Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“So, what are you doing now that you’re not on Wall Street?”
“I’m teaching at Winchester Academy.”
Ellen hoots out a laugh, like this is the height of comedy.
“Math and statistics.”
She keeps laughing and slapping my arm and knee, wiping tears away as she snorts. I look up past her and see Justin off on the other side of the living room, grinning at me and nodding. He nods at Ellen’s back and makes a crude motion with two fingers of one hand thrusting into an o-shape with the other hand, and I roll my eyes. Yeah, he thinks he’s set me up with “something easy,” like he’s been telling me I need for months now. He’s wrong, I don’t, nor is it anything I’m looking for, especially with a girl like Ellen. What I need is to knuckle down and apply myself to this new job, which contrary to popular belief, is not some job I took to punish myself. I want to teach, and the gig at Winchester has a lot of promise. I’ve got enough money stashed away for three lifetimes, and really, all I want to do is teach.
Clearly, all a girl like Ellen wants is to fake laugh and fuck her way into an allowance and a ring on her finger.
I’m not sure why I even came to the party tonight. I told myself it was because I knew Beckett was going to come and that I should keep an eye on him. But, he’s a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. Plus, I’ve already lost him in the crowd. It wasn’t to meet a girl like Ellen, that’s for sure.
I glance around the room and then down at my watch. It’s not even late, and I’m exhausted. I’ve been hitting the gym again a lot recently, and today was punishing. Plus, I’ve got class tomorrow, and suddenly, all I want to do is leave. I look around, ignoring Ellen, and I spot Beckett. I’m about to motion to him that I want to get the fuck out of here, but he’s laughing it up with a couple of friends of his I recognize from the football team. I sigh. Damnit. I remember this time in life. He’s young, he’s got it all stretched out in front of him. And who the hell am I to tell him we should go home, even if we took his Jeep here?
I sigh.
Fuck it.
Ellen’s prattling on about God knows what, and I turn to her, smiling thinly.
“You know what, I think I need to lie down for a bit.”
Her brows go up, and slowly, she smiles hungrily.
“Moving fast, huh?” She purrs. “Well I’m down.”
Shit. She did not read that the right way.
“No, no, I—” I smile thinly. “I’m honestly just a little beat. I’m probably going to end up driving me and my brother home, so I’m going to go upstairs and catch a quick nap.”
She frowns, looking confused.
“Do you… do you want me to come?”
“Maybe next time?” I say with a smile. I don’t have to be an asshole letting her down, after all. Even if there’s definitely not going to be a next time.
Ellen looks confused and a little pissed, but she nods.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “Just been a long ass week.”
“Yeah, uh. Yeah, I totally get it,” she says thinly.
“Nice talking to you.”
I get up, ignoring Justin mouthing “dude what the fuck” when Ellen doesn’t get up with me as I walk his way.
“No but really, what the fuck?” he growls as I get closer.
“Not into it, man.”
He rolls his eyes. “Dude, she’s gorgeous, and so down for it.”
“And you’ve already slept with her, haven’t you?”
“Many times.”
I make a face and he laughs. “Hey, you know me.”
“Exactly why I’m never touching that girl.”
He snorts and claps me on the shoulder.
“Listen man, I’m fucking beat. You mind if I crash upstairs or something?”
He nods. “Sure. Not my room though, cause… you know.”
“Because you’ll be needing it sooner than later, I assume?” I nod past him at the blonde checking her phone who he’s been chatting with.
Justin nods with a grin. “There’s a guest room up there. Feel free to crash man. Look, you know I’m just yanking your chain.”
“I know, dick.”
He laughs. “Yeah, head on up. The upstairs is pretty sound-proofed from down here. Spend the night if you want.”
“Nah, I’ll probably drive Beck home later. You mind keeping an eye on him?”
“Sure, but he’s a good guy, Porter. Not nearly as wild as some of the shit you and I got up to back at school.”
“Yeah. And let’s keep it that way.”
He laughs and nods as I bump his fist and turn to push my way through the crowd. I finish my beer on the way up the stairs, and after poking my head into a closet and then a bathroom, I find the guest room. It’s only after I step in that I realize how damn tired I really am. I peel my t-shirt off and kick my boots off, dropping my jeans to the floor before I sink onto the bed.