Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
My throat squeezes at the thought of Annika. She and I have known each other forever. She’s my best friend, and I can’t believe I won’t be able to talk to her anymore.
Why the hell can’t you? a voice points out.
I shift my gaze from my laptop to the iPhone at the edge of the desk. After a moment of hesitation, I grab the phone and pull up a familiar name. I hesitate again, then shoot off a text.
Me: Hey. I know we’re broken up, but I just wanted to see how you’re doing. I hope that’s okay. I’m not trying to get back together. I just…miss my best friend.
Not even thirty seconds pass before my phone rings. I can’t help but smile when I see Annika’s name.
“Hey,” I say softly.
“Hi,” comes her familiar voice. “I’m doing okay, and…I miss you too.”
A wave of emotion flutters through me. “I hate not talking to you.”
“I hate it too. I keep wanting to call or text you, but I’ve been trying to keep my distance, give you your space, you know?” She pauses. “I still think breaking up was the best decision for us, Keaton. But maybe I didn’t handle it in the most tactful way. I…” She sounds uncomfortable. “I wasn’t trying to imply that you’re bad in bed.”
“I know you weren’t.”
“But the spark was just…gone. For me, at least.”
I swallow. I love Annika. I really do love her. But as much as I hate to admit it, the spark was gone for me too. Look at how hot Luke got me last night. Look at how desperate he made me feel. I don’t remember the last time that sex with Annika was that explosive.
Possibly never. And what does that mean?
“I understand,” I say gruffly. “And I meant what I wrote in that text. I’m not asking you to be my girlfriend again, but I do want us to be friends.”
“I would love that,” Annika says. Her voice catches, and I know her well enough to recognize the sound of her fighting tears. “I’m always going to love you, Keaton.”
“Right back atcha. I—” I stop when I hear a muffled voice beyond my door. I think it’s Bailey’s, and I swear there was a note of anger in his tone. “I have to go, actually,” I tell my ex-girlfriend. “But maybe we can meet for coffee or lunch sometime this week?”
“That sounds perfect,” she says happily. “I’ll text you my availability.”
“Awesome. Later, babe.” I’m already walking out into the hall, toward Luke’s closed door. His voice is louder now, and he’s definitely pissed about something.
“—sure he’ll turn up… No way… Come on, Mom. He’s a grown man, and he’s not my responsibility.” There’s a long pause. Then Luke releases a growl that has me taking a step back. “For fuck’s sake!”
I probably shouldn’t be eavesdropping. He’s talking to his mother, and clearly there’s some animosity there. It’s none of my business.
And yet I don’t leave.
“Fine, okay? Fine,” Luke snaps. I hear him start stomping around in his room. “I’ll see if I can borrow a car…” Stomp stomp. “No, I can’t take my bike. The roads are covered in ice.” Stomp stomp. “I’ll see you soon. Just relax. Please. You’re stressing me out.”
His footsteps thud toward the door, which flies open so fast I don’t have time to retreat to my room. Luke’s eyes widen at the sight of me, before narrowing with displeasure.
Busted. I shrug sheepishly. “Sorry for eavesdropping,” I tell him. “I heard yelling and wanted to make sure everything’s okay.”
“Well, it’s not,” he spits out, his movements jerky as he zips up his black hoodie. “Sorry, but I don’t have time for this. My asshole brother is AWOL and I was just guilt-tripped into tracking him down.”
He stalks toward the door at the end of the hall, but I stop him before he reaches the stairs.
“Bailey.”
“I told you, Hayworth, I don’t have time—”
“I heard you need a car,” I interrupt.
He halts, throwing a wary look over his shoulder. “Yeah. I do.”
I nod slowly. “All right. Let me grab my keys.”
“Take a left here, if you wouldn’t mind,” Luke says from the passenger seat where he’s staring at his phone. “It’s just up here. If he’s not at Bix’s house, then I give up. We’ll just go back.”
“Why is your mom so worried about your brother staying out all night?” I have to ask. “Is he underage?”
Luke snorts. “He’s twenty-four. But the last time he didn’t come home, he was in jail. She worries about him being rearrested, I guess.”
“Oh shit.” That was so not what I expected him to say.
“Yeah, my brother is bad news. He and his friends are the reason I don’t live at home. Pull over there. This will just take a second.”
Before I’ve even put the car in park, he’s jumped out. He crosses to a beat-up little green house with a sagging stoop.