Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
"Hey." I tip her chin up until those pretty green eyes are locked on mine. "We have ten whole weeks together in Los Angeles soon. And it doesn't matter if we're at the same college or not, butterfly. I'll still love you. I'll visit every damn weekend and FaceTime you so much, you'll get sick of me."
"I won't, Gage," she says, her expression somber. "I could never get sick of you. You're my best friend. Even if you didn't feel the same way about me, I'd still miss you next year. Even though Victoria has been horrible, and people say stupid things about me, I've never regretted switching schools because I met you. I love you."
"I love you too," I whisper. And then I send up a thank you to God for giving me a chance to fix what I messed up. I feel a little like I'm walking on air. Knowing this extraordinary girl loves me makes me feel like a king. Nothing else even compares to that, certainly not the stupid ass crown they put on my head tonight.
I kiss Troian softly. At least it starts out that way. As soon as her tongue touches mine, I forget everything except for how badly I want her. I'm an eighteen-year-old virgin, dating the hottest girl in school. Of course I want her basically every minute of the day. But I've been good. I've been so damn good. We've fooled around, but I want our first time to be special, not some quickie before her parents get home.
"You can't kiss me like that, butterfly," I groan, breaking away before I take it too far.
"Why not?"
"Because every time you do, you make my dick hurt."
"Gage," she whispers. And then she squirms a little, her cheeks turning pink.
Ah, fuck.
"You're hurting for me too, aren't you?"
"Yes," she whispers, looking up at me through her lashes.
Jesus. How did I get this lucky?
I don't know, but I'm never going to take my good fortune for granted. I'm never going to take her for granted.
"Come home with me, butterfly," I say. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do, but I want you in my arms in my bed at least once before I leave home. I've been thinking about it for years."
"What about your mom?" she asks.
"Garrett has a sleep study at the hospital tonight, so she's with him until morning. You're allowed to say no," I promise her. "If you'd rather stay here, I'll dance with you until they kick us out and be happy about it."
"That's not what I want, Gage. I want to go home with you."
"Yeah?"
She nods.
"My brave little butterfly," I whisper and then kiss her again. Because I can. Because she's mine. Because, for some reason, this beautiful girl loves me too.
Thank you, God. Thank you.
We leave the dance hand in hand, our hearts racing. Troian giggles when Corey gives her a thumbs-up. He's been a hell of a friend to her the last few weeks. Even when it drove me crazy with jealousy, I was grateful to him.
She deserves friends like him in her life.
Victoria glances at us as we slip out. She doesn't say anything, though. She knows she has no power anymore.
My girl is free now. And so am I.
I can finally love her the way I've always wanted. The way she deserves. Taking care of her heart is my job now, and I won't mess it up or break it. Not ever. It's the biggest gift she's ever been given…and she trusts it in my hands. No movie deal or stupid ass crown could ever compete with that.
"I love you," she whispers as I tuck her into the passenger seat of my truck.
"Always, butterfly," I whisper back.
She gives me that sweet smile, and I've never felt better.
Chapter Fourteen
Troian
Gage and I don't say much as we hurry up the steps to his room, leaving the lights in the house off. As soon as we cross the threshold into his bedroom, I smile.
It's been a while since I was last in his room, but there are pictures of the two of us everywhere, as if he's covered his walls in his favorite memories. His room is always freakishly neat, unlike mine, and it always smells like him—like citrus and pine and some spice that's uniquely him.
I stride toward his desk, reaching out to run a finger across the teddy bear sitting beside his monitor. "I can't believe you still have this."
"Why wouldn't I?" he asks, pushing the door closed. "You spent a small fortune trying to win that damn bear for me." He turns to me, his lips quirked up into a grin. "The carnie was ready to just give it to you, but you refused to give up until you won it fair and square."