Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I think I could vouch for that,” I muttered, my cheeks heating.
“Are their appetites still out of control?” Mom asked.
“Yup. I swear they eat five times a day.”
“Jealous. My figure would never survive it,” Mrs. Larsen said, and we all laughed.
Dad arrived in time for Alex’s event, dressed in a suit and with his cell phone plastered to his ear. The relief on Bailey’s face said it all—he’d take any crumbs Dad offered him. Suppose it could’ve been worse. At least he made the effort. For Bailey, most of all.
Conversation was a bit more strained after Dad showed up, but he did ask me about my classes once Mom brought them up. I told him some details half-heartedly because he seemed distracted by an incoming text on his phone.
After the meet, we waited for Alex and Bailey. Franklin U had finished in second place overall, the seniors outperforming in their categories, which was awesome for them.
Christ, listen to me.
“Good job, guys,” I said after we all greeted them.
“Thanks for coming,” Alex replied, nudging Bailey to acknowledge me too, but he only muttered something I couldn’t hear before turning to our parents. Jackass.
Alex’s cheeks striped pink, and damned if I didn’t want to kiss him right then or at least take his hand. But it was way too awkward around our parents and Bailey.
The team would take the bus back and stop for a celebratory dinner on the way, so we waved our goodbyes, and by the time I got back to campus, there was a text waiting from Alex.
It was pretty cool for Ted to cheer Carl on at his meet.
Does Carl always refer to himself in third person?
Only when he’s feeling shy about properly thanking the guy he’s hanging out with.
Ted says Carl can properly thank him in a different way.
Is that a sleepover offer?
Maybe it is.
It might be late.
He’ll be waiting.
My heart in my throat, I counted the minutes until Alex was in my bed again, his skin warm, the chlorine scent sharp.
As soon as he arrived, his tongue was greedy, our mouths instantly fusing together. But I took my time, needing to feel our connection, the burning embers sparking between us. My body pinned his beneath me as I pushed into him, his pleas desperate and needy as my lips grazed his nape.
Yeah, I was soft for Alex, and I showed him just how soft as I drew out his pleasure, rocking my hips against the tops of his thighs. And after we both came and he was curled in my arms, I thought I could get used to this, maybe even for a long time.
It was perfection.
24
Alex
“How could I forget how much I love your stuffing?” I said, shoveling down the second helping on my plate.
“I swear you say the same thing every year.” The corners of Mom’s eyes crinkled in amusement.
It was Thanksgiving, and we were spending a few precious days at home, with plans to return to campus on Saturday morning. We’d visited my grandfather at the nursing home that morning and would join my grandmother at the assisted living center with some dessert after dinner.
Bailey had driven home with me, refusing Remy’s offer because he wasn’t any closer to making amends with his brother despite the ray of hope I had from our heart-to-heart that one night. In fact, his disapproval was written all over his face anytime I mentioned Remy. He might have given his so-called blessing, but he hadn’t yet warmed up to the idea, and it was getting harder to share anything with him about my plans if they involved his brother.
And Remy’s cynicism was only growing where Bailey was concerned—or maybe I was noticing it more now that we weren’t hiding. There were plenty more run-ins around campus that involved Remy joining our group for brief chats or just a quick hello. Most times, Bailey refused to even look at him, which resulted in Remy clenching his fist or whispering under his breath like he was going to unload on Bailey any minute. I felt even more like I was walking a tightrope between them, and my nerves were beginning to fray. The only time I felt completely free was when it was only Remy and me. But that wasn’t realistic, and I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Mom lifted the bowl of stuffing and passed it to me. “Glad I made extra, so you can have another helping.”
Zoey rolled her eyes. “Another seven helpings, more like it.”
“Hey, I’m a growing boy,” I teased and chomped on a piece of turkey.
“No, you’re just greedy.” She raised her fork toward me. “I play a sport too, but no way I can eat that much.”
“I practice twice a day. How about you?” There was an edge to my voice, and I didn’t know where it was coming from. Maybe it was just me not holding back or worrying about keeping the peace anymore.