Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 24266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
He ignored me until we reached the last door on the left.
Carrying me to the bed, he pulled back the covers and waited until I moved under them.
He turned on the lamp light, and then he walked away.
I thought he was leaving, but he returned with a glass of water.
“Thank you,” I said. “Dinner was a good idea. I really was hungry.”
“I’m aware.” He sat on the edge of my mattress, watching me until I sipped every drop from the glass.
“Are you seeing someone new these days?” he asked.
“Not anymore. I thought we were going to be serious, but then he dumped me on his birthday.”
“Why would any sane guy do that?”
“He claimed that he needed to be with someone more stable in life. Someone with a vision and hard-lined plan for her future.”
“He should’ve known after the first date that wasn’t you.”
“That’s what I said.” I scoffed. “Like how could he not see that? You knew that.”
“Because I was your best friend.”
“Boyfriend. You were my boyfriend.” I paused. “Can I tell you something?”
“You’re not sober, so no.” He adjusted my pillow. “You should go to sleep.”
“I’ve dated a lot of guys since we ended things–”
“You ended things, Dahlia.”
“Right, well…” I couldn’t keep it to myself. “I always compare them to you, and it hurts so badly because they never add up and I’m always settling, you know?”
He said nothing.
“They don’t kiss me like you used to, don’t listen to me or come running when I cry, and whenever I try to suggest fun little things like random letters or flowers for no reason, it’s like…” I stopped myself. “Thank you very much for dinner, Everett. I needed that.”
“You’re still as fucking beautiful now as you were on the day I first saw you,” he said. “You’ll always be number one on my list when it comes to that.”
My eyes widened, and I rushed to change the subject. “I truly enjoyed all of Chef Lumen’s courses.”
“Your smile is different now, though. It’s like you’re scared to be happy for even a second.”
“And I had no idea how well that his chocolate mousse would taste with the carrot sauce.”
“Stop fucking with me, Dahlia.”
“You’re engaged to be married. I’m trying to keep you focused.”
“Do you really believe that Carmen is cheating on me?”
“I believe I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“Answer my question.”
“We agreed not to talk about it.”
“We agreed to be together forever as well, but you changed the rules on that, too.” He leaned forward. “Answer my question.”
His lips were so close to mine at this moment that if either of us moved an inch or breathed a bit harder, they’d touch.
Maybe, just maybe…
“Goodnight, Dahlia.” He suddenly moved back. “Hope you feel better in the morning.”
“Goodbye Everett,” I said. “Hope Carmen makes you happy.”
GROWING SEASON
BACK THEN
Dahlia
Sunday is the best day of the week, the night I look forward to the most because Everett always arrives a little after five to help me finish the last of my outdoor tasks.
My mom lets him stay as long as he wants and even allows him to spend the night “as long as you both remain on the porch.”
So, we usually wait until she falls asleep before tiptoeing to my room. We return to the veranda before sunrise.
His kisses never fail to weaken my knees and leave me desperate for more, but I always abandon ship whenever we get too far out to sea.
Tonight, I’m sitting on his lap while he runs his fingers through my hair and kisses my lips.
His cock is hardening against my thigh, and I can feel him rubbing against me because I’m wearing one of his oversized T-shirts and nothing underneath.
It’d be so easy for me to let him take me right here, right now.
As he presses a hand against my side—the spot where he knows I’m ticklish—I struggle to hold back laughter.
He pulls back, smiling. “Why are you so nervous?”
“I’m not nervous at all.” I shrug. “I promise.”
He gives me a blank stare.
“Okay. Okay.” I slip out of his lap. “Can I tell you something personal?”
“Always.”
“Give me a second.” I rush to the bathroom and splash my face with water.
My reflection reveals the deep red marks he’s left on my neck and swollen lips.
I know that he’s slept with other girls before, and I’m assuming that they didn’t make him wait over a year to have sex, so…I don’t know if he’ll continue waiting for me.
Breathe, Dahlia, breathe.
I splash my face one more time before returning to the bedroom.
Everett has pulled on his shirt, but his jeans are still resting on my chair. He’s smoothing his briefs, but I can still see his cock print.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I sigh. “About the ‘something personal,’ I’ve never had sex before.”
“Really? I’m shocked.”
“You are?”
“Hell no.” He smiles. “That’s quite obvious.”
“Oh…” My cheeks redden. “I’m sorry I said I wanted to do it with you tonight because I mean, I do, I really do, but…”