Page 53 of Hardy

I don’t know.

Diary Entry:5 years ago

Angel gave birth.Tate gavebirth.Everyone is giving birth, and their men are more loving thanever before.I’ve even heard that Lexie has given birth, and hastaken Simon, her sister’s kid, on as her own.It hurts.

Wounds that had beenhealing are being split open, tearing me apart.I’m moving on.I’mhappy, and now I’m being slapped, left, right, and center byeveryone around me.

I can’t handlethis.

It scares me.

It hurts me.

I’m not used to feelinglike this.

I hate myself.

I envy all ofthem.

What did I dowrong?

Diary Entry:3 years ago

I can’t do it.Her ghostis haunting me everywhere I go.She’s a constant reminder betweenHardy and me.

I was the one who changed,not him.

I’m the one who is scaredto put weight on.I’m scared to leave the club.I’m scared of allof the new beautiful women who are coming into the club.I sawAngel talking to Hardy with her easy smile and complete innocence,and for a split second, I wondered if she was screwing myhusband.

I’m an awful person.Ihate myself, and I can’t go on.

Each diary entry stripped Rose’s soulbare.They were the writings of a woman who was in love, filledwith fear, and overcome by sadness.Hardy didn’t know how she’dbeen able to cope with him for all of these years.The insight itgave him was powerful, and what he was going to use to finally winher over.

****

Three dayslater

Rose giggled as Hardy continuedto tickle her.They’d been playing cards, and she’d been teasing him aboutnot going to the clubhouse.He only had to wait a couple more daysand he’d have his woman at a prom.

“Will you stop?I’m goingto pee.”

He kept tickling her, remembering allof the zones she couldn’t stand to have touched.When he knew shecouldn’t stand it anymore, he grabbed the back of her neck, andkissed her lips hard.

“I want to take you out ona date tonight,” he said.

“A date?”

He nodded.

“At theclubhouse?”

He shook his head.

“I don’tunderstand.”

“It’s not hard.Whizz andLacey are moving out of the clubhouse, preparing their home forSally’s arrival—”

“I can’t believe they’re going toadopt a fifteen year old girl.”She sat back, leaning against thecouch.

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