Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“They may not like Dion, but this is Hades Hollow. No one likes anyone here.”
I pull into the driveway of the surf club. “Is it too early?”
“No!” Cooper jumps out of the passenger side, and I follow, shutting the door behind myself. “We can surf all day, and I have Dani bringing you clothes to wear tonight. Girl, we want this to be your best.” He tucks me under his arm and directs me toward the glass doors of the building.
Our surf club isn’t like most. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Hades Hollow, but it has been renovated too. It was one of the first buildings that was extended by Ruin’s dad, who is the local carpenter and builder. The original structure was old wood with signage at the front that read Colueta Bunuk, which translates from our native tongue to Community Village in English. Our language died years and years ago, and even in the schools here, they no longer teach it.
“Surf and eat, and then drink.”
We climb the steps before rounding the floor-to-ceiling glass panel windows that surround the entire bottom level. There’s a wraparound porch that leads to the back of the building, where surfboards are lined for rent.
Dani and a couple of her friends are sitting at a picnic table, and at another beside them is a group of guys. I find Ruin instantly. He smiles up at me, pushing from his chair and running toward us. It feels like it has been months since I last saw him, and I’m not sure if I want him anywhere near me right now. His attention feels a little too close to cheating. That makes no sense at all.
Scooping me up into his arms, he drops a kiss on the side of my neck, and I find myself recoiling back. Not enough for it to be obvious because Ruin is too dense to notice, but enough for me to realize that without even thinking, my body didn’t want him touching it.
“Happy birthday, princess.”
I fight with myself to smile back up at him. “Thanks.”
Did I hate being called princess as much as I do right now?
He directs us to the tables, where the rest of the football team are.
“Happy birthday, Shi!” Ben, our linebacker, comes in and gives me a quick hug.
“Thanks, B.”
Little arms circle my waist and I look down at the ink lined up her forearm. I jump with a scream, spinning around in a rush.
“Oh my fucking God!” When I see Blaire, I have to fight the tears from rolling down my cheeks. “Are you fucking kidding!”
Blaire’s smile turns wickedly wide. “Happy birthday, bitch!”
I leap into her arms, and she laughs, stumbling us backward until we fall onto the sand. “Oh my God!” I squeeze her cheeks. “When the hell did you land?”
Before—and during—Cooper, I had Blaire. I will always have Blaire. She’s a year older than Cooper and me, but she has been my best friend since before we were born. Our mothers were best friends all their lives, and when my father left us, my mom and hers moved in together, so we lived like sisters, right up until her mom passed away and she was shipped off to live with a family in Italy. I haven’t seen her in two years.
“I’m here! Damn! Can I get a kiss too?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I move off her, tossing sand onto her bare belly.
“Oh, don’t worry, Blaire! She’s been getting plenty of that lately.” I ignore Cooper’s jab, and when Ruin asks him what that’s supposed to mean, I quickly try to change the subject.
“When did you get in?”
“Just this morning.” Blaire reaches for my hand. “I’m sorry about your mom, Cookie.” Hearing the nickname only Blaire used is like a hit of nostalgia that I didn’t ask for.
I breathe out a deep breath, keeping my eyes on hers. Blaire and I have always had a bond that not many people could understand. When we were little, we thought we had trained ourselves to read each other’s minds. Eventually, we were finishing sentences, giving each other what the other was thinking before we could say it, and we both knew when the other hated someone. Mainly Blaire since she was the original bitch of the group. I sometimes think Cooper took her role when she left.
I watch as the corner of her eye twitches, her mouth opening slightly. Blaire has been and always will be the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. With long caramel blonde hair, deep lilac eyes to match mine, and darker skin, anywhere she goes, she turns heads. She holds a kind of beauty that you either love or you hate. Hate because how can one girl be that greedy with all of that. Her lips are soft with a slight swell, and when the corner tips up in a curve, I know she’s figured me out. In a matter of minutes, she sees right through me.