Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
I take a deep breath. “Tell me more about this Bobby Gene guy—which is a really weird name, by the way.”
Bubbly and eager, she waves me off and starts in. “Just ignore his name. You’ll love him. He’s on the baseball team but not a horn-dog. He’s nice—like you requested. No athlete floozies chasing him, no fetishes that I know of.”
“Key words being that I know of.” I smirk.
“You’re just anti-guy right now. At least he isn’t a football player.”
That is true.
She straightens her red halter top, which matches her hair. “Plus, Bobby Gene’s Tyler’s friend, so this is important.”
“Of course,” I murmur, but I’m feeling ambivalent. I mean, she’s put a lot of effort into arranging this, so I don’t want to be negative, but…Tyler’s a bit of a jerk. I’ve noticed him checking out other girls when they’re together then playing it off when she calls him on it. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe I’m just in a funk because my boyfriend cheated on me.
Whatever.
I just hope Bobby Gene is nice.
Skye gets a thoughtful look on her face. “You know, I wanted to tell you that I saw Alex on campus today and he looked…I don’t know…sad.” She sees my face and holds her hands up. “I mean, yes, he’s a major douchebag and I’ll hate him until the end of time for you…” Her voice trails off as she grimaces, giving me a please don’t be mad at me look. “But, I don’t know, maybe someday you guys can be friends again?”
I stare down at my drink. That’s the rub—we were all three great friends. I also adore Alex’s family in Texas, and now I’ll never get to see them again. Ugh. I don’t want to think about him right now.
A noncommittal shrug is my answer.
She sighs. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even mentioned it.”
I nod. I know she misses him too since he was over at the house a lot. Before she met Tyler, we spent lots of nights hanging out, cooking, and watching movies together. There were even times I was a little jealous of the camaraderie she and Alex had, but I knew she wasn’t interested in him that way and he loved me. Ha. Right.
Paging Princess Leia. Where are you?
My happiness level goes up a notch as I read the text and quickly tap out a reply. Skye doesn’t notice as she orders another round of drinks from our waitress, who’s stopped by the table. I don’t know why I want to keep He-Man a secret, but I do, as if he’s all mine and I need that for some reason.
On a blind date.
Oh. Where?
I’ll give you two hints: there are beers and peanuts on the table.
Ah, Buffalo Bills. Do you want me to rescue you? I can call and pretend I’m your aunt who’s terribly sick.
I giggle. That’s AWFUL! I’m disappointed you’d encourage a lie.
Okay. Hey, I saw you at the library last night—nice dare completion. I was digging the buns on your head.
Oh my God. He was there.
My heart thuds, racing back through every single face I encountered.
I recall how at precisely eight, I stood in the middle of the study area and yelled out, “Princess Leia is a badass!” I’d even put my blonde hair up in little fluffy buns on the sides of my head before work. I’d also gone all out with my clothing choices, wearing a fitted white shirt and a pair of white jeans—in February! Deep red lipstick completed the look. If I do a dare, I do it right. The shy girl in me loved letting loose and knowing it was for a dare, which gave me the courage to do it. My eyes scanned the place, but I was so nervous, it was hard to take a good inventory of who was there. It was at least most of the football team since they do study sessions there on Mondays, and several baseball players saw it along with some guys in fraternity jerseys.
Everyone stared. A few clapped. Some whistled.
Did it feel good to do the dare? he asks.
Yes, I reply. It was fucking empowering, especially when Alex stared at me with a forlorn look on his face, obviously missing me.
I saw Maverick there too, surrounded by a group of girls at a table. His response to my outburst? A simple smirk and a head nod.
I chew on my lip, wondering once again who He-Man is.
Hey, you’re not the skinny hipster guy who hangs out in the romance section looking for dates are you?
He sends a whole string of laughing/crying emojis.
If I stood in the romance section, I’d never make it out alive. I’m already irresistible, but put Twilight in my hands and girls will piss themselves.
“Why are you giggling?” Skye asks, and I raise my head. Her gaze goes to my phone.