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)
She shivers, biting on her plump bottom lip. “As much as I want those things with you, I can wait for them. Waiting for you will never be the problem, Jordy.”
“But?”
“But you shutting me out is a huge problem.” Her eyes shine with unshed emotion. “I won’t let you tear my heart out again.”
Guilt slams into me. “Roux…”
“No,” she whispers. “You want me. Us. Then you need to let me in. I’m not your best friend’s little sister that you’re bound to protect by some bro code. I’m yours. But I won’t be halfway yours. And shutting me out with whatever is going on with you is only allowing parts of me in. I deserve to be more than a sliver in your life.”
Fuck.
When the fuck did Little Hoodlum grow up into this gorgeous, intelligent, mouthy woman?
“Roux,” I murmur.
Her amber eyes turn hard. “What did Samantha want? What did she say?” The challenge gleams in her eyes. There’s only one answer here. The truth. And if I don’t give it to her, she’s going to hate me.
“Let me take you to school,” I murmur, ignoring the question.
She untangles herself from my arms and storms away from me, sucking the warm air along with her, leaving me cold and empty. “What did she say, Jordy?”
“Baby,” I rasp out, reaching for her. Aching for her. Needing her.
A tear streaks down her cheek and she shakes her head. “I’m not your baby. I’m nothing to you until you let me in.”
She waits for what feels like an eternity, when in reality it’s only a minute or so.
“I want to let you in,” I murmur, “but—”
“It’s not safe,” she interrupts. “Heard you loud and clear. Goodbye, Jordy.”
With those words, she leaves me alone. The finality in her words is gutting.
Roux
The class looks at me, sniggering, as I carry in Kayden’s newest gift. A small bouquet of carnations. Navy blue. How he even got flowers in my favorite color is a mystery. I’ll admit, Kayden has been going through great lengths all week trying to win me back. And if this were one of my romance novels, I’d think the gestures were sweet and swoonworthy.
In the books, though, the guy trying to win the girl back isn’t a wannabe gangster.
She’s also not hopelessly in love with someone else.
So, as sweet as his gifts are, I can’t ever be the girl Kayden wants me to be. We were always better as friends. I set the bouquet on the edge of my desk and sit down for my last class of the day. My eyes drift to where Charlotte’s desk is.
What’s happened to her?
She’s no longer the beautiful, confident, vibrant girl.
Ryan has destroyed all the good parts of her.
In her place is this shell of my best friend. Her once golden blond hair hangs in limp, almost greasy waves over her shoulders. Dark circles that almost look like bruises are a common look under her dead eyes these days. She normally glows, but lately she’s pasty white. Skinnier than usual. Shaky. I don’t know how to help her and it kills me.
I try to make eye contact with her, but she’s purposefully looking anywhere but at me. Eventually, she yawns and lays her head down on the desk.
As Wes enters the classroom and starts distributing the test, I think about Jordy. All week, ever since I gave him an opportunity to come clean to me and he didn’t, I’ve avoided him. It’s difficult since he lives with us, but I manage.
Jordy is the most stubborn man I know. That’s saying a lot because Roan is really stubborn too. But Jordy would rather go to prison than give in. It scares me to death. I absolutely can’t lose him again. Three years was three too many.
As Wes nears, he winks at me, sets the test down on my desk, and continues walking. He told me he’d give me the written test along with everyone else, but that he’d officially grade me on the verbal one after class. To sort of use it as a study guide until then and as a way not to have attention brought on myself for not taking the test along with everyone else. I appreciate that he’s looking out for me and not giving the other kids ammo to ridicule me over.
Rather than looking over the test, I glance back at Charlotte. She’s sleeping. Not taking her test. This isn’t her. She’s the girl who wants to be a doctor. Who aces everything. I hate Ryan for this.
The class is over all too quickly. Wes frowns when he collects Charlotte’s test, shaking his head. She didn’t even write her name on it. Dread consumes me. She doesn’t seem upset as she stands when the bell rings. Quickly, she grabs her bag and bolts. I stare after her, hating that I don’t have my best friend at my side.