Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
I kiss him to shut him up, afraid of where he’s headed with this. His hands move across my body, as if relearning every inch of me in the dark. From the house, I hear my mom laugh loudly, jolting me like an electric shock.
“We can’t keep doing this,” I gasp, even as I lean closer.
“I tried to warn you, baby.” His voice is rough in my ear. “Once I claimed you, there’d be no going back.”
A sound from outside makes us both freeze—footsteps, probably Jim getting something from downstairs.
“Tomorrow night,” he swears, pressing a kiss to my forehead. He won’t kiss my lips because if he does, he’ll have to take me fully. “Same time. I need to have you, even if it’s just a quickie.”
I nod. “A quickie?” I whisper with a wink. “I look forward to it.”
I slip back outside and race up to the house. At the door, I turn to see him watching me from the darkness.
“I love you,” I whisper into the darkness. And to my surprise, I hear his voice respond.
“I love you too, baby.”
His words send my heart soaring. My cheeks are on fire, and I have goosebumps everywhere as I race up to my room and dive into bed. This is what pure happiness feels like. Could life get any better? I think not.
As I drift off to sleep, I remember the promise in his eyes.
We’ll make it. We have to.
8
LILY
The washer around my neck clinks against the table.
Such a small sound, but potentially world-ending.
Mom’s eyes lock on to the metal pendant, and I freeze. “What is that?” she asks, reaching out, taking it into her hand. “Is that—is this Colt’s?”
My hand flies to cover it. Too late. A blush burns across my cheeks, and the silence stretches between us like a knife. Her voice is quiet, controlled.
Busted.
I can’t speak. Can’t find my voice. Even if I could, I can’t lie to her. I’ve never been able to lie to my mom. But I also can’t betray him.
“Lily,” she snips, sharper now. “Is that Colt’s?”
My breath catches as I try to turn away, but all that does is put my guilt on full display.
“Oh my God,” Mom breathes. Then, “Colt! Get in here now!”
It takes a second, but he appears in the kitchen doorway, stained with grease, a rag in his hand, and my body responds like it always does. My heartbeat lurches as his eyes find mine. Then he sees the washer in Mom’s fingers, and his jaw tightens.
“What is going on?” she asks, her voice trembling with anger. “One of you better start talking.”
“Mom—” I start to say, but Colt cuts me off.
“Oh, that? That’s nothing. She just borrowed it. I’ll take it back now.”
“My daughter borrowed this?” Mom laughs. “My daughter who has never touched anything mechanical in her life?”
Colt nods, somehow maintaining his cool. “She liked the way it looked.”
“Stop.” The word tears from my throat. Colt’s eyes narrow. “Don’t lie for me.”
“Lily,” he hisses, a warning in his tone.
“Mom,” I say, turning to face her. My heart is pounding as I grab the fabric of my shirt. “I love him.”
Mom’s eyes go wide, and her face drains of color. She glances at Colt, then back at me, like she’s waiting for one of us to tell her the punchline. But it doesn’t come. “You what?”
“I love him,” I repeat, stronger this time. “And he loves me. And not in the family kind of way.”
Mom’s jaw drops, and at just that instant, Jim decides to walk in. He reads the room instantly and asks, “What’s going on?”
Mom’s voice cracks. “Your son and my daughter are—”
Jim’s a smart guy, but he doesn’t get it. His eyes move from Colt to me then over to my mom. “Are what?”
Panic seems to take over my mom as she shrugs and flails her arms wildly about, pointing at the two of us like we’re a couple of criminals. “Together!”
Jim scoffs. “No. Come on, what?” His denial is obvious and immediate, but then he sees Colt’s washer dangling from my neck. He glances over at Colt and sees the truth written all across his face. “No. No way. Absolutely not.”
“Dad—” Colt starts.
“You were supposed to look after her! Protect her!” Jim shouts, slamming his palm on the counter. “Not—Jesus, she’s eighteen, and you’re her stepbrother!”
“You think you know what’s best for me!?” I protest, my voice shaking as I step forward. “We’re not related. We didn’t grow up together. You two aren’t even married yet—”
“Oh, be quiet, Lily!” my mom snaps. “Are you nuts?”
“Mom, he’s…” My voice trails off as I stare across the room at Colt, remembering how safe I feel in his arms, how wanted.
“He’s what?”
Somehow, I manage to smile at him—the man of my dreams. “He’s everything.”
Colt starts to smile but then remembers the situation and steps forward, positioning himself between me and our parents. “It’s my fault, Dad. You’re right. I’m the older one. I should have—”