Page 11

How is this my life? All I do is work, making just enough to pay the bills.

I hardly have time to see Olivia anymore, and after finding out she’s pregnant, I feel like I’m missing out on a lot in life.

I want what she has. Someone to love me, someone I can come home to. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone, but I know my forever man isn’t in this town.

Maybe I should leave, sell the house, and start over.

However, if I did that, I’d be away from my best friend, the only person I have in my life.

My parents died when I was a teenager and my grandparents raised me on their own.

None of my aunts and uncles live nearby, so apart from visiting for holidays, I never saw them.

Those visits stopped a few years ago after my grandparents passed away.

Still, is that enough to keep me here?

Where’s a billionaire when you need one? A hot, possessive man who sweeps me away in the middle of the night and insists on making me his, never to worry about a thing for the rest of my life.

Sadly, this is real life.

Not all the men in this town are bad, I’m just not interested in any of the good ones.

And I’m not desperate enough to settle.

So, for right now, it’s just me and Luna.

And the unhealthy fantasies I have when I'm alone. The number of times I catch myself thinking of Midnight, Sky, and Sunshine should have me committed to a mental institution.

To be that fixated on fictional men is just sad.

I think it’s time to book another appointment with my therapist.

I’m mopping the floors, humming along to the song playing when I get the feeling that someone’s watching me. Goosebumps ripple along my skin, making me shiver. This heavy feeling on my back.

My eyes dart around, searching the room. It’s empty, of course.

A wave of unease shudders through me as I look out the windows. It’s dark, and heavy rain beats against the glass.

With each passing second, my heart rate grows more erratic as I psych myself up.

“Sometimes, I really wish my mind would shut the fuck up,” I grumble to myself as thoughts of someone breaking in and murdering me flutter through my mind.

The floors are clean enough. I’m going home. Fuck this.

Putting the cleaning supplies away, I grab my coat and purse. “Just in case,” I mutter, removing the gun from my bag and keeping it in my hand as I shut off all the lights and lock up.

Thankfully, I parked by the front door, despite Boomer’s grumbling about employees taking up customer parking. What fucking customers?! We’ve had ten in the past three fucking days.

I’m not getting drenched and covered in mud when there's space close to the door.

Still, with how badly it’s raining, I’m soaked by the time I slide into the driver's seat of my truck.

Slamming the door shut, I shiver, shaking off the water as I put the key into the ignition. “Ne-e-ed some heat in he-here,” I stutter, my teeth chattering.

Turning the key, I blink in disbelief when nothing happens. Not a sound.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I hiss, letting out a weak laugh. “Of course. Of fucking course. Because nothing in my life can go right.” I try the key again. Nothing. “Work, you sack of shit!” I shout in anger, hitting the steering wheel with my left hand before trying again.