Page 13 of Only Everything
“You want to marry me?” Panic. It was in every word as I tried to calm myself and stay upright. “But I ruined the surprise. I?—”
“Shh.” Again, he kissed my head. “You did what I said. You obeyed. You pushed yourself. That’s all I wanted you to do. Our day’s not ruined.” He smiled, cupping my face and kissing me. “It’s only just beginning.”
CHAPTER 5
REID
Darkness.Had I thought Emmett would stay true to his word and call?
Being a cop didn’t make you honest or dependable. Although a part of me knew it was too good to be true, I had held hope to at least that even if it was Emmett I was talking to, it would still somehow bring me closer to Tauren. If not directly, then by association.
I wanted to hear her voice. Even information about her could somehow sate this hole that was growing hotter and heavier in my chest. Couldn’t she feel it too? Didn’t she miss me as much as I missed her?
The thought? Fucking laughable. Tauren cared for no one but herself and her guard dog. That’s all Emmett was. He did the barking, and she held the leash. She wouldn’t even talk to me anymore. She had him try to brush me away like some pesky bug that was annoying their perfect life.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stared into theopening of trees in the distance. Lightning flashed, revealing their jagged outlines, and I tried to push away Tauren counting the seconds in my head.
One-one thousand. Two-one thousand.
We used to do that as we sat on the back of the sofa, staring out of the window. We’d turn all the lights out and just wait, counting the seconds before it would thunder. Every storm. Every time.
Thunder rumbled, and buzzing had me blinking in surprise. Had that been the thunder? I wrestled to get my hand in my pants pocket. I pulled out my cell, taking in the illuminated screen. My heart was exploding, and I could barely get my finger to go up to press the button. Was this even happening?
“…Taur?”
Her name came out strangled through my surprise.
“Reid, I don’t have long.”
“I told Lucus not to call you. I wanted to do that myself. I have—I’ve tried to call you.”
A pause. “I know.”
“If you know, why didn’t you pick up the phone? Why haven’t you called me back?”
Anger. I couldn’t hide it even though I knew I should have tried. At the sniffle, I felt myself slowly stand from the chair.
“You’re crying.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s something. What is going on with you? Did something happen?”
“It’s too long of a story to go into right now.”
“It’s not. We can talk. Let’s talk.” Panic was edging intomy tone. I couldn’t lose her again so soon. She’d finally called. “You don’t want to go into what’s wrong, fine.” I ran my hand down my face, trying to slow the engulfing emotions that wanted to have her here. “Tell me about you. What are you doing now, work, school? Have you been okay?”
Another sniffle. “I’ve been fine. I work. It’s a job, and I like it.”
“What sort of job?”
“Reid—”
“Not yet, Taur. Don’t leave me yet.”
“He doesn’t know I have my phone. I said I had to go to the bathroom. He’ll come looking for me if I don’t hurry back.”
“What is he, your keeper? You can’t go to the fucking bathroom without him holding your hand?”
