Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“I probably have an imprint of your hand on my hip,” Josslyn says as we walk toward the door.
“Good.” I pause our walk, cup her face, and kiss her.
Her eyes are wide when I break the kiss and pull away, tugging her hand to keep walking.
“You really wanted to shock people tonight, huh?” she asks, laughing.
“I think you gave Mrs. Rensselaer a heart attack back there,” Ella says behind us.
“You might have given me one,” Lucas says. “What the fuck did you do to my cousin, Josslyn?”
“Sometimes I wonder the same thing. Do you think he’s a clone?” she asks, laughing.
“I think we need to call national security,” Hamilton says.
I roll my eyes as they joke around, but their jokes are just a reminder that I have her, and that they don’t bother me in the least.
46
JOSSLYN
Finn brought more pages from Mallory’s journal for me to see. Even though they’re not about me, they’re no less disturbing than the rest.
I told him I want to stop. Stop or come clean. I can’t do this to Joss anymore.
I saw him again tonight. He took me to a secluded farm and we lay on the bed of his truck. I love the way he makes me feel. FML.
There’s a spot in their yard that the cameras can’t get to. It’s become our secret cove when I go over and ‘go to the bathroom.’ I hate myself so much. I know I need to stop.
That last one really makes my stomach turn. She could be talking about anyone’s yard, but deep down, I know it’s my mother’s. In high school, when Dame and I invited people over for pool parties or to hang out at night, the little area near the outdoor bathroom was known as “the make-out nook.” The lovely thing about it was that the cameras couldn’t reach it. There was one that pointed at it, but Damian got on a ladder one day and directed it the other way. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, not so much. My mom’s neighbor has cameras, though, so I’m hoping he can help.
“Joshlyn!” Theo says, yanking my hand.
“Yeah.” I blink away from my thoughts and look at him.
“I said, did you know there are five whole layers under the ice?” he asks excitedly. “Five whole layers!”
“I didn’t know that. I’m very impressed that you do,” I say and smile when he beams at me, as we’re led to our seats.
As much as I’m hoping my presence here is a surprise, I have a feeling Finn knows I’m coming. It’s a preseason game, but it’s the Owls’ first home game ever. He spent the entire week talking about it, but I told him I’d have to miss it since I’d had plans to babysit Theo so his parents could be here. I mean, I wasn’t lying. I am babysitting Leo. But while his dad and very pregnant mom are upstairs in their box, I’m sitting in the first row with Theo, Liam, and Marissa—Lyla’s best friend. Having three adults with Theo should be enough, but Lachlan also made Patrick, his head of security, sit directly behind us.
As soon as we’re in our row, I have Marissa take a picture of me wearing the replica of Finn’s Fairview Owls jersey. It took two weeks for me to get my hands on it, because even though I’m Finn’s girlfriend, jersey sales come first and it was sold out everywhere.
“Finn’s there!” Theo says, jumping up and down and pointing at the other side of the rink, where Finn and a teammate are talking while stretching.
“Yes, he is,” I say, smiling as I take some pictures of him.
“I love sitting near the penalty box,” Marissa says, smiling.
Liam snorts a laugh.
“I can’t even remember the last time I went to a hockey game,” I say as I look around.
Everyone isn’t even in their seats and it already looks like a full house. Well, it will be. Lyla said within fifteen minutes of the tickets going live, they sold out for the entire season. The arena is a sea of white and blue jerseys with the signature Owl in the middle. The game hasn’t even started and already, the atmosphere is full of energy.
“Oh my gosh, Josslyn! I love you so much!” a teenage girl says, as she takes her seat in the row behind me.
I smile. “Thank you so much. What’s your name?”
“Laura.” She grins. Her friend is blushing and waves. “This is Rina.”
Rina starts signing, and Laura translates, “She says she especially loves your basketball videos.”
I sign, "Thank you, Rina.”
It’s about as much ASL as I know, but Rina’s smile makes it worth it. I pose for a selfie with them and turn back around just as the guys start skating. I wave at Damian when he skates near us, and he comes over to stand in front of us.