Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
And this year, we were in the eighth grade. That was the last grade at Bainbridge Academy. After I finished there, I was headed to Wellington Preparatory High School, and we had no idea if Liam was going to get a scholarship for that school too. He could be stuck going to the nearby public school.
For now, I was determined to focus on the important thing—we were kings of the mountain at Bainbridge for one year. The big men on campus, and we were planning to lord it over all the underclassmen until we were back to being little fish in a big pond. That didn’t mean we couldn’t have some wild fun at home as a way to say good-bye to summer.
“At least we’ve got the water guns.” A sly grin spread across his face, showing off his slightly crooked teeth. “As soon as they show their faces, we’ll take them out. Send them running home.”
I huffed a laugh, trying to ignore the tingle that spread through my body anytime he smiled up at me like that. “Definitely.”
The stupid feeling hit at the oddest times. Like there was this tiny voice whispering at me to kiss him. Which was ridiculous. He was my best friend and had been for years. We did everything together. We hung out every freaking day. When my mom had asked what kind of party I’d wanted for my birthday, I’d told her I wanted to have a sleepover with Liam so we could eat pizza and stay up all night playing video games. And now, Liam was planning to do the same thing for his birthday next month.
Yet, since we did everything together, if I felt the urge to kiss him, didn’t that mean Liam might want to kiss too? Usually, he was the one to follow my lead. He waited for me to make the big decisions unless there was something he was particularly excited about. Maybe he wanted me to make the first move.
A heavy rush of air escaped Liam, and he tipped his head up toward me, angling his mouth, just right, as if he were having the same thoughts.
“So…what do you want to do now? I think I’ve got another hour until my mom calls me for dinner.”
I didn’t think. I pursed my lips together, closed my eyes, and kissed him.
The tingles got worse, but not in a bad way. Heat rushed across my cheeks and down my chest, making the fizzy bubbles in my veins more violent. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears I couldn’t even hear the roar of the cicadas any longer. Liam’s lips were dry and stiff, as if his entire body had frozen under my touch. Yet, as I thought maybe he didn’t want this and I’d have to figure out a way to turn this into a joke, Liam’s mouth softened. His lips moved slightly as he kissed me back.
“Liam Alexander Rose! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Liam’s mother screeched, and we jumped apart as if we’d exploded into flames.
My head snapped up to find Mrs. Rose standing on the porch, one hand holding open the door. Her face was an ugly shade of bright red, and her eyes were so wide they were bugging out of her skull.
“It’s not my fault!” Liam cried out. “R-Rome! Rome kissed me!”
Pain slashed through my chest, and I dragged my gaze to my best friend. I couldn’t speak. Words refused to form in my brain. There was only a fog of pain and shock. As if it hadn’t been enough for him to sell me out like that, Liam turned toward me, his face twisted up in panic, and shoved me hard. I stumbled and fell on my ass, but I barely even noticed.
Liam had betrayed me in the blink of an eye. Over the years, we’d covered for each other and protected one another without a thought. It had been us against the parents. He’d always had my back, but this time…
“Liam, get in this house right this second,” Mrs. Rose ordered, sending Liam scurrying up the stairs and into the darkness without a single look at me. I lifted my eyes to see Mrs. Rose staring at me with a disgusted curl of her upper lip. “You have been trouble since the first time I saw you. I should never have let Liam stay friends with you. Get out of here. I’m calling your parents. Never come around here. Stay away from Liam, you disgusting pervert.”
Her words sliced through me, but nothing was like the ache in my chest where Liam had first attacked me. Betrayed me. Abandoned me as if all our years and pranks together had meant nothing to him.
My throat tightened with a knot. I wanted to shout at her to go ahead and call my parents. I wasn’t scared of her or her threats. But I couldn’t get any words out past that stupid lump.