Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Good. Just double-checking.”
“Looking good out there,” Ari tells him.
He looks to her with wide eyes, making her smile in return.
“Hey, I can still compliment you on your game even though my brother is out.”
“I appreciate that, thank you. It’s…tough, not going to lie, but I think I’m doing even better than last week.”
Ari nods. “I bet your family is happy for you.”
Alister gives her a tight smile and looks to me. “I’ll get all that done tonight. Promise.”
I nod, watching as he runs off. He disappears into the tunnel, and I look at the rest of the group, but it looks like Brady is already gone.
“Okay, I need to head back. Paige is picking me up to take me to the airport in a half hour, and I want to change first.”
The two of us get up, heading back to the dorm.
“You’ll call me when you land?” I ask her, helping her toss her bag in the back of Paige’s car.
“Of course.” Ari hugs me. “Have fun at the party without me.”
“Have fun at your party without me! I can’t believe you’re going to a freaking celebrity party. Who even are you?”
“You never know. The way things are looking, all three of us might be the next hit show.” She lifts her arms, palms up, and pulls them outward slowly as if to reveal something. “I can see it now, Housewives of Oceanside.”
I frown, meeting Paige’s matching one, and look back toward my best friend. “I don’t get it.”
“Ditto!” Paige calls.
Ari only laughs. “’Kay, bye, love you!”
“Love you!” I close the door, and just as she pulls away, a familiar truck rolls into the parking space across from the curb, the window sliding down as I walk over to the driver’s side.
Brady’s brown eyes gleam. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Yeah, fancy seeing me outside my dorm building at the exact same time Ari has to leave.”
“What are the chances?” He grins. “If I offer to buy dinner, will you share your bed with me again tonight?”
“What’s wrong?” I tease, crossing my arms and leaning in a little closer, against the door. “Chase stop letting you sleep in his?”
“I like the feel of your body better.”
I drop my eyes to the ground for some reason, then peek back up. “Do I get to pick what we eat?”
“Only if I get to pick the movie.”
“Deal.”
Brady turns the truck off, rolls up the window, and climbs out, stepping right up to me. “Lead the way, Hellcat.”
I stare up at him, a strange…something swirling in my stomach.
Only when he raises a brow do I remember to move.
His chuckle heats my neck as I slip by, but the shiver that runs down my spine is because of the cold.
I mean…what else would it be?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Cameron
An alarm beeps softly, making my eyes peel open. The room is still dark, not a hint of light creeping through the sheer purple curtains hanging behind my bed. I blink my eyesight into focus, stretching slightly, and a small smile crosses my lips when I realize why I’m so warm.
Brady is my personal electric blanket.
I don’t even remember falling asleep last night, but I know when I did, he was still in his sweatpants and hoodie. Now it’s nothing but warm, soft skin pressed against my cheek, my entire body pressed to his side. My face is in the crook of his shoulder, my arms tucked in like a damn baby.
I press my forearms into his ribs, nudging him slightly.
His only response is to wrap his arm around me and haul me up higher until my head is on his chest. His lips brush across my forehead, and he holds me to him like his favorite pillow.
“Brady, your alarm.” I try to push up, reaching over him to grab his phone from the bedside table. Just as my fingers brush the edge, he rolls us until he’s hovering above me, his muscles somehow working already as he holds his weight over me.
Sleepy eyes the color of fall leaves fall on mine, a lazy smile on his lips. “Morning, Cammie baby.”
I snuggle into his warmth but pout. “It is not morning. It is the ass crack of dawn, and if you don’t turn that thing off, I’m going to reach down and show you how hard I can squeeze.”
“Unfortunately, that sounds like fun, so Imma need you to come up with another threat.”
I give him the best scowl I can manage while still half-dead, and my hand takes a little dive, ready to call him on his bluff.
His eyes hold mine, a playful spark dancing within them—a mischievous dare.
My knuckles brush his stomach and his muscles flex.
Before I can get any farther, his gaze still holding mine, he says, “There’s a reason I’m holding myself up, Hellcat, and it’s not for fear of squashing you.”