Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
At first, they were all friends. They hung out, partied, and spent most of their free time together. Dune considered Bryant his best friend, along with Wilson and Speed. But Rhonda always wanted more. She had a thing for Dune, one that wasn’t reciprocated after their first kiss. Dune didn’t feel anything for her, not even as a friend. She was his friend’s sister, nothing more.
The summer after their junior year in high school, Rhonda had too much to drink at Dune’s. He made the mistake of putting her in his bed, and even though he slept in his brother’s room, it was enough for her to start the rumors. Within weeks, she announced she was pregnant and that he needed to do the right thing. His parents were besides themselves with anguish and worry, all while Dune was adamant, he hadn’t touched her.
His senior year started off shitty as this loomed over him. Her friends called him out every chance they could and his friendship with Bryant was over. He had sided with his sister, as he should’ve, but losing Bryant hurt Dune. The rumors hurt and there wasn’t anything Dune could do until the baby was born.
Four months after Rhonda gave birth to her son, Dune submitted for a DNA test, which proved he had been telling the truth. But that wasn’t enough. Rhonda accused him of lying and cheating on the test. Telling anyone who would listen that Dune paid people to take the test for him. Each lie fueled the fire between him and Bryant. They were at each other’s throats constantly, fighting and arguing until Bryant took things a bit too far and tried to have the Carters’ business shut down. That’s when Jack and Pearl took matters into their own hands and filed a lawsuit against Bryant. The terms were simple, pay up or leave. Bryant, his sister, and family left. Only, Bryant liked to return every couple of years to stir up trouble for Dune and this time he succeeded.
Dune pulled up to the rickety dock at the cottage and tied his boat down. He knew this was a long shot, but he had to try. He rushed up the dock and jumped onto the sandy beach the second he could and then ran through the backyard. He knocked on the back door, praying she was in there.
“Caroline, if you’re in there, please open up,” Dune begged. He saw the curtains flutter and his heart skipped a beat. “Baby, please. I know you met Bryant, and I can’t imagine the things he said to you, but please give me five minutes to explain.”
Nothing.
“Caroline,” Dune tried again. “If you don’t open the door, I’m going to say everything I have to say very loudly and everyone around you will know how I feel.”
Another flutter.
“Baby, please,” he begged.
The door opened and he sighed so heavily, he felt like his soul had left his body. She stood there, in the same coral dress she had worn the day he met her, looking sad and pissed off. Dune sagged against the door.
“You’re here,” his voice came out in a rush. “I’m so sorry,” he said the first thing that came to mind.
“For what?”
“Everything and whatever that man said to you. Please believe me when I tell you, it’s all lies.”
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest and rested against the door frame. “Tell me how you got your nickname.”
His eyebrows furrowed and he sighed. “Right, that’s probably the one thing he told you that’s true.”
“So, you sleep around?”
“When you put it like that, it sounds crass.”
“How else is it supposed to sound, Dune?”
He shrugged. He didn’t really know. No one had ever cared that much about his nickname. Until Caroline. Dune shook his head. He didn’t know how to fix this and had never cared enough about whoever he was with to put in the effort. Caroline made him want to work for what they had.
“How many women have you slept with this summer?”
“One,” he said pointedly. “You’re the only one. I’m not a cheater.”
“We’re not in a relationship,” she fired back.
“Aren’t we?” he asked as he stepped closer to the door. He just needed her to look at him, to see the pain he was in. “We spend every waking minute together. I sleep here or you sleep on the boat with me.” He pointed at her and fought back a wave of tears. “We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. Shower together. We do everything a couple does. So, why aren’t we a couple? Why not, Caroline?” Dune paced and then went back to her. “I have never ever lied to you. Ever.”
He waited for her reply, but none came. Dune wanted to yell. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that whether she wanted to believe it or not, she was his girlfriend. Hearing the word in his head brought a smile to his face. Then, he looked at her and it faded. She was expressionless. A void filled her eyes. She was already gone. He should’ve given up but he couldn’t. Not yet.