Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Because she’s my best friend, I unload on her. All of it. My explosive feelings for him, the most romantic date ever and getting some finger action, the awkward surprise visit at my work, the apology, and yes, even the blowjob.
I have no filter and need to confide in someone.
“No fucking way,” she hisses. “Holy crap. You’re having an illicit affair with a high school student. That’s so taboo, girl.”
I roll my eyes at her. “He’s eighteen.”
“Like just yesterday.”
It’s been a few days, but I get her point. “Are you judging me? I’m pretty sure you encouraged this.”
“No judgment at all. I swear. Honestly, you’re glowing with happiness. You deserve that.”
She pauses for a long beat. I know she wants to say more, but for once is holding back, clearly not wanting to hurt my feelings.
“But,” I encourage with a soft sigh.
“But I worry about you getting hurt.” She cuts her eyes over to me. “If it was just getting laid by some young hottie, I’d be one-hundred percent cool with it. You’re falling for him, though. Kind of fast, don’t you think?”
Her words do hurt. No wonder she didn’t want to say them.
“You think I’m filling the hole Derek left in my heart with Brayden?”
“Are you?”
No. Yes. Maybe. Ugh, I don’t know.
“When we’re together, it doesn’t feel that way,” I say softly. “It feels fresh and exciting. My insecurities about weight, the pain of the miscarriage, and the failure of my relationship all fade away when I’m with him. I feel young again. Wanted. Spoiled. Adored.” I laugh bitterly. “Guess it was too good to be true.”
She stops walking and stands in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Look at me.”
I meet her firm stare.
“You deserve to unload those heavy feelings and to be spoiled by a hottie like Brayden. I just don’t want you to get your heart broken again. You were drowning in despair, and I’ve only just gotten you back.”
I know she’s right, but how do you stop a freight train of fiery feelings?
“It can be ‘too good’ and ‘true’,” she assures me. “But you can also be careful and don’t fall in love blindly with the first man you connect with after Derek.”
I’m not falling in love with Brayden Foss.
He chooses this time to walk across our path, heading toward Gordon’s unit, and bores his heated stare into me as he passes.
My heart does a ridiculous leap inside my chest.
“I’ll be careful,” I say absently to Clara, unable to stop looking at Brayden until he disappears into the townhouse.
Clara sighs heavily. “I fear I may be too late on my bestie advice.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, finally looking back at her.
She cups my cheek and gives me a sad smile. “I think you’ve already fallen, and I have no idea how to undo that for you.”
Undo it?
If the feelings bursting inside of me are a view into a future with Brayden, I don’t want to undo a thing.
In fact, I want to toss gasoline on the small fire.
This thing between us burns hot.
All I want to do is keep stoking the flames.
Brayden
Casey: OMG. Thank you! The fruit is such a hit here at work. You’re such a sweetheart.
I grin at her text. It’s been a few days since she gave me the blowjob of my lifetime and I can’t stop thinking about her. Every second of every day is Casey. Sexy, sassy, perfect Casey.
And, as much as I wanted to hop into bed with her like we were planning to before getting interrupted by Maggie, I’ve kept my distance.
If I come on too strong, she might think I’m too much.
I wasn’t lying when I told her I wanted to get to know her.
So, I’ve kept my distance, physically, but have started texting with her. Don’t tell Dad I broke into his phone and grabbed her number from him. The break we’ve had has also come out of necessity. She works during the day, and I go to school. The past few nights, though, I’ve been working my ass off with Dad on Gordon’s old unit. He wants to get it ready to rent out as soon as possible. If he knew I’ve been slacking off so I can play grab-ass with my girlfriend, he might get pissed.
Me: It took a long time to cut the cantaloupe into star shapes.
Casey: Wait. You made the fruit bouquet?! I thought it was from that one place that delivers. Your talents never fail to impress me.
That one place that delivers was going to charge over a hundred dollars. I knew I could make the damn thing for less than thirty.
Me: The delivery was tricky, but I got Savvy to run it in for me on our way to school this morning. I was hoping you didn’t notice that.