Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
My legs become weak. Her body collapses onto the bed as I fall to the side next to her. My heart beats against my ribcage, and I’m forced to hold my chest. “Fuck, what was that?” I ask. Sex? Hate sex? The best sex I’ve ever had? My dick isn’t even sure what just went down.
She raises onto her elbows and stares me straight in the eye. “A mistake. That’s what it was.” I’m too dumbfounded to stop her. And she’s too quick. She’s up and partially dressed before rushing out of my room. When my brain catches up, I shoot out of bed to race after her. The front door to my apartment is open. I sprint out of it, running into my eighty-year-old neighbor.
Her eyes widen to the point I worry she’s having a stroke. I look down and see I’m still wearing a fucking condom. Shit. “Uh. . . sorry.”
Fuck.
Chapter 13
Makayla
“Could it be any hotter out here? The pool is a hot spring.”
Hannah groans next to me. “Tell me about it. I’m about to go sit in my freezer.”
“Speaking of freezer,” Kip pipes in. “Hannah, run inside. I think Mom got popsicles.”
Yes! Anything to cool down. Hannah pops up, leaving me with turd breath. I sense him eyeing me. Waiting to pick a fight. We don’t know how to be in the same room without throwing jabs. I close my eyes and lay my head back, letting the sun fry my face.
“Here, want orange?” I reopen my eyes to Hannah handing me a popsicle.
“Sure!”
“Hey, give us some,” Chase whines. Hannah, being the nice person she is, gives them all one. Sadly, even my nemesis. I rip off the wrapper and suck the cold treat into my mouth.
“Looks like you have at least one talent, duckling.”
My eyes shoot toward the other side of the pool as Ben shoves his into his mouth. “And what’s that?” I stare back at him, daring him to say it. I know he won’t. We have some limits. I’m sure he was hoping for embarrassment. At this point, his jabs tickle more than hurt. “Now that you mention it, it looks like you’re the one with the special talent. Get that popsicle, Benny boy.”
“Are we playing a game of who sucks it best?” Chase asks, biting the top of his popsicle.
“Clearly not you, dude. That shit’s a number one no-no.” Ben says, and I accidentally giggle at his joke. I certainly have no sexual experience, but I’ve seen movies. And my dad is a fan of porn channels. “Duckling, did you just laugh at my joke?” I hate that he’s calling me out. But I’m not feeling very feisty, and it’s way too hot for a verbal challenge.
“Ya know what, turd breath? I did. Chalk it up as hell freezing over.” His smile does weird things to my belly, and I giggle again. The heat must be causing a brain malfunction.
“Well, duckling, I got more of those if you have more of that laughter.”
My young, inexperienced heart skips a beat. We share a weird moment, then he breaks any truce we almost just had. “But you’re gonna have to pay. Ya know. . . with that special talent of yours.”
Asshole.
“Ew. Sorry, but my mommy always taught me not to put small objects in my mouth.” I get up and walk away, ignoring his stupid laughter.
I step outside my house to find Jenny waiting for me. “Ready?” I ask. It’s been forever since I’ve been to a Matthews’ barbeque. Remembering how good Hannah’s dad is at the grill already has my stomach growling for a burger.
“Thanks for inviting me. I’m sick of pacing that house.”
“Of course. I don’t know how exciting it’s going to be, but my friend’s dad is a magician at the grill. If nothing else, you’ll get some drinks and good food. And don’t forget your bathing suit. They have a huge pool.”
She pats her purse. “Already got it packed. Who’s this girl again?”
“Hannah Matthews—well, Dent now. We met going into the seventh grade. I moved a year later, but we remained close. Her family is throwing a barbeque for her older brother. They’re having another baby.”
“Cool. Okay, so the brother is off limits. Any single friends you know about?”
Only one that comes to mind. And if he’s there, she’ll try to make a move. . .
“Not sure. I think they’re all married or engaged. If you’re not up for—”
“No way. Men come after food, booze, and pool time. Let’s go.”
I shift my purse over my shoulder and follow her to my car. Maybe I didn’t think it all the way through before inviting her. My initial intention was to have a wing woman. But when my wing woman has the hots for my nemesis, it kind of puts a damper on my plan.