Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 22937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Until the only thing I can think about is my birthday.
I carry what’s left of my cake up to my room a little after ten.
A stack of forwarded letters from Harvard are waiting for me, along with a small white gift box that was rerouted from my parents.
Thank God forwarding addresses don’t come with tracking...
As usual, I tear the mail to pieces and throw it away. I run my fingers along the gift box’s edges, but I don’t have to open it to know what’s inside.
It’s a new golden watch to mark a new year, a not-so-subtle reminder that the clock is ticking ever closer to my twenty-fifth birthday. The date when my life will no longer belong to me.
“Family over everything, even your job, even your dreams...”
I sigh and toss it into a drawer.
Then I change into an oversized sweatshirt and socks to get as comfortable as possible.
Opening my small fridge, I pull out a bottle of champagne and drink straight from its neck. Then I stab at a piece of cake, committed to gorging myself until I can’t take any more.
I manage to stuff down two slices when a knock sounds at my door.
Assuming it’s someone who missed out on getting a piece, I cut a slice and carry it to the door.
My smile immediately falls when I open it.
It’s not a friend at all.
It’s Jameson.
Still wearing the same black suit I saw him in earlier. Unfortunately, he remains sexy as fuck, but he’s clenching his jaw and looking as if he’s the one who has the right to be upset.
“You must be lost, sir,” I say. “This is the non-asshole floor of the dormitory. You might need to take the elevator down to Hell.”
“I’m glad you brought up the fact that you live in a goddamn dorm,” he says. “Yet another secret you failed to disclose to me.”
“I don’t have to tell you anything—especially now.” My voice cracks. “Go away so I can enjoy what’s left of my birthday in peace.”
“I came to give you a present,” he says. “I meant to give it to you days ago, before your previous secret.”
“You can keep it.” I hiss. “Give it to someone who actually wants something from you.”
I start to slam the door shut, but he wedges his foot between the frame.
“I came here to talk to you, Scarlett,” he says, his voice low. “Let me in, so we can talk...”
“No. I think you’ve said more than enough.”
“Trust me, I haven’t.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms. “Say whatever you have to say out there in the hallway.”
“For all your friends to hear?”
“I’m sure they’ve heard apologies from douchebags before.” I shrug. “You won’t be saying anything new.”
“Do they know you were seconds away from getting pussy eaten while you were supposed to be working a few weeks ago?”
I gasp and pull him inside, and he shuts the door.
“Two minutes,” I say. “Spit it out.”
He doesn’t say a word.
Instead, he looks around my small room before pulling a blue box from his pocket. Walking past me, he sets it on the windowsill and moves toward my desk, invading my space without permission.
“Tick tock, Jameson,” I say as he picks up one of my audition scripts. “I’m going out with my friends in just a minute.”
“Wearing that?” He arches a brow as he looks over my baggy sweatshirt.
“Yes.”
“Okay, Scarlett...” He moves closer to me. “You and I have a huge problem, and I would like us to fix it.”
“Then leave. Problem solved.”
“I told you I don’t mind lies,” he says, ignoring my comment. “That’s not the issue. It’s who you’re performing them for.”
“You’re contradicting yourself...”
“We don’t have to know everything about each other to fuck,” he says, “but I do need to know something else...”
“I told you that I no longer—” My sentence ends against his mouth, and before I can react, he bites down hard on my bottom lip.
“Ahhh...” I moan, and he slowly releases me and saves me from uttering another lie.
“Like I was saying,” he says, tilting my chin up with his fingertips. “I need to know something.”
I nod. I can’t get a word to fall from my lips.
“What the hell do you want from me?” He hisses. “What the fuck are you expecting from this?”
I don’t answer because I don’t want to say.
Because I doubt it’s possible for me to get it.
“Scarlett...” He looks into my eyes. “What do you want?”
“I want...” I manage. “I want…”
“Yes?”
“To be your only one.”
He blinks. “We just met.”
“I’m answering your question,” I say. “That’s what I want...”
“Hmmm.” He stares at me for several seconds. “And if that’s not what I want?”
“Then I’ll accept that and never reach out to you again.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He steps back and turns away from me, slowly walking to the door.
My heart pangs with every step—as if this man actually means something to me—as if there’s something deeper that I’m about to lose.