Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Everyone congratulates me, other than Lev, who is still in the cockpit. I put a stop to it before they get their hopes up.
“Actually, I think I’ll wait a few more weeks. I just got an email from Juilliard. I have a bunch of academic work to catch up on and the setup at Mom and Dad’s is just gonna throw me off. It’d be majorly crowded. She’ll just be standing in my way.”
The entire airplane goes quiet. Uncle Vicious gives me a don’t-bullshit-a-bullshitter scowl. I want to duck under my seat and hide out the rest of the journey.
Mom blinks rapidly, and I know she’s trying not to cry. Dad can’t even look at me.
By the way everyone is looking at everyone, I know what just happened here was an orchestrated intervention.
Mom says, “Juilliard emailed you?”
“Yeah, they did.”
“They usually send letters.”
There’s nothing I can say to that, so I shrug feebly as my own plan feels like it’s crumbling beneath the weight of their stares.
“But a sponsor…a one-on-one person—” Edie clears her throat.
“I think Jaime and Mel should probably broach this with Bails privately once we land, don’t you?” Auntie Emilia coos in sympathy. “This is a lot to take in, in a public setting.”
But I won’t change my mind. I won’t miss this chance.
Then I hear a familiar voice behind my back. A beautiful voice that right now feels like a blade licking down my spine.
“She’s still in the contemplating stage.” Lev. He is talking about the five stages of recovery. “Hundred bucks says she didn’t take a dump because she’s still full of shit. Don’t worry, Dove.” My nickname sounds like blasphemy rolling off his tongue, and I feel his arm hook around my neck.
His lips skim over my ear, and I know everyone is looking, so I try not to show him how much his touch affects me. “I’ll make sure you kick the habit this trip, whether you want to or not. You saved me, Bailey Followhill. My turn to repay a favor. Get ready for a fucked-up vacation because I’m not letting you relapse again.”
CHAPTER 19
Bailey
Lev wasn’t kidding.
He’s been shadowing me everywhere ever since we got off the plane. The 7-Eleven.
Ski equipment store.
The slopes.
The cabin.
Even the bathroom.
None of the grown-ups like him running the helm, but he gives major head-biting vibes when anyone tries to pry him away from me.
He was there when I unpacked, then dragged me to his room to watch him unpack, then patted me top to bottom before and after I got into my ski gear.
He also makes me chug enough water to fill a pond. Every time I finish a bottle, another one magically appears in my hands.
I think I’ve peed fifty times since we’ve landed.
My bladder is one water bottle away from filing a restraining order against him.
My parents seem on board with Lev’s Soviet-prisoner gig, which means I can’t blow him off and spend an intimate, romantic vacation with my Vicodin and Xanax.
I am bullied into skiing. Not only am I not a good skier, but my body is broken, which means my injuries are bothering me even more.
At the end of day one, I’m so wiped, my body feels like I’ve been run over by a motor grader. Thrice.
“Remind me how I’m supposed to go for a number two with you always on my ass?” I mumble as I get out of a steaming-hot shower, squeezing my hair dry above the sink.
“Whenever nature calls, Dove.” Lev is slouched on the edge of the clawfoot bathtub, watching porn on his phone so I won’t think his boner is from my general nakedness. “I’ve changed Cayden’s diapers dozens of times. Nothing you can do I haven’t already seen and smelled.”
“I’m not a baby.” I yank my hair straight with a brush.
“Debatable.” He doesn’t raise his head from his phone screen.
“And when will you take a shower?” I drop my towel and start slathering myself in body lotion.
His throat bobs as he hikes up the volume on his phone, filling the bathroom with moans and grunts.
“Any second now. Your mom’s gonna spot for me while I get washed and tug one out, then everyone is going out for a drink and I’m on babysitting duty.” He finally looks up from the phone, clicking it shut.
“Thanks. I really needed to hear that you’re going to masturbate.”
“Don’t pretend like you didn’t want to the entire time you were taking a shower. We have that effect on each other.”
Lev stands up, sashaying until he is toe-to-toe with me. I’m naked. He is…not.
We hold each other’s gaze. He looks predatory, menacing, and sadly—delicious.
I’m not high, but I am irritated and flustered enough to ruffle his feathers.
“Go ahead. Take a peek.” I smile sweetly, stepping back to allow for a better view. “See what you’re missing. What you’ll never get your hands on.”