Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
"Go talk to your girl, sweet boy," Ma Lucia says and pats me on the cheek. "I'll wait for a little while to start dinner."
"Thanks, Ma Lucia. But you don't have to cook. I'll do it after I check on January." I kiss her on the cheek once more and then fly down the stairs to go check on January. Her mom works late during the school week so she can be at home with January and Titan on the weekends, so I know January is probably in there by herself, freaking out about kissing me.
I jog up the steps to her front door and knock.
"Go away, Cade!" she yells from inside.
I smile and shake my head. She can't believe that's going to work. It never does.
"You know I'm not going away," I call softly and tap on the door again.
She doesn't say anything, but I hear her shuffling around inside.
"Don't make me use the hid-a-key, little monster."
She cracks it open a second later. Her eyes are red and puffy. Knowing she's been crying makes my chest ache.
I press my palm to my sternum, trying to rub away the little pain, but then a tear slips down her cheek. As soon as I see it, I push the door open, forcing her to let me inside with her.
"Don't cry," I plead, pulling her into my arms before she can turn away from me. "Please don't cry."
She burrows her face into my shirt but doesn't return my embrace.
"I'm fucking glad you kissed me," I blurt, rubbing her back.
"You are?" she whispers, her voice muffled.
"Yeah." I smile.
She's quiet for a minute. "You're not mad at me?"
"I'm never mad at you, baby girl."
"You said I was just a kid."
"I was jealous," I admit, running my hands through her hair. It's so soft. It slips through my fingers like strands of silk. I could play with her hair all day and never get tired of it. "He asked you to the dance and you didn't tell him no. It pissed me off."
"Oh. Why?"
"Because I want you to be mine."
She tips her head back to gawk at me, her mouth opened in a surprised "O". I can't help but chuckle at how adorable she looks with her mouth hanging open like that. I brush away the tears drying on her cheeks and then push her mouth closed with a finger beneath her chin. She is incredibly beautiful. Even with her eyes all red and puffy, she's the prettiest little monster I've ever met before. She still reminds me of the little dolls she used to have in her room…the porcelain ones with the big, pretty eyes.
"Titan's probably going to be pissed about it," I whisper to her and then kiss her on the forehead and both of her cheeks. Her skin is even softer than her hair. "But I've wanted to kiss you for a long time."
"Oh."
"Do you want to go to the dance with Corey?" I ask, worried she might like him. I'm not sure what I'm going to do if she does. Probably kick his ass so he can't come near her and then beg her to forgive me for it after I do it. She'll have to forgive me eventually, right?
Shit, I hope so. It'd suck if she stayed pissed at me forever.
"No," she whispers, allowing me to pull in a deep breath of relief. Her lashes flutter. They're so long. Her emerald eyes catch mine, searing into me. "I wanted you to kiss me too."
"How long?"
"A long time," she mumbles, her cheeks turning pink.
Happiness swells inside me, sending my heart soaring. I feel like a king with her sweet words ringing in my ears. The smile on my face feels like it's going to crack my cheeks because it's so big, but I don't care. She likes me too. I'm the luckiest bastard on the planet.
"Can I kiss you now?" I whisper, my voice husky.
She nods.
I lean forward and press my lips to hers. Just like our first kiss, this one is incredible…only it's better, because she doesn't run from me this time.
I close my eyes, letting the memory wash over me. But then reality slaps me in the face, and I'm just standing there alone, the bitter taste of regret choking me.
Fuck. I need to get out of here.
I hop on my bike, the city lights beckoning like a beacon of sin calling its lost son home.
Chapter Six
January
Ithink I'm dying. Actually, I think my best friend is dying because I'm going to kill her. My head pounds so hard as I lay in my bed that it feels like a hot poker stabs me in the temple over and over. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, and my lips are dry and cracked. I desperately need to brush my teeth and gargle a bottle of mouthwash.