Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 79183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I cling right back.
We swim to the top. I breathe in the air, and she does as well, and we both turn and look at each other.
And then stupid Quinn jumps in the pool like some fucking lifeguard from Baywatch and swims over to us.
“Holy shit! You guys okay?” He grabs her first. Expected, then pulls her out of my arms and to the side of the pool. Weirdly enough, nobody seems all that fazed as more people start jumping in and drunkenly shouting. Wow, I do one bad thing in front of everyone, and so far, no repercussions if you don’t count Quinn. “I thought you hit your head. How many fingers am I holding up, just in case you have a concussion from getting shoved into the pool?” He holds up two fingers.
I wish to God she would answer six as I swim over toward the side as well. Instead, MB goes. “Two.”
“Okay, take your time.” He has her fully pulled up against him as if she can’t swim and needs a hero when she’s fully able to save herself.
I want to kill him.
I want to kiss him at the same time for grabbing her, which is a whole different scenario.
He grabbed her the minute she swam to the surface—and I just treaded water like an idiot, staring around at the party, wondering if I just ruined my own life by kissing her, by teasing and tempting her.
Him.
Did it really have to be him though?
“She’s just tired,” I say quickly and attempt to pull her away. Quinn’s eyes lock onto mine with an intensity I’m extremely familiar with and won’t ever be able to forget.
I know that look.
I stare him down.
“Does she though?” His dark smirk says it all. It’s like every secret between us is dangling, waiting to be plucked from the air and exposed to everyone. He pulls her closer against his body while she looks over at me.
I’ll kill him.
It’s like deja vu.
“You’re not scared, are you?” Tessa taunts, standing between us. My eye is already swelling up, and his lip is bloody from my punch. We’re both running on way too much anger and adrenaline.
“Come on.” Tessa kisses him right in front of me on the mouth; his eyes burn into mine, and then she turns around and winks at me. “See? Sharing is easy, Ambrose. Didn’t you ever learn that in school? More is better…”
I think that’s when I started to hate her.
I don’t even think she realized at that moment that she was pushing herself away and starting something way more dangerous than she could ever realize.
Something that would include cover-ups.
Payouts.
Secrets.
Lies.
“I’m good.” MB finally pipes up and looks between the two of us, then frowns at me. “Did you hit your head?”
She doesn’t reach for me, but I imagine she mentally does, that she’s concerned where Quinn probably wishes death on my soul. Then again, I have been in an epic staring contest with the guy I used to call a friend.
Splashes from people jumping in hit all of us in the face, and her sexy dress is plastered to her body.
“You’re nipping out.” Yes, this is what I choose to say as I get out of the pool and pretend not to care.
Quinn swears under his breath.
The moment between the three of us completely forgotten. The look he gave me was another thing from the past that I’ll tuck into that box my mom told me to bury and never mention again.
MB shakily gets out of the pool and stands, dripping wet. I look over my shoulder to make sure she really is okay and then want to vomit when Quinn stops Hudson and mimics for him to take off his shirt.
Hudson loves every opportunity to show off his abs, so he immediately strips while Quinn puts it over B’s head. It dwarfs her, coming down to her knees, reminding me of what she used to look like stumbling out of my bed wearing my clothes.
I feel like I can’t breathe as she wrings out her now darker hair and thanks both Hudson and Quinn. Quinn gives her a high five and then messes with her hair.
Bastard.
I stumble toward the drink table, suddenly realizing how drunk I really am, then lean over it. I can hear MB’s laughter, I can hear Quinn’s stupid voice.
I know he saw us kiss.
I know he cares.
I blink away the blurred vision and see Hailey standing over by the cups swaying to the loud music; she’s wearing a red crop top that barely covers her underboob and a pair of loose jeans that are falling off her flat ass.
Whatever.
I don’t care.
“C’mere.” I motion toward her knowing she will. She may have hooked up with Xander, but she’s too drunk to care about who kisses her right now.