Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I haven’t been in that house in years, Cooper.”
He shrugs, tugging on the tie around his shorts and tightening them. “Then let’s see it before whoever rich motherfucker it was that bought it—”
“—and brave…” Jessica adds.
“—will most likely tear it down. Come on…”
I narrow my eyes on his lips when he pouts. “Fine!” I pick up my cup, shoving my phone into my bikini beneath the shirt. “But only because I have to always make sure you don’t get yourself killed.” I start following him as he makes his way between a circle of partygoers.
“Shi!” Ruin calls out from the ocean, and I pause, turning to see him paddling up to shore with the full moon now lighting up the dark sky like a beacon. He picks his board up and stabs it into the sand, shaking the water out of his hair as he picks up his pace to me. Ruin is all abs and nice arms, but not enough to drown out the fact that he’s a complete dick.
…and that I maybe use his as a toy.
He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into his chest while bringing his lips down to the curve of my collarbone. He kisses me lightly, and I smirk before hooking my arm around his neck. “Forgive me for making you jump again?”
“Shut up.” I lean back, pushing against his chest until we’re eye level. Leaning up, I graze my lips over his as his hands skim over my curved ass and down, squeezing the fat on my behind as he pulls me into him.
“Where you going?” he asks, his eyes flying over my shoulder. No doubt to Cooper, who has stopped to wait.
Ruin is in college, but he comes home every weekend to spend time with his mom, since his dad is also a douche. Most girls pine after him during the best of times, but since he left for college, it’s only gotten worse.
“Cooper wanted to see inside The Manor since it sold, and we probably won’t get another chance.”
Ruin’s jaw jumps as his mouth turns flat. “Ah, I don’t think that’s a good idea, Shi.”
I ignore him, turning back to Cooper, who’s waving his hands to hurry up. Ruin just wants a piece of ass, and this is getting in the way of that for him.
“Oh, come on…” I tease, reaching for his hand and pulling him closer.
Ruin has always been that boy at school. You know, the one everyone wants to be with, whether it be friends or something more. He never has a short list of girls and guys lining up to sleep with him either, and although he’s conventionally handsome, sporty, smart, and all the things high school and college girls look for in a boy, there is one thing that stands out when it comes to Ruin—it’s his uncanny ability to not notice anything. Much like Cooper. There is one undeniable stick-out when it comes to my best friend, Cooper Quinn, and that is his cousin, Dion. Being the first cousin to the most famous rock star of our generation has its perks, obviously. Like for one, clout. Cooper has never let an opportunity pass him whenever it would arise. He is a ho, just like Ruin.
“Don’t you want to see who bought the most haunted and talked about abandoned manor right here on the beach?”
“Shiloh, it’s been empty for longer than we have been alive. Let’s just”—he catches my wrist, pulling me closer into him—“go get a drink and chill with our friends.” He runs the tip of his finger down the side of my face, his blue eyes searching mine. “We don’t want to be out here. This is high school shit. Let the high schoolers do it.”
I go to turn around to tell Cooper that I’m not coming, but he already has his middle finger up at me as he walks back past Ruin and me.
“Fuck you both. Boring ass people.”
I laugh into Ruin’s arms when he scoops me up from the ground near my bottom legs and throws me over his shoulder. “Ruin!” I scream but can’t stop the laughter from bubbling out of my lips. “Put me down! These aren’t my friends. They’re yours!” I lift my head to try to push myself up when my eyes collide with a dark shadow leaning against the wire fence that has overgrown ivy spread over the metal.
I can’t see who it is from here, but the shadow is tall. A little bright orange ember burns and moves back down again, as if he is smoking a cigarette. My heart slows and I swear I can hear my pulse thickening in my ears. Then I’m looking up at the sky before I’m being placed back down onto the chair I not long ago left, blinking back at Ruin, who has kneeled to my eye level, blocking the view I have of whomever it is that is watching us.