Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 90682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Me: Because of one picture?
Molly: LOL it’s obviously a slow news day.
Me: Oh my God, he must hate me.
Molly: It’s NOT your fault. We told him to lay low and not leave the house, and what does he do?? Stands outside a house on JOCK ROW, in a COLLEGE TOWN, where his three superstar athlete brothers go to school only to be photographed by a few wannabe clout chasers.
Me: What do you mean?
Molly: The photo was in the IG story of some girl who lives next door or nearby or whatever. She deleted it, but someone had already screen grabbed it, and it wound up on TMZ.
Molly: I mean—there’s also a story that he’s dating a college student, but that story will be snuffed out as soon as the press conference starts. They’ll address all these rumors tonight.
Me: Oh…good.
There’s a huge lump in my throat, and I’m grateful that we’re texting and not talking because there’s not a chance in hell I’d be able to form actual words with my mouth.
Molly: Relax. And don’t worry about it—he didn’t leave on purpose. He had to. Honestly, it was inevitable that his cover would be blown. He’s like—a giant buffoon.
I take that personally, her calling him a giant buffoon.
I know him better now; he’s actually a terrific guy.
Kind, funny—really goofy but in a good-natured way.
A real catch.
My stomach churns, and I place my hand there to quell it, wishing I had a cold, carbonated soda to make it all go away.
The house is so quiet now.
There’s no hammering on the porch, no man in the hammock, no heavy stomping up and down the stairs. No Duke doing chin-ups in the upstairs guest bedroom.
He’s not rummaging through the fridge and making a mess.
Molly: You should be glad he’s gone, yeah?
Me: Yeah.
Molly: Posey. Are you okay???
Me: Sure.
Another heartbeat goes by; it’s not a long silence before my phone rings.
It’s her—calling like she normally does if she senses something is off, and I should have known to expect it.
“What’s wrong?” She pauses. “And don’t say nothing because I know it’s something.”
I nibble my bottom lip, debating. “It’s just strange with him gone,” I allow, at least giving her that.
“So? He’s been there, what—a week and a few days?”
I pace from one side of the kitchen to the next. “I know, but we became friends.”
“Uh, clearly.” My friend laughs through the phone line. “I took one look at that picture and went, “Uh-oh.”
“You did not.”
“Oh yeah—I totally did. What’s going on?”
If this phone had a cord, I would be twisting it around my hand anxiously.
I told Duke I wouldn’t say anything.
It was as good as a promise.
“Posey.” Molly’s voice is soft. Concerned. “Are you…sleeping with Duke?”
It’s not telling her if she guesses and I admit to it, is it? Is that the same thing?
I nod even though she can’t see me. “Yes.” My voice is just above a whisper. “But it was only once.” Last night. And it was fun and exciting and sexy—and something we both needed.
Wanted.
“So that’s what has you so upset.”
“I’m not so upset. I’m…I’m…confused.” I’m still speaking quietly, afraid I can’t trust my own voice not to crack. “It’s no big deal. I’ll get over it. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
But he’s my fucking hero for so many reasons.
“It was just sex.”
Liar, liar…
“Are you sure?”
“Obviously, it was just sex, Molly.” My voice is getting louder now. “It’s Duke Colter. Of course that’s all it was.”
Molly chooses her words slowly. “What do you mean by that?”
“He’s Duke Colter, and I’m Posey Kettner—a freaking teacher in a dinky town who isn’t beautiful or glamorous. I don’t know the right people, and all I do is yell at him. As if he’d be interested in anything other than sex from me.”
My chest is heaving, and here come the tears I hadn’t wanted to cry.
Angry now, I wipe the first one away.
“Are you hearing yourself right now?” Molly volleys back. “Like, do you even hear what you’re saying?”
“Pfft.” I snort.
Molly laughs at me. “Dear Lord, do not tell me I raised you like this,” she chastises as if she were my mom. “I am literally from the same town, or have you forgotten? And I literally worked from home, never went out, and hate people—or have you forgotten? Yet Eli found me interesting enough, NAY! He liked the fact that I wasn’t glamorous, don’t have giant boobs, and I’m not fake. Are you forgetting that?” She’s getting herself all riled up. “My job is so boring, remember? I sit at a desk. What’s so great about me? Nothing.”
“Knock it off, Molly Summervale. We both know you’re amazing and a fantastic catch.”
“But I don’t know any of the right people.”
“So what? Who cares! Screw those people.”
She chuckles on the other end of the phone, and I narrow my eyes.