Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“It’s your last month in college,” he says, visibly distressed. “You should be able to enjoy it to the fullest.”
“August, you need to believe me when I say I’m not in the least upset about not going to class. Not everyone has the same college experience. For you, it was a whirlwind of football, parties, and fun—”
“Not all fun,” he mutters, pulling me onto his lap like he needs the physical contact. “A lot of it was stressful as hell.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have implied it wasn’t.”
“No.” He huffs out a dry laugh. “It was a pretty accurate assessment, all in all.”
“I only meant that, for me, college has always felt more like a job. I went to class, did the work, and that’s about it. I never joined teams or clubs, never really partied.”
August frowns, tracing the curve of my neck in concern. “Did you want to?”
“I don’t know. I think if I did, I would have. It just wasn’t me. Not really.” I rub his broad chest with slow strokes; turns out I constantly need to touch him too. “I don’t have regrets. I am who I am.”
“I like who you are too,” he whispers against the crown of my head. “I like it so much, Penelope.”
Those words sink into my heart and grab hold. I find myself taking his hand and placing a kiss in the center of his wide palm. My heart squeezes harder when he makes a fist as though clutching that kiss close.
“There’s only a few weeks left,” I whisper back. “I won’t miss anything by going remotely.”
Four days after the incident, August surprised me with my bike, completely restored and a custom riding jacket with armor that’s also light, breathable, and fits my curves like a glove.
I’ll sleep easier knowing my girl is protected when she rides, he’d told me when I tackled him with kisses.
MayDay: So who’s ready to par-tay on the big boat besides me?
MadMarch: Is that Speed 2. God. No. May. Why? Just why?
JuneBug: I thought we agreed that movie didn’t happen! Annie sped off with Keanu into the LA sunset! END OF STORY!!!
MayDay: You two wouldn’t know good cinema if it bit you on the ass
No1Luck: your taste is dubious at best, MayDay. And my boat is not big enough for a party
MadMarch: that’s what she said
No1Luck: Keep talking, Michael Scott. See what happens.
MayDay: Ooh, what happens? I wanna see!
RcktMan: Will it be like the time Jan made March slap himself? Cuz that was awesome
MadMarch: shut it you! Remember the FROG?
RcktMan: Right. Jan’s a dick. And who the fuck named me in this chat? MARCH!
MadMarch: Why you coming after me? I want to give the person a beer for that one
RcktMan: fuckos
LuckyPenny: I did what I had to! Believe me, it was better than SoulBroChickn they workshopped earlier.
RcktMan: Penelope? How could you!
LuckyPenny: I repeat, they wanted to call you SoulBroChickn! Suck it up, RcktMan
JuneBug: Our girl has teeth. Heh.
No1Luck: She’s one of us now.
MadMarch: I for one welcome our new evil overlord, Lucky Penny
LuckyPenny: Thank you, thank you. I want you to carry on with the dreary normal things you normal people do. Let’s just have fun with this!
JuneBug: Calm down there, Megamind
LuckyPenny: :D And I was supposed to be PennyWise!
MayDay: NO CLOWNS!!!
RcktMan: My girl is too cute to be a murder clown
LuckyPenny: D’awww
MayDay: I think I prefer the clown
No1Luck: FFs keep it holstered, SOULChicken
RcktMan: You can’t see it, but I’m flipping you all off.
No1Luck: Can’t wait til you’re all here. No, really. What time do you arrive? I’ll schedule the next plane out
MadMarch: We have a key, bro
RcktMan: We’ll make ourselves nice and comfortable
No1Luck: Fuck
LuckyPenny: He loves you guys SOO much!
MayDay: IKR?!?
No1Luck: see you chuckleheads on Mon
Pen
I find it a relief to get out of town the weekend before Thanksgiving. I think August does too. And so now we’re in Texas, driving up the long, private road to January’s house for a mini vacation. We’d met May and June at the airport and driven in together.
“You’ll love Jan’s house,” June tells me from the back seat of our rental. “It faces the lake.”
We’d been catching glittering glimpses of the massive lake as we drove. I crane my neck to see as August turns the corner, and the house comes into view. It’s a Texas modern ranch house—cut stone, charcoal-colored board-and-batten siding, and big industrial windows. The wide wraparound porch is screened in on both wings but open at the center.
Jan walks out, his body limned in the light of the doorway. He jogs over and hugs his sisters as soon as they get out of the car—picking them off their feet to twirl around until they laugh and demand to be put down.
I smile at their antics, but squawk in surprise as I’m soon treated to the same. Jan chuckles as he sets me down, then kisses my cheek.