Hood River Zero Read online K. Webster (Hood River Hoodlums #4)

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Dark, New Adult, Romance, Young Adult Tags Authors: Series: Hood River Hoodlums Series by K. Webster
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Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
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He touched me. Again.

That sick, disgusting, cruel bastard touched me.

And I can’t tell anyone about it.

As soon as the shower ends, I dress and crawl into my bed, ignoring the world in favor of some blissful quiet away from everyone.

This knight in shining armor gig is painful and stressful and terrifying.

It’s a good thing the princess’s happiness in the end is worth it.

Terrence

Sunday night, I was worried. It wasn’t like Penny to not reply to me. By Monday morning, I was sick with terror, ready to kill Eli or Paxton or Grayson. I was sure they’d done something to my girl. When she rolled into her dad’s place like she didn’t scare the shit out of everyone in her life, I was infuriated. It’s Wednesday and I’m still mad, but the hurt is starting to sink its claws in to feed on me.

I’m upset that she’s hiding something from me and has effectively closed herself off. It’s not that I think Penny was off getting dick from someone else. That’s not her. This is something else. Penny lives by her own code. Whatever she did, she had her reasons for doing it. Just like she has her reasons for keeping it from us. The part that hurts is that she feels like she can’t include me in those reasons. She’s been allowed front row access to all my shit, but when I probe about what’s going on with her, the door is slammed shut in my face.

Earlier, at practice, she played hard but kept to herself. Even Tierra is getting the cold shoulder. I hate that she’s pushing everyone away. It only makes me want to discover what’s wrong even more.

I stare at my phone, wondering if I should text her again. Every text has gone without a reply. Sure, most of them have been me being pissy with her, but I expected something in return. Not crickets. It’s like she’s mad at me for worrying when I should be the one mad at her.

Rather than texting her for the millionth time, I tidy up Cal’s living room some more before going to the window in the dining room to stare out.

I have something a little more pressing to deal with. My Penny problem will resume in just a bit. Right now, I need to give my focus to this moment. To her. Zella.

Samantha called yesterday to let me know I’ll be having my first meeting with Zella. The social worker is bringing her over so we can meet. It’s something the judge is requiring. I didn’t tell Samantha I’d already met Zella. I’m anxious as fuck because if she doesn’t warm up to me, it’ll kill me. I never cared about being a dad until I locked eyes with her that day, knowing without a shadow of a doubt she was mine. Now, I’ll move hell and earth to make sure I get her in my life.

A sedan pulls up to the cabin, making my heart skyrocket. The driver side door opens and a woman with graying hair steps out. She opens the back seat, unbuckles Zella, then holds on to her hand as they approach the cabin. I open the door, trying and failing to remain casual. I’m buzzing with nervous energy.

“Hi,” I call out, waving like an idiot.

Zella doesn’t look up at me. She chews on her bottom lip, staring at the ground.

“Hello, Mr. James,” the woman greets as they climb the porch steps. “I’m Renee. This here is Zella Teejay Henderson.”

I kneel down in front of Zella. “Hello, Zello.”

Her brown eyes lift to meet mine and she graces me with a small smile. Recognition flashes in her eyes, but not fear. If anything, she seems pleased to see me. Relief floods through me.

“Please, come in.” I stand back up and usher them inside. “Would you like something to drink?”

“I’d like a bottle of water. Zella? You want some water?”

“We have water and also orange soda. I love orange soda,” I tell her. “We even have silly straws for when my little buddy Sebban comes to visit. Want an orange soda with a silly straw?”

Zella frowns. “I’m not allowed to have soda. My daddy says it makes me bad.”

Renee and I exchange a stare, then she nods at me, allowing me to proceed as I feel necessary.

“This soda is just fine,” I assure her. “Sebban is your age. He drinks it all the time and he’s a good boy.”

Her brown eyes twinkle. “I want a silly straw.”

I let out a relieved breath that we’ve dodged our first awkward moment. Quickly, I grab the drinks and a pink silly straw. I hand one to Renee and then open the can for Zella. She watches me intently as I put the silly straw in and hand it to her. They sit side by side on the sofa and I take the recliner. Charlotte and Cal decided to go to dinner to allow me this time alone with Zella, but I’m nervous and wish Charlotte were here to make snacks or something because I feel so out of my depth here.


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