Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I’m just making up Greenhouse Club rules as I go.
After she rattles it off and I save it into my phone under “Good Girl,” I give her a quick wave. She drives off before I make it back to my truck. Once at my vehicle, I gently bang my head against the hot metal on the side of my truck cab.
Coming here was supposed to be a fresh start, not a whole new set of fuckery.
Maybe I’m the problem and Mary Ellen was right.
I’m not as good of a man as I thought I was.
Since my stomach is now growling and I can’t get a certain girl out of my head, I make the decision to drive to Penny’s house. At least visiting my nephews and sister will clear my head. It always does.
I’m sorry, Addison.
I wish things were different because I’d really love to get to know a sweet, intelligent, drop-dead gorgeous girl like you.
Chapter 5
Addison
The weekend dragged by painfully slow.
I was actually eager to go back to school.
To get away from Mom’s disappointment or to see Theo again?
I’m not delusional. I know exactly why. There’s something about him that electrifies me. Maybe it’s just that he seems to see me when no one else can. Or it could be that he calls me “good girl,” and says things that make me blush.
“For the record. A younger me would have died at an opportunity to have dinner with a girl like you. Died, Addison. Trust me, it’s not you.”
He could have left my offer to have dinner together at “no, I don’t think that would be appropriate.” But he didn’t. He said the words I’ve been replaying over and over in my head. And he asked for my number.
It stung a little that I clutched onto my phone all weekend and never heard a peep from him. A secret part of me wanted desperately to talk to him privately, where no one else would walk in and overhear us.
Why?
What would you say to him?
I think I’d say something to make him laugh. To hear his soft chuckle and the breathy sound of it through the phone.
I’m clearly just fixating on the one person who’s being nice to me. It’s not smart and I need to get it together. My life is too messy from a separate teacher issue. Chasing after a different one feels monumentally stupid. I need to let this fascination with him go.
If it’s so stupid and you know you need to get past this, why are you dressed so cute?
I bite back a smile as I climb out of my car. The orange boho floral print ruffle skirt I’m wearing is lightweight and dances with movement. It’s also a little on the short side, hitting me just below the ass. I tossed a pair of jeans in my bag in case I get dress coded. My white tank has a deep V in the front and shows my midriff. It’s one of my cutest outfits I own.
A couple of guys standing near the door of the school grin at me as I walk up. Ignoring them, I toss my long blond hair over my shoulder and hurry past them.
This outfit isn’t for anyone other than me.
And Theo…
Once inside, I strategically hurry past any of the teachers who look like they might send me to the office for my clothes. Since I’m early, it makes getting past them difficult, but I manage, using my purse to hide my skirt. I eventually make it to the door that leads to the greenhouse. When I rush into the earthy building, my heart rate quickens when I realize Theo is the only one here.
His back is to me as he digs through a massive bin of plastic pots. He’s dressed in his typical dress clothes that fit him in all the right places. I take note that he has a really nice ass, especially in the slacks he’s wearing today.
I set my stuff down and then make my way over to him. “Morning, Theo.”
Not Mr. Langford. Theo. He insisted…
He startles and drops a handful of plastic containers. They clatter everywhere. His head whips my way. Satisfaction burns hot through me when his gaze goes from my eyes to my mouth, to the cleavage visible, the sliver of skin at my stomach, and then down the length of my extra smooth legs. Thank you, morning exfoliation.
His face reddens and then he pops his eyes back to mine, a mixture of admiration and horror dancing in them. The expression confuses me. I awkwardly fiddle with the too-short hem and shift on my feet.
“Hi, Addison. You, uh, came out of nowhere. Nearly pissed my pants.”
This has me smiling. “Glad you didn’t.”
“Same.” He steals a glance at my mouth and then turns away from me. “Good weekend?”