Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Before I shut the door, I looked into her eyes. “Good luck with that, Jenny.”
Closing the door, I started my truck and drove off. I pushed my hand through my hair and let out a frustrated moan.
Why do I have the feeling I just poked the monster and woke it up?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
* * *
Skylar
MY MOTHER AND father were talking when I walked into the kitchen. Both of them looked at me and smiled.
“Your car is ready. We can pick it up on the way to school if you want.”
Smiling, I nodded. “Sounds good, Dad.”
“I can take her, Dad,” Mitch said, coming up from behind me. He made a beeline straight to the pancakes my mother was making.
“Want some, Skylar?” My mother asked.
With a quick glance down to the yummy-looking pancakes, I slowly shook my head. “Nah, I’ll pass.”
“You sure? They’re cinnamon vanilla,” she said with a wink.
“Positive. Unlike Mitch here, they will go straight to my thighs.”
Mitch laughed. “Hey, I need you to help me come up with a great way to ask Michelle to prom.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed while I poured my orange juice. “You’re dating. Isn’t it a given that you’re going together?”
My parents both chuckled.
“Yes, but I’m sure she still wants to be asked. Don’t you think, Dad? Aren’t women like that?”
Placing her hands on her hips, my mother cleared her throat. “Like what?”
Mitch shrugged. “You know…they expect things.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” I said, taking a seat at the kitchen island.
An angry look moved over my mother’s face. “Expect things?”
“Yeah, like when it’s Valentine’s Day, and they say they don’t want anything, but they really do. And if you don’t get them something, they get pissed.” He was digging himself deeper with each word.
My father stared at him in shock.
“Or prom, for instance. Last year, I didn’t ask Michelle. I just assumed we were going together. When I asked her what color her dress was, she wanted to know why I cared since I hadn’t asked her to prom. It’s stuff like that. Women expect men to know what they are thinking all the time.”
My father chuckled, earning a dirty look from my mother. “Um…my advice would be to ask her and have flowers in your hand when you do it. Then, bring some home to your mother.”
I couldn’t help it. I busted out laughing. “Mitch, are you about ready? We should leave a few minutes early.”
He nodded while shoveling in the pancakes. “I have a feeling I said something wrong,” he said with a smile. Kissing my mother on the cheek, he chuckled and said, “Love you, Mom.”
She sighed and replied, “I love you, too.”
Once we got into his truck, I laughed. “I would take her to that special spot y’all have. Maybe set up a picnic, bring one single rose, and ask her. She’ll like that.”
Mitch looked at me and smiled as he started to drive. “Thanks, Sky. What about you?”
Pinching my eyebrows together, I asked, “What about me?”
“Prom. Would you go if Wyatt asked you?”
I gripped my arms, as if in pain. The idea of going to prom with Wyatt had once been a dream. There would be nothing but whispers and stares if I went now. “I seriously don’t think Wyatt will ask, and if he did, I would say no.”
“Why?” he asked, frustrated.
With a gruff laugh, I shook my head and looked out the window. “Why would I go? So, I could hear people making snarky comments? Jenny would have a field day if I showed up at prom.”
“You have every right to be there, and she is just a bitch. No one cares anymore about what she says, Sky. Look at the people who have started talking to you again.”
I turned my head and looked at him. “A handful of people, Mitch. That’s it. The notes have finally started to die down. The last thing I want is to draw attention to myself again.”
“So, you’re going to miss your senior prom and let people like Jenny win?”
Swallowing hard, I forced the tears to stay at bay. “You don’t understand.”
“No, Skylar, I don’t understand. You were so happy with Wyatt. Things were getting better, I thought. You know deep down inside that Jenny set up Wyatt with that kiss, yet you keep him at arm’s length. You are miserable without him. Why can’t you admit that you love him?”
“What?”
Mitch laughed as he pulled into the dealership and parked. Looking at me, he shook his head. “Please don’t act like that is a shock to hear. The two of you are head over heels in love with each other. Stop letting what other people do or say keep you from happiness, Sky.”
My chin quivered as I looked into my brother’s eyes. “I’m scared, Mitch.”
Taking my hand in his, he kissed the back of it. “I know, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I really believe with all my heart that Wyatt is the one. The way he looks at you, Skylar, anyone can see it.”