Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Plus, when you’re still for too long, that’s how people find you. I’m often poking people who would love nothing more than to find me and teach me a lesson. I’m sure in that lesson, hurting the people around me would be one of their goals.
I’d gotten close to Tova by accident. I was searching for a book club. I’d fallen into romance when I found a box of my mom’s books after she passed. The romance sucked me in. The thing is, in the real world there aren’t men like my father or in those books.
My dad would have done anything for Mom. He treated her like a queen. All the men I bump against want to kill me, and the other girls that do play in this world, which are few and far between, would sell me out, and they are girls that always said they were better friends with boys.
That, I didn’t understand. That was only made more clear when I met Tova. She sucked me right in. It’s safe to say I’m a girls’ girl. I don’t mind getting dolled up every now and then too.
“All right.” Dad drops a kiss on top of my head. “But don’t stick around because you think you need to keep me company. I know you have your own life.”
“I know, Dad.” And I do. Dad would even go against his own grain to make sure I was getting what I needed. We both watch him head out the front door.
“Are you ready?” Ronan asks.
“I suppose.” I polish off the rest of my candy bar, chasing it down with water. “Thanks for the Snickers.”
“I live to serve.”
“You’re full of shit.” I laugh. Ronan's hand comes to my chin, gripping it and tilting my head back. I love when he does that. Why again? No clue, but I do.
“All right, I live to serve you.” This time I can’t laugh because his expression is dead serious. I can’t even call him out on it because over the last week he’s proved that time and time again.
“Can I have a head start?” I smirk.
“You love this game, don’t you?” He shakes his head, dropping his hand away. I miss the contact immediately. I’m getting so accustomed to his touches. I find myself leaning into them and wanting more.
“It’s fine.” I shrug.
“All right.” He steps back.
“You want to know the direction I’m going?” I ask.
“Already know.” I narrow my eyes on him.
“How?” I put my hands on my hips. I go in different directions. I don’t have a set path.
“It’s what I do, little fox.” Ronan nods to the door. “Run, before I change my mind.”
“Challenge accepted,” I tell him before taking off for the front door. When I leap off the porch, I can’t help but wonder if I want to win or if I want him to be able to find me.
What if him finding me is actually the real win?
Chapter Thirteen
RONAN
People are creatures of habit even when they’re trying not to be. Our brains are wired to create automatic routines, as this makes behavior more efficient and conserves mental energy. Often when you think you’re creating chaos and no one can follow, you are only creating a new pattern. Then, there are human factors you don’t realize move and motivate you.
I have quickly picked up on Ellie’s patterns and routines and how and when she tries to change them. When I step out onto the front porch, I drop my head back and look up into the sky, feeling the direction of the wind against my skin. The sun is partly blocked by the clouds.
I turn my attention toward the shadow of the clouds across the ground and see the light trace in the dirt of Ellie's shoes. It only takes me half a second to know which way she’s gone. While she may be one of the best at covering her digital footprints, I’ll have to teach her to better cover her actual ones by using the environment around her to do it.
It’s a fight to not start running after her. I know she enjoys this game. She wants me to chase her, to find her. There is a thrill in it for her and an underlying fear. One I’m teaching her she shouldn't have. I will chase, and I will find. There is no other option.
It is now my pattern.
After a few more seconds, I take off after her. Ellie might hate to run, but it’s good for her. That mind of hers is always going. This is a way to clear it and, for right now, shake off some of that restlessness inside of her. It's growing each day.
Ellie's father was right. She is ready to go. If I had to guess, she misses Tova and Cosima. Over the last week she has brought them up many times. I would tell her random stories about my sister Cosima to make her laugh.