Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
"What if there's a fire? Or would that solve all your problems?!?"
All she heard was footsteps walking away from her. Leaving her alone. They didn’t care if something happened to her.
They didn’t care at all.
She glanced at the window and decided to make a run for it. She could crash with Kaylie. Just start over, on her own. There was no time to pack. She grabbed her book bag and laptop and ran for the window.
Just as she reached it, her father slammed it shut in her face. From the outside.
She pressed her palms against the glass.
"Don't do this dad! Please!"
He ignored her, nailing the window into the frame. Her eyes got wide as she realized what was happening. Really wide.
He was shutting her in there. Permanently.
Janet sank onto the bed and wondered how she'd managed to ruin everything. Her parents hated her. Her career as a dancer was over.
She had nothing now. No school, no freedom, no Jack.
The last one burned the most. She'd felt so alive in his arms. So desired.
It had felt like she was the most cherished woman on Earth when he kissed her.
And she'd wanted him more than she'd ever wanted any man before. Who was she kidding? She'd never kissed anyone like Jack, not that she had much experience. She doubted she ever would again.
She pressed her hand to her lips.
She could still feel him touching her… she felt hot and cold all over, just thinking about it. She still wanted him. If he walked into the house right now, she would beg him to take her away.
To do anything he wanted to her.
Everything he wanted.
But he didn’t want her.
Jack had made sure she understood she was disposable. One of many.
Kaylie had been wrong. He probably had a different girl every night. The thought burned into her, stealing away any hope.
He didn’t want her.
She curled into a ball as wracking sobs shook her body.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kaylie
Kaylie stood outside Janet's front door and knocked. She hadn't heard from Nettie in three days, since the night of the barbecue.
She'd heard something happened after she'd left. Something between Janet and Jack. Dev had given her the PG version, but supposedly people had seen them together.
That was good. She wanted her friends to be together. In their own ways, they were two of the loneliest people she knew.
And two of the best. Both of them were amazing people, and she loved them. So yeah, them hooking up was a very good thing.
This radio silence was… bad.
She couldn't help it, she was worried. Janet had always been a carefree girl, stubbornly ignoring the problems she faced at home. Lord knows she had enough of those. Kaylie had watched for years as her family wore her down.
Her wealthy parents had put so much pressure on her to succeed as a classical dancer that it had nearly destroyed her. The accident had done more than finally end her ballet career once and for all. It'd made her invisible to her parents.
Since then, Janet had been in a tailspin.
Kaylie sighed and rang the buzzer.
She dreaded this conversation. If Janet was hiding out because of Jack, she didn't know what to tell her. He was a complicated guy. Devlin had told her that Jack had his reasons for being so solitary, but he wouldn't tell her why. Either way, she didn't want her friend to be hurt any more than she was already.
"Yes?"
Janet's dad was at the door. He looked over his shoulder nervously.
“Is Janet at home? I haven’t heard from her in a few days.”
“That’s because she lost phone privileges.”
Kaylie frowned and shifted her weight on her legs.
“Can I see her please?”
He shook his head.
"You shouldn't be here, Kaylie."
"Who's there?"
A shrill voice came from further inside the house. Janet's mother appeared in the doorway beside her dad. She looked crazed.
"Get out of here you tramp! I know you're the one who took my daughter to that- that place!"
Kaylie stepped backwards in shock. What was wrong with them? Where was her friend?
"Where's Janet? I want to talk to her.”
“You can’t talk to her.”
Kaylie lifted her chin. Mrs. Mahoney was freaking her out but she would not abandon her friend. Their words meant nothing compared to her love for Janet.
“Why not?”
“You are a bad influence, that is why! Stay away from her! And you can tell that giant who keeps driving by to stay away!"
"Giant?"
“The criminal with the long hair and the devil bike!”
They must mean Jack. That was interesting. He'd been driving by Janet's house? Since when?
What the heck had happened between them?
Kaylie wanted to get away from these horrible people as quickly as possible but she had to find out where her friend was. Thankfully Janet's mom disappeared back into the house.
"Please Mr. Mahoney. Where is she?"
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled apologetically.