Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Wow,” she says, her blond brow arched high. “You should consider writing romance novels if this whole teacher gig falls through. Instant bestseller with those sweet words.”
I smack her ass. “Don’t be a brat.”
Her fingers thread into my hair and she leans forward to kiss me. I figure this must be her accepting my apology. Her taste is salty and addictive. I’m considering peeling off her tiny shorts so I can lick her sweaty cunt when her phone buzzes in her bag.
“Just a friend,” she reminds me in a sassy tone.
I roll my eyes. “As long as your friend knows you’re my fucking girl, we’re good.”
Her smile is sweet until she reads her text. The sharp suck of breath and instant paling of her flushed cheeks tells me whatever it is, isn’t good. I grip her wrist, angling the phone toward me, so I can peek at the message.
Unknown Number: I have thirty more burner phones all with your number programmed in. You can be a bitch all you want, but I’ll still find a way to reach you.
“What the fuck?” I bark out, making her jump.
“It’s just Ryan being his usual self.” She sighs, scowling at her phone.
Unknown Number: Grayson says you’re in the gym right now with that asshole.
Oh. Fuck. No.
I lift Charlotte off my lap, exploding with rage, and run to the gym door that leads outside. As soon as I burst through the doors, two guys take one look at me and take off running. I start for them, but Charlotte grabs my arm, stopping me.
“Just leave it be,” she orders. “I’ve got it handled.”
Her phone buzzes again. I snatch it from her.
Unknown Number: If you’re fucking him, you’re going to regret it, baby.
“I’m going to kill him,” I growl.
She takes the phone back and then blocks the number. “There. Problem solved. Can we drop it?”
“No,” I snarl. “We can’t just drop it.”
“I need a shower. I can’t deal with this right now. Go, Cal. I’ve had enough of you today.”
“Oh come the fuck on.” I throw my hands up in the air. “I’m supposed to stand around and let this psycho terrorize my fucking girl?”
“Maybe your fucking girl doesn’t want to talk about it!”
“Too damn bad!”
We’re both glowering at each other, breathing heavily when someone walks up behind me.
“You should go,” Penny says. “Go cool off. I’ll take Charlotte home.”
I want to argue, but I’m too pissed.
“Call me when you’re done acting like this, parasite,” I toss out at her, fury dripping from my words.
Charlotte gives me an exaggerated thumbs-up that pisses me right the fuck off before she storms back into the gym. I start forward and Penny pats my chest, shaking her head.
“Bye, Hoodlum. She’ll call you later.”
Charlotte
I blame my period for the messy emotions.
Ever since Monday when I got pissed at Cal and conveniently started menstruating, I haven’t been able to let it go. He was a total dick about Loden and then went all caveman over Ryan. We’re both pretty good at being stubborn brats, because neither of us has made the move to apologize. He overreacted, but so did I. I miss him, but I’m hormonal and feel like raging any time I consider being the first to apologize.
So, instead, I stew.
My legs feel like jelly and every muscle screams in pain. Coach Jenner has been pushing us every day after school. You’d think after three practices in, I’d be used to it. Each day is harder than the last, though.
After a shower, I change into some pajamas, ignoring the fact it’s not even six in the evening, and head to the kitchen to figure something out to eat. It’s then I notice the presence at the kitchen table.
Jace and Samantha.
I flash them my fake cheerleader smile. “Hey.”
Jace’s gaze flits over me, assessing me from head to toe, before landing back on my face. “Hey, cheerleader.”
“I swear you have ADD,” Samantha grumbles. “I need you to look over this paperwork and sign it. Stop getting distracted by teenage boobs.”
Sure, my tank top is tight and sure I’m not wearing a bra because I forgot he freaking lives here now, but at least my boobs aren’t spilling out of the top like hers are.
Jace lets his eyes linger on me a second longer—not because he’s checking me out, but because he’s trying to figure me out—before he turns back to Samantha. I rummage around in the kitchen until I find the ingredients for an omelet.
“Call me if this job doesn’t pan out. I’ll help you find a new one,” Samantha says, rising from the table. “Be a good boy, Jace.” She pats him on the head and then leaves without a word of goodbye to me.
I ignore her to chop up some green onions when a fiery, imposing presence pulsates into me from behind. His nearness makes me shiver. Whirling around, I hold the chopping knife between us, forcing a glare.