Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Van has been quiet since I told him not to talk to me about Dunc. To keep me out of whatever their beef is with one another. Maybe he’s pissed I’m not on his side. I don’t know. He probably sees it as some sort of betrayal. We’ve always stuck together.
“They’re stupid boys. If it wasn’t you, they would find something else to fight about. It will work itself out in time.” I’m not so sure I believe her.
“Sadie! Babe!” Dunc shouts through the house. He sounds as though he’s in a panic.
“It’s not your fault, and I’m not mad. Okay?” Mom says. I nod as she takes a step back. Dunc almost runs right into her, but I think my mom knew she needed to get out of the way. She did say Dunc reminds her a lot of Cooper. She probably understands him more than most. I’m not sure what to do with him.
“Sorry,” Dunc mutters to Mom as he shifts past. He’s a hot mess. If I wasn’t so upset, I’d laugh. Dunc freezes when he realizes I’m on the stairs. “Babe.” His expression turns to pleading. It’s not one I’m used to seeing on him. My anger falters. He has this secret power over me I don’t understand.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Mom says before heading back downstairs.
“You look ridiculous.” I stomp up the stairs. Fleur slips out of my brother's bedroom. I didn’t even know she was here. I’d texted her but hadn’t heard back.
“The hell happened to you two?” she asks like I didn’t just bust her coming out of Van’s bedroom. I’m the one that should be asking the questions here.
“Why were you in my brother's room?”
“I thought it was the bathroom.”
“Friends don’t lie to each other.”
“Fine, I’m nosy. I can't help myself.” She throws her hands up. “What happened to him?” She nods toward Dunc.
“I fucked up,” Dunc sighs.
“That's a good start.” Fleur smacks him on the shoulder as she passes him going downstairs.
“Why are you following me?”
“I’ll always follow you, Sadie.” He proves his point by slipping in behind me as I enter my bedroom, not giving me the chance to close and lock the door. I'm sure that wouldn’t stop him either way.
“This isn’t working,” I tell him.
Dunc pulls his shirt off, wiping his face with it. My eyes drop to his bare chest. Holy crap. My mouth suddenly goes dry. He doesn’t even work out. How does he look like that!
“You’re right.” He tosses the shirt into my laundry basket. My heart sinks at his response, which is stupid. “I can’t hide us. It’s driving me insane.” He closes the space between us. “I know I keep fucking shit up, babe, but I promise you, everything I do, you’re always my first thought.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I don’t hate Van. Sure, he pisses me off, but I know he’s only looking out for you. I’ll try harder.” I can see the sincerity in his eyes.
“Really?” I’m not sure they will ever get along.
“Try. He is a dick.” I smack his chest but can’t help but smile. “Why do you want to hide us?”
“Can you sit over there?” I run my fingers across his bare chest. “It’s hard to think when you’re this close.” And this undressed.
The second he took his shirt off, my body had a reaction. It’s the same one I’ve been fighting every night when he slips into bed with me. He never tries anything. Only pulls me close, burying his face in my neck.
“That is not going to get me to move away from you, babe.”
“Sorry.” I drop my hand.
“Don’t apologize for touching. It is all yours.” He smirks. I roll my eyes at him.
“Go sit.” I point to the chair next to my desk. He actually does what I say, dropping down into it, knocking off a folder in the process. I rush over to grab it and the papers that spilled out, but he beats me to it.
“Sadie.” He holds one of the papers up. “This is a college application.”
“I know.”
“It’s on the other side of the country.”
“It’s nothing.” I grab it from his hand. He starts to flip through the other papers.
“They’re all far away.” He looks up at me. “You’re trying to leave me.” Gone is any smirk or pleading. I can’t really decipher the look he’s currently wearing. It’s a mix of anxiety and betrayal.
“Don’t look at me like that!” My eyes fill with tears again. He snags me around the waist, pulling me into his lap. I end up straddling him. I rest my head on his shoulder.
“Don’t leave, or at least tell me where you’re applying so I can too.”
“You don’t want to go to college.”
His hold on me tightens. “I can’t lose you.”