AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No, I’ve not lost my mind.
Or more of it, anyway.
But, swear to fuck, Steve looks up at me then turns his gaze forward and woofs again like he’s telling me to get my shit together.
Like he’s telling me to fucking pay attention.
I focus ahead of us, eyes squinting through the falling snow.
It’s harder to see Nova from down here, but I’m able to at least make out her silhouette in the trees.
“What?” I ask Steve as we reach the bottom of the stairs and he lurches to the end of the leash, a growl rumbling through his little body.
I squint again, letting Steve draw me forward through the snow.
Toward Nova.
Toward—
I falter for a step. “What the fuck?” I whisper as Steve’s growl increases in volume, as he all but drags me forward.
Drags me toward—
A man.
A man towering over Nova as she stands amongst those trees.
Twenty-Seven
Nova
One second,I’m in the moment.
The next, I’m staring at a man I never wanted to see again.
And he’s gripping my arms far too tight.
“What the fuck, Nova?” George shouts over the storm. “What are you doing?”
He starts dragging me forward, dragging me away from the peace I found, away from the sliver of happiness I regained, dragging me backward when I only want to move into the future.
“Let me go,” I snap, my camera jerking painfully on my neck as he yanks me toward him. I clutch at it, knowing that I barely managed to reattach the strap, that it could break again, my camera could fall and—
George’s eyes flash and he shakes me roughly. “No fucking way.”
A tendril of fear curls through me.
Because I’ve never seen him like this.
Because this is scary.
“Do you know how much of a pain in the ass it was to find you?” he snaps. “Do you have any fucking idea? One day you’re staying with Ella and the next, I come home and all your shit is gone.”
“Why would you want to find me?” I ask, trying again to slip out of his hold, trying to inch away so I can get away from him, get back to the house. To…Lake.
His hands tighten. “You’re my girlfriend.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. I see that my reaction pisses him off more, know that it’s the wrong move, but…I can’t stop it. Because, “I saw you and Ashley.”
