Torn

Torn Book One Emily Camp Copyright © 2023 by Emily Camp All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Contents 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19. Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 26. Chapter 26 27. Chapter 27 28. Chapter 28 29. Chapter 29 30. Chapter 30 31. Chapter 31 32. Chapter 32 33. Chapter 33 34. Chapter 34 35. Chapter 35 36. Chapter 36 37. Chapter 37 38. Chapter 38 39. Chapter 39 40. Chapter 40 41. Chapter 41 42. Chapter 42 Sneak Peek of Apart, Torn Part 2 Chapter 2 Acknowledgements Also By Emily Follow Emily Chapter 1 Sierra Rain pelted Sierra’s windshield. Even with the wipers at full speed, it was nearly impossible to see out the glass. They’d been in the car for over six hours. Sierra wanted to be home. Only the last time she was there, she didn’t have her preschooler, Kennedy in the backseat crying because she wanted to be free of her car seat. “We’ll be out soon,” Sierra said, but it did little to calm Kennedy. Kennedy was a good child, but even the best three-year-old needed to get out and stretch once in a while. Sierra should have waited until night. However, being a single woman with a little girl, she didn’t feel comfortable being on the road in the middle of the night. She was barely comfortable doing this during the day. Sierra pulled off the highway. “I want out, Mommy,” Kennedy whined. “I know.” Sierra white knuckled the steering wheel as she crept down the off ramp, behind a line of traffic with the same idea. She could barely see a thing in this monsoon. Her heart broke with every cry from the backseat. Sierra’s heart raced. She hadn’t called anyone to let them know she was coming. She hated that she didn’t make things work in North Carolina. The first place she’d gone after graduating. Her father had made it sound like a great place. That was much better than Ohio. He’d fill her with many stories, making her feel like a better life awaited her miles away. The only thing better about it had been the beaches and the barely existent winters. Mom tried to talk her out of it, but Sierra didn’t listen. Most people she graduated with left for college. Sierra left to be with a man who was on her birth certificate, but never really was a father. Worst of all, she ended up marrying a man just like him. Sierra was relieved when, only a few feet from the off ramp, there was a McDonald’s that still had a play place. Sierra parked the car, running over a curb on her way in the parking lot because. The rain made it impossible to see. Her entire back was soaked by the time she pulled Kennedy out of the car. She’d like to get dry clothes on, but that would require digging through her stuff in the back and she wasn’t about to do that. Sierra pulled Kennedy against her chest. Her blonde curls tickled Sierra’s nose. She shielded them from the rain with her jean jacket and ran inside. Kennedy wiggled to get down as soon as the doors shut behind them. Her shoes sloshed in the puddles Sierra created as she walked. People were staring. No, they weren’t staring. She needed to get over that. Nobody knew her here. Why would they stare? After receiving their food, Sierra balanced the tray in one hand, her other wrapped around Kennedy’s, and headed to the play area. She sat at a table and gave Kennedy a Happy Meal. Sierra looked at her phone. Several missed calls from Mom. She hadn’t told her she was coming yet. Kennedy was much happier now, kicking and talking. She made her chicken nuggets dance along the tray. When she dipped them in ketchup, she pretended they were going swimming. Sierra needed to call her mother. Up until yesterday, Sierra had been telling her how great things were. Why would Mom have any reason to believe differently? Trevor had always been on his best behavior when Mom came to visit. Sierra hadn’t seen him since their last fight two weeks ago. She rubbed the spot where her wedding ring had been. It was paler than the rest of her finger. “Mommy, can I go play now?” Kennedy looked at the indoor playground. Her chicken nuggets forgotten after two bites. “Yeah,” Sierra leaned forward. “Hold on, let’s wipe your hands.” Sierra fished a wipe from her crossbody purse. It was small, but she kept it close, just in case. They only had so much money to get home and they were barely over halfway. The sign read Virginia is for Lovers, when they’d crossed the border. If she had the money, she would have set up here and stayed somewhere. New and hopeful. Though getting away from Trevor would be the best thing she ever did, going home made her feel like a failure. What did she have there? She wiped Kennedy’s hands and face before Kennedy ran to play. Sierra sat with her back against the wall, watching Kennedy climb into the little house. She checked her phone. Eight missed calls and just as many voicemails, along with some texts. Sierra wasn’t about to use her phone while driving roads she didn’t know, especially when the weather was as bad as it was. She hoped she would be reaching the end. Maybe once they