Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“It shouldn’t have happened for so many reasons, Roux. So many reasons.”
Stung by his words, I frown. “What reasons?”
“For one, you’re underage. I could go back to prison for what we did.”
Cold dread runs through my system. “We didn’t have sex,” I croak out. “Cuddling isn’t against the law.”
“No, but the things we did…”
“We didn’t even kiss,” I hiss. “Stop it. You’re doing it again. Retreating into yourself in an effort to save me. I’m sick of it.”
I start to pull away, but his hand flies to my hip, pulling me flush against him. His fingers thread into my damp hair and he tugs my head back.
“I can’t have you, Roux.” He leans down and presses the softest kiss to my lips. “At least not yet.”
He didn’t say never.
I part my lips, begging for more than a peck, but he pulls his head back. A storm of emotions brew in his dark eyes. I can feel how much he’s attracted to me by how his erection presses into me. But this boy has the strength of a saint and he doesn’t act on any of it.
“When?” I whisper.
“You know when.”
Eighteen.
March, not August.
I’ll die from want.
“I broke up with Kayden.” I study his face for a reaction. He gives off nothing aside from the flash of triumph in his eyes. It makes my heart flutter.
“He didn’t seem like someone who’d been broken up with when I saw him.”
I shudder, remembering what Kayden said to me. How he’d hurt me and told me we weren’t broken up. “He said no,” I admit. “A fight broke out and then I left.”
“If you want to break up with him,” Jordy growls, “that’s your choice, not his. What the fuck is his problem?”
“I don’t know, but he’s not the same guy I started dating in March.”
“Because he’s a fucking thug.”
“Which makes me scared for you,” I breathe, my eyes burning with tears. “What if he…”
“He won’t do shit to me,” Jordy assures me in his usual arrogant tone. “I won’t allow it.”
I hope that’s true. I don’t want to worry about Kayden’s jealousy getting out of control and him hurting Jordy. I would die if something happened to Jordy.
“I love you,” I blurt out.
He grins, boyish and handsome. “Love you too, Little Hoodlum.”
But not like he thinks. I loved him growing up like he was a brother. Not anymore. The moment I saw him behind that glass at the prison, something inside me shifted. I haven’t been able to think of anyone, especially Kayden, since.
Only Jordy.
And when he showed up at the river, I’d been completely consumed by him. Waiting until I turn eighteen to see if we can pursue this burning desire between us feels like an eternity. I waited three years, though, for him to get out of prison. What’s seven more months to have him fully?
“Charlotte hates me,” I tell him, resting my cheek on his chest. “She told me as much.”
“She’ll get over it.”
“No, she won’t.”
He strokes my hair. “If your brother can get over the fact I nearly drowned his then-wannabe-boyfriend, then Charlotte can get over you trying to protect her from a gang of douchebags. Just give her some time.”
I think about going to school next week for my senior year and not having my best friends by my side. Without Charlotte and Kayden, everything will be like it was before the English family moved to Hood River.
Lonely.
Desolate.
Horrible.
“I don’t want to be alone,” I murmur, mostly to myself.
“You’re not alone. You have me. You always have.”
Jordy
The Haunt’s “Why Are You So Cold?” blares through the AirPods Cal gave me. I’m thankful to drown out the noise of the cooks at El Juarez, who have been talking nonstop about pussy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a pussy man, but I don’t want to hear about it twenty-four-fucking-seven.
Especially when all I can think about is one girl.
And just how sweet her pussy will be.
One day.
Fuck.
Roan is going to murder me.
Shoving those thoughts out of my mind, I spray down another plate. This job isn’t so bad. It’s my first full week here. Mondays are slow, but Tuesdays are their biggest night for Taco Tuesday. All week, I either worked or hung around Roan’s place, watching movies with Hollis and Roux since it was their last week before school started back up. I’d managed to avoid any babysitting jobs for baby Ramirez and didn’t have to see Juno or Renaldo. I also didn’t see much of Roan, because he works his ass off, though we did manage to hit the gym a couple of times together with Cal and Terrence before they fucked back off to college.
I still can’t believe Roan’s a fireman.
Pride courses through me. For as much shit that Roan has gone through in his life, he deserves to be happy. And if putting out fires with the guy who’s banging his husband’s mom makes him happy, then I’m happy.