Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Lying down on the couch, I pull the thin blanket over me and play on the phone. I bring up Niki’s number a few times, wanting to text him but not knowing what to say. I have no experience with boys or doing naughty things with them.
Had he really said he’d never kissed anyone before? It was hard to think straight after I’d run to the bathroom like my ass was on fire. It was all so much. The emotions I harbor for him, along with everything else from the previous few days, are overwhelming.
Then I couldn’t help that small voice in the back of my head reminding me that no one does things for free. There is always a price. I just can’t see Niki holding things over my head. I’m sure I’m being naïve, but it doesn’t change how I feel.
I want him in ways I've never wanted anyone before. For the brief moment when I let myself fall into him, I felt safe. The safest I've ever felt before. He gave that to me, and you know what? That is priceless.
I nibble on my lower lip, contemplating whether to send him a text. Isn’t this the kind of thing you talk to your mom about? I try to think about what my mom would say. I’m honestly not sure. She isn’t a fan of men for the most part, but in her line of work, I can see why.
When I turned sixteen, she’d taken me to the clinic to put me on birth control, worried I was going to get pregnant. I was nowhere close to having sex then; hell, a week ago I would have said the same thing. Now, not so much. I get it, though. My mom was fifteen when she had me.
I’m going to do it. I pull up his number again right as a text comes in from him.
Have you come out of the bathroom yet?
I smile. He’s teasing me. That’s a good sign.
I was about to text you.
Everything okay?
Does he only think I’d text him because I need something? I don’t want him to think that, and it’s easier to say these things over text. I’m not sure I’m bold enough to do it in person.
Thanks to you it is.
It’s only shoes and a phone.
Damn.
It’s not, and you’ve done way more than that. You’re a good one, Niki. Thank you.
I see the bubbles appear and then disappear.
Well, crap. Did I scare him off? Lighten the mood. I’ll go with a tease, the same as he had.
The O was pretty great too.
The second I hit send, I want to throw myself off this building. Did I really send him a message saying my orgasm was great? I throw the phone to the end of the couch. When it dings, I jerk my feet back away from it. When it dings for a second time, I know I have to look. I reach down and grab it.
I left my pants there. I’ll get them in the morning
You run back into the bathroom
I snort a laugh.
I’m here
What are you doing
I just read my sister a couple of books
Four actually. She’s good at talking me into shit
That makes me smile big. That’s so freaking adorable, and I bet Niki has no clue that it is. I lie down on my side, staring at the phone.
What are you doing now?
Lying here
Me too
Now I wish I hadn’t run to the bathroom and he was here, but it’s a selfish thought. He has a family at home. One that sounds a whole lot more normal than mine.
Are you going to be able to sleep tonight
Are you really going to be here in the morning? Don’t you have school too?
I’ll be there. Try and get some sleep
I’ll try
My heart gives an excited flutter when the phone starts to ring in my hand with Niki’s name appearing on the screen.
“Hey,” I whisper when I answer.
“Turn the TV on.”
“Right now?” I glance over to the television that we never use.
“Yeah.”
“We don’t have cable.”
“You don’t need it. Channel four.” I get up, turning it on and clicking to the channel to see that Family Guy is on. “Lie down with me.” I go back over to the couch, putting my phone on speaker.
“Best birthday,” I whisper when my eyes start to get heavy.
“Sleep, dream girl,” are the last words I hear before I’m pulled under, my dreams good for once.
Chapter Nineteen
NIKI
“Any reason you tagged Sunshine Highrise? I heard it was a crack den and not in our territory.” Clark cocks his head.
I shrug. “It seemed like the thing to do.”
“And no other reason?”
He wouldn’t be asking if he knew for sure, so I keep my mouth shut. The fewer words said here, the better. I don’t need Andy to be on anybody’s radar.