Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“Thanks.”
The TV cut on, casting a blue haze over the living room. “First room on the right at the top of the stairs.”
I crossed the room, a small sense of control returning as I climbed the steps. If I were lucky, I’d be out of this place tomorrow.
The door clicked shut behind me, and I turned on the light.
The same bed Wolf had in high school sat between two single-pane windows. Same desk right beside the door, and on it, the same picture of our friendship group from high school.
Monroe, Zepp, Hendrix, Bellamy, Wolf, and I stood around a bonfire at The Lookout. Wolf had me snug against his side, his lips pressed to my temple in a kiss.
That ache I’d tried so hard to ignore any time it came to Wolf surfaced. He’d kept this. I’d expected him to eliminate any trace of me, the same way I’d had to hide all traces of him. I’d boxed up every reminder of him, just as I’d tried to box up my emotions. Maybe that picture was telling. He wasn’t as bothered about losing me as I was him. But I already knew that. Exhibit A: Nora Locke.
I glanced at the image again, remembering how happy we once were, how much I’d loved him.
None of that mattered now, though. What did matter was getting off this trip down memory lane and the hell out of that house. Who knew if he’d feel so chivalrous as to give up his bed for a second night?
I glanced back at the door, the hum of the TV drifting through it, before I scanned the room. Where would I hide drugs? Carefully, I rummaged through his desk.
Nothing but papers and pencils, and another of those stupid penguins.
I moved to the dresser and yanked open the top drawer, searching through his clothes. When I closed it, something wobbled on top, and my hand shot out to steady the picture of him and his dad. My heart clenched at Wolf in his State football uniform, his dad beaming with pride beside him. He’d lost so much, more than anyone his age should have. I swiped at the tear that dropped onto my cheek and put down the picture. Then I forced myself to keep searching, but with a whole lot more guilt. He was blackmailing me! Why was that so easy to forget?
Eight
Jade
The next morning, I woke to snuffling in my ear. “Stop.” I squinted at the furry little barrel of a dog. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be in here.”
I glanced at the cracked door and groaned. All my ranting about wanting a room with a lock, and I hadn’t remembered to use it. I’d been too eager to search through his stuff.
A wet tongue swept my cheek. “Dog is not a proper name. You need another one.” I scruffed behind his pointy ears. “I shall call you…Squishy.” My childhood obsession with Finding Nemo had apparently not done me any favors.
The little fox look-alike tilted his head like he understood me, then went to the end of the bed and frantically dug up the comforter.
Something clattered in the bathroom, and my gaze shot to the closed en-suite door. That was when I realized the shower was running. There was only one person who would be using Wolf’s shower—Wolf. God, I really needed to be more observant if I was going to live in this house. And seeing as I found absolutely nothing last night, that could be for a while.
The water cut off, and I panicked. I really did not want to be here when he came out, but I couldn’t go downstairs in my sleep shorts—or didn’t want to. I could get changed, but…I glanced around the room for my bag—my bag I had left in my car. Dammit. Just as my bare feet hit the floor, the lock clicked. I froze like a possum, ready to play dead, when the bathroom door swung open.
Steam billowed around Wolf’s hulking, barely towel-covered figure. My attention swept from the top of his muscular chest, down abs that could have been chiseled by God himself, to the deep V-lines that slipped beneath that towel. My mouth went dry, and it took everything in me not to gawk openly. My face was already hot, though. Thankfully, Squishy leaped off the bed and shot a lap around the room, for no reason, granting me a much-needed distraction from all that skin, and hopefully drawing Wolf’s attention from my, no doubt, tomato-red cheeks.
“Sorry, I slept late.” I pushed to my feet, feeling super awkward about taking over his space. “I’ll go.” Even though he was the one forcing me to be in this house.
“It’s fine. I’m about to leave.”
Dog followed Wolf across the room, licking water from his leg when he stopped in front of the dresser. He yanked one of the drawers open, and the picture on the top wobbled, the same way it had last night when I’d snooped in there.