Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“As opposed to old and decaying like we are now?” my mom asks, a mock act of affront bringing her hand to her chest.
“Jules?” Ace calls from my bedroom, his eyes widening as he pushes open the bathroom door to a crowd. “Oh wow. Hey, everybody. We having a bathroom party or what?”
“Everyone was just leaving,” I say, taking command. “I still have to jump in the shower, Ace. Sorry. But I’ll be quick.”
“Hey, no rush,” he says breezily. He’s hard to ruffle, honestly, and I don’t know that he’s ever complained about having to wait for me before, but I could have been ready thirty minutes ago at this point.
“How’s it going, Ace?” my dad asks, immediately kicking into his reliable adult mode. “Everything okay at home with your parents out of town?”
Ace scoffs. “Great, except my brother came home unexpectedly on his own.”
“What?” my dad questions in surprise. “I just talked to Thatch this morning. He didn’t mention anything about Gunnar leaving.”
Ace just shrugs. “Yeah, well, he probably hasn’t realized it yet. Knowing Gunnar, he set up some elaborate ruse. But he’s very home, unless I was hallucinating last night.”
“Which is also very possible,” my salty sister mutters. “You are a Kelly. Crazy is in your DNA.”
Ace scoffs through a chuckle. “Thanks, Evie.”
She sticks out her tongue, and I’m officially tired of sharing my bathroom. “Okay, seriously. Can everyone get out of here so I can shower?”
“Fine. But Mom, Dad, you come to the kitchen with me,” Evie orders. “I have more questions.”
“Oh jeez,” our mom remarks teasingly. “I sure hope I pass the test.”
“You always pass my test,” my dad flirts, pushing his chest against her back as he guides her out of the bathroom with his hands at her hips. Their affection is bold and unabashed, and for as disgusting as it is for me, their eldest daughter, to watch, I have to say I appreciate and respect it. After all the Scottie and Finn family drama I had to witness last year, I can’t imagine how it must feel to come from a broken home. The shit her mom did to her and the horrible things his father has done… Well, it’s the exact opposite of what I’ve had growing up.
I’ve never experienced anything but love and support in my home. And I know, more than all the money we have, that’s what makes us truly wealthy.
Ace lingers a little as I turn the water back on, leaning a hip into the counter and smiling at me. “What?” I ask, rolling my eyes at the scrutiny of his stare.
“I’m just marveling at how good you look when you wake up. I had a mohawk and a six-inch trail of drool crusted on my chin.”
I shake my head. “Oh, come on.”
“Seriously, Lia, I don’t even know why you’re worried about showering. You’re gorgeous.”
“Uh…thanks, weirdo, but I smell.”
“You smell good.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said you smell good, Jules.”
“I heard you,” I say on a confused laugh. “But I’m still wondering why you’re acting so…”
“So…?”
“I don’t know…different.”
“Different?” he questions and shifts on his feet. “I’m not different. I’m…chill. I’m cool. I’m Ace motherfucking Kelly. I’m your best friend who hasn’t changed or had realizations or anything. I’m—”
“Leaving the bathroom so I can take a shower?” I cut him off with a smile.
“Yeah.” He runs his hand through his dark hair, grinning as he does. “That.”
“Perfect.” I squeeze his shoulder and spin him around, patting his butt lightly to send him toward my bedroom. “Don’t worry, buddy. I won’t be long. Just a quick rinse-off and I’ll be done. I won’t even wash my hair.”
“Ace!” my dad’s voice booms from downstairs. “Why don’t you come to the kitchen and eat some lunch with us while Julia gets ready?”
It’s my father’s obvious attempt at keeping things PG between Ace and me. Even though I’m in college and Ace and I have been best friends our whole lives, Kline Brooks doesn’t take any chances when it comes to his daughters.
Ace just grins. “Looks like I’m being summoned.”
“Yep. And while you enjoy chatting it up with the Brookses, I’m going to attempt to take the shower I’ve been trying to take for the last thirty minutes.”
He hovers near my bathroom door for a long moment. He searches my eyes, and he opens his mouth like he wants to say something.
“What now?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “Did you forget how to use stairs?”
“Nah.” He grins, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just making sure you didn’t forget this is supposed to be a quick shower and not one of those long-ass hour-long showers you take when you have to shave your legs and shit.”
“Rude,” I say, already laughing. “This is a precision operation. And it’s not my fault I’ve been interrupted like three times. Or that you’re still standing here.”