Annabella's Oblivion (Hard World Tour #1) (12 page)

Present

“
That’s a nice story.” I didn’t realize I was speaking it out loud until Drake decided to add his comment. “You have a strong friendship.”

“
We had, yes.” It was probably in the ashes now.

“
You think that’s not the case anymore?”

“
I don’t know. I screwed up badly.” He made some notes again and looked at his watch.

“
Our hour is up, and I hope to see you in our next session tomorrow. Before you go, I want you to think about something, okay?” I didn’t even realize it had taken an hour to tell those few words, but nodded anyway. “If it was any of your girls in your place, would you give up on them?” He stood up and walked me to the door. I left feeling a bit out of sorts.

I knew the answer to that question; I didn’t need a whole day to think about it. I would have never, ever given up on any of them. After Nick, they were the closest thing I had to a family.

I would have done everything to help them.

Was there hope left after all?

I was afraid to believe there was.

“
That will be $5.99,” the cashier lady said, and my stomach sank.

I only had five in my pocket, and I thought it would have been enough for some milk and bread. It probably would have been if it wasn’t for my desire to buy some chocolate.

“
I’m sorry...could you...umm...could you take out the chocolate then?”

The cashier lady gave a stern look and muttered, “If you got no money, why do you even buy anything?” It was easier to act as though I didn’t hear it, not that it made it any less painful. Finally, she reduced it and I gave her the money, grabbed my bags, and was about to leave the place when a laugh, which made me sick, registered in my ears.

“
Looks like you’re having a bad day, huh, Bella?” Of course, with my luck, there was Patricia again.

The girl had rich parents and no idea what it was like to starve or need any money, and she loved to make fun of those who did. I hated her. She made me feel even worse about my family than I already did.

I tried to ignore her and walk past, but she painfully grabbed my hand and stopped me.

“
No, don’t leave just yet.” Suddenly, she smiled sweetly. “I feel bad for you. Let me buy you that chocolate.” She went inside and left me there, shocked.

I didn’t really want to stay there and wait, but wasn’t it rude not to do that? Maybe she really wanted to do a good thing.

She grabbed the one I wanted to try and paid for it with her black credit card, and I had a suspicion she probably had a lot of money on there. Cashier lady really liked her, and with her, the lady was extra smiley.

Finally, she came back to me and handed me the chocolate.

“
You didn’t have to. I think—” She just waved her hand.

“
No worries. Enjoy.” And with that, she left the shop and made me smile. Maybe I judged her too soon and she was actually a good person? I had never had much chocolate, so I didn’t hesitate and opened it to take a bite when a flash of light blinded me.

Startled, I saw how Patricia had snapped a picture of me with her flashy new camera and laughed.

“
What are you doing?” For some reason, the bite I just took was very bitter in my mouth, and nothing like the sweetness I expected.

“
Taking a picture, duh.” She rolled her eyes and took another one, and then I noticed other girls from our school had come over and were laughing with her.

“
But why?”

“
Oh, I didn’t mention it, did I? For my charity project for school, of course. You know, we will have your picture on the stand with the sign: “Help those in need.” I’m sure you will have more snacks then, too. Maybe someone will even give you their old clothes.” The girls kept on laughing, and Patricia grew bored of taking pictures and put it behind her. “Come on, girls. My job here is done.” She turned away, but I could still hear voices.

“
OMG, did you see her face? It was priceless!”

“
Yeah, good for her. She is trashy, just like her folks.”

“
Not to mention the clothes.”

“
Yeah, the only reason she isn’t bullied is because of Nick.”

“
OMG, Nick is one hot dude. I wish I could . . .” They were now too far away for me to hear them, and I desperately tried to hold my tears at bay.

I threw the remaining sweet treat into the trash bin and vowed to myself that someday they would all regret the shit they’d done to me. They would want to be like me, and I would prove them wrong. I was nothing like my parents.

Someday I would leave this awful place and never come back.

Someday I would be at the top and they would all be jealous of my life and eat their words.

Someday.

Ryan

Exhausted, I leaned back in the chair. I’d spent the majority of the day dealing with international calls and going over contracts. I may have come here to be with Bella, but I still had to take care of my hotels.

It was funny, really, how the one thing I hated the most somehow ended up being the very thing I loved to do.

The painful feeling in my stomach was a huge sign that I hadn’t had food since lunch, and since it was way past dinner, that was a hard limit for me. I went to the kitchen and turned on the lights.

It was clean, as always, and everything was put in order. Marie liked to run things in a certain way and never changed her habits.

I was in the middle of my steak and potatoes, which had been left for me in the fridge, when I heard the soft footsteps of bare feet and she entered the room.

It was easier to call her
she
, than by her name.

Every time I thought
Bella
was here in my house, it made me want to go to her, hold her to myself, and never let her go.

I was a hot mess who constantly thought about her, and thank God there was enough work. It kept me away from her.

We had spoken several times these last two weeks. I knew she’d had a couple of sessions with Drake and had followed his instructions. Usually, I just checked on her progress.

I always made sure we were never alone in the same room alone.

She was wearing pink pajamas; cotton shorts and a white t-shirt that was slightly loose on her, and her hair was down in waves and slightly wet. She’d probably just taken a shower.

“
Hey,” she said, but didn’t move from the doorway.

“
Hey,” I answered softly and raised a brow. “Are you gonna stand there and watch?” She blushed. I had no idea my girl still knew how to blush.

“
Yes, I mean no. I…I was just thirsty and wanted to drink something warm.” That made me frown.

“
There is no proper heating in your room?” My voice was a bit harsh and I could see she didn’t like it, but I couldn’t help it.

The house was warm all over, and I hated the idea that she suffered in the cold and her body was…

Don’t think about her body, buddy.

“
No, not at all. It’s warm. It’s just that
—” she closed her mouth abruptly and shook her head. “Never mind. I think I’m not that thirsty anymore. I’ll leave you to your dinner alone.” She turned around and was about to leave when, against my better judgment, I stopped her.

“
You can stay if you want. I don’t mind.” She looked over her shoulder and there was something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite catch.

“
Are you sure?”

“
Positive. Believe it or not, I don’t exactly like to be alone all the time.” I tried to joke, but it sounded flat. I still remembered the time I had asked her to have lunch together and she had no reaction, but the expression of horror on her face had done all the talking.

I never made that kind of mistake again.

With a slight hesitation, she came back, took the pot, made herself some tea, and sat down near me at the table. She didn’t look me in the eyes, and for some reason that was damned amusing.

“
Where are we?” She played with the lip of her cup, her finger making circles on the top.

“
What do you mean?” It was hard to focus when she did that; it made me think about being the one on the receiving end of her attention.

You are insane, Ryan. The last thing she needs right now is sex
—
or your attention, for that matter.

“
I know the ranch is yours and all, but where exactly are we? I have no phone, and I didn’t ask anyone. I would like to know my location, you know.” She sounded vulnerable.

Now this was difficult. I had no idea how she would take the news, but I had a feeling there was no choice to make.

“
Texas.” She snapped her eyes at me and took a deep breath.

“
Where in Texas?” Her voice was calm, too calm, if the emotions in her eyes were anything to judge by.

“
Moonlight Rose Town.” She stood up abruptly.

“
What? You brought me to my freaking home town?” She was now filled with anger and breathing hard. “I promised myself I would never come back to this fucking town that screwed me and my brother over, and here I am!” She moved the cup to the sink and I wondered how she didn’t shatter it, but she was careful with it. “And what a ridiculous name it’s got! Like we have any rare roses left here anyway!” Good point, but still—

“
Really, Bella—”

“
No! You have no idea what it was like to grow up in this town, and you’ve brought me here?”

“
Calm down.” My voice was harsh and cold. She had to stop her hysterics.

“
I won’t calm down!” Now she screamed, and I stood up and backed her to the wall. She let out a gasp of surprise.

“
Keep your voice down. I don’t need you to wake up the whole house.”

“
Let me go!” she hissed, but she lowered her voice this time.

“
When you calm down, I will.” We were both breathing hard now, and I noticed the position we were in, me holding her against the wall so tightly that my body was flush against hers and her hands were in my hands, because I wanted for her to stop struggling.

This was no good.

We looked each other in the eyes and I was struck with those violet eyes of hers. I had never seen the color on another woman before or after her. It was so easy to get lost in her and in this.

But this was wrong.

I leaned back, let her go, and took a step back, trying to calm myself. One of us needed to be sane, and right now, that would have to be me.

“
You don’t need to go into town. You can spend all your time here. What difference does it make?” She shifted her focus on something behind my shoulder.

“
It just is. I hate this town. You will never understand.”

“
Let’s not make assumptions of what I do and don’t understand.” She took a second, and then pulled herself away from the wall and made it to the door.

“
I’m sorry, but I want to be alone right now, if you don’t mind. I know I have no choice in the matter, but I still don’t like it. Good night.”

“
Good night.” Before I could even finish my sentence, she’d fled from the kitchen and left me standing there alone.

Some people in town had not been kind to her, but every place had those kind of people. The majority of townsfolk were good and worked hard. It was a beautiful place to live, but she couldn’t see it because she had some kind of fucked-up perception. I wondered if there would be a time when she saw things differently.