisper-shouts.

I let out a frustrated sound, dropping onto the bed. My night was going so well. Everything was perfect. Then Tatum had to show his stupid face!

“All you need to know is that he chose for me to be here. I’m stuck here. Why the hell would he do that?”

“So, he wants you to be there, but you don’t want to be there, but you can’t leave?”

“That’s what I said!”

“Have you asked him?”

It falls silent as I wait for her to tell me she’s joking.

“No,” I say firmly when she doesn’t speak. “How am I supposed to talk to him?”

“By opening your mouth and using your words.”

“You know what I mean!”

She’s silent, and I have the feeling she wants to say something I’m not going to like.

“Just say it,” I tell her.

“Well, with the little bit of information I have, I’m going to say this: what if it’s because he still has feelings for you?”

---