Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
His brows lifted. “Well then, I have to see it now. Do you have a ticket already?”
Nodding, I said, “I actually have two because Aurora was initially going to go with me before her family made plans.”
A wide grin appeared on his face. “Perfect. I’ll buy the snacks; you provide the ticket.”
My stomach swooped at the idea of going to a movie with Gavin. “Okay. Do you want to meet there? The movie starts at seven.”
“Sounds like a date.”
“A date?” I echoed, before I could think better of it.
Gavin winked again. “A date.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, a date it is.”
“So, until then…tell me about yourself. We’ve been going to school together since our elementary days, and I still don’t know much about you.”
“There isn’t much to know. I like to read, and math and history are my favorite subjects. I plan on going to college for business management, and one day, I hope to take over the toy shop my mother runs.”
“Your grandfather opened it, didn’t he?”
I smiled. “Yes, he was always a big kid at heart, so it wasn’t surprising he decided to open a toy store. I work there some weekends and during the summer.”
“So you want to run the toy store, huh?”
“That’s the plan,” I said as I stapled another packet. “What about you? What are your plans after college.”
He shrugged. “My mother wants me to go to college, but I think I’ll become a New York state police officer, or maybe a Moose Village officer.”
My eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yeah, my dad’s a cop, his dad is a cop, and his dad before him was a cop. My older brother James is already a cop here in Moose Village.”
“What does your mother want you to go to college for? Degree-wise, I mean?”
He laughed, but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in it. “She thinks I would make a great doctor, or maybe a lawyer. I barely get by with my current grades; I can’t even imagine going to medical school. I have no desire to do anything but be in law enforcement.”
“Then you should go into law. Or if you want a degree, you could do criminal justice.”
He sighed. “You have more confidence in me than I do, Bry.”
The use of the nickname both surprised and thrilled me. “I think you’re smart, even if you pretend you’re not.”
He looked up at me, and our eyes met. Something arced between us, but I couldn’t grasp the significance of what it was at the time, a connection I couldn’t explain. A slow, sexy-as-all-get-out smile appeared on his handsome face.
“You don’t miss a thing, do you, Brystol Duggan?”
“I guess not. Why pretend not to be as smart as you are?”
He shrugged. “The guys would tease me relentlessly if they thought I was book smart.”
“So? Maybe for a few days or weeks, but then they’d get over it. There isn’t anything wrong with being smart and athletic.”
He shook his head and went back to work on the packets. Shortly after, the bell rang, and we both stood.
I started to walk off, but Gavin reached for my hand, bringing me to a stop. “I’ll see you at seven at the movie theater later?”
Trying to ignore the rush of butterflies in my stomach, I nodded. “See you then.”
Aurora and I walked side by side down the hall as I told her about my conversation with Gavin and how he wanted to meet me at the movies tonight.
“I don’t know why you’re so surprised; you’re beautiful, Brystol.”
I waved her off. “I’m plain.”
She laughed. “Hardly. You think your glasses make you look geeky, but it’s the opposite.”
We reached our lockers, and I heard Gavin’s voice. His locker was right around the corner from mine and Aurora’s.
“Speaking of.” She giggled, and I hit her arm and told her to be quiet.
“What do you mean, you’re not coming tonight?” someone asked, though I couldn’t tell who it was.
“I have plans tonight,” Gavin said.
Someone else laughed. “Dude, you’re not serious? I thought you were screwing around with me.”
“Wait, serious about what?” Lucas Walker asked.
“Nothing,” Gavin said. “It’s nothing.”
The first guy spoke again. “Our Gavin here is going out with Brystol Duggan tonight.”
Aurora reached for my hand as I held my breath. They were teasing Gavin about meeting me at the movies. I looked at Aurora, waiting for Gavin to come to my defense any moment now.
“Dude, a charity date with that nerd?” Lucas scoffed.
“She’s not a nerd,” Gavin said.
Aurora smiled at me, and I smiled back.
“Dude, why not go out with Aurora instead? She’s hot as hell!”
My smile faded, along with Aurora’s.
“Are you so hard up for sex you have to go after the class nerd?” Lucas asked, as the other guys laughed. I strained to hear Gavin’s reply.
“I can get sex anytime I want, thank you very much.”