Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
He twists me around and pins me to the door with his hips. In way of apology, he kisses me until I’m dizzy. It takes another worried phone call from Mom to tear us apart for good.
“Call me,” he growls. “When you get home. So I know you made it safe.”
I smirk at him. “You still owe me a breathy phone call. You couldn’t get out of that, even if you tried.”
“Go before I drag you back to my bed.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
His warning glare sends me on my way with a chuckle.
“What are you doing?”
Roan lets out a heavy sigh over the phone that goes straight to my dick. “Trying to figure out what to make besides grilled cheese. I’ve been told I’m a lame ass cook.”
“I know it’s not tutoring day with my aunt, but you could always come over here.”
“I wish,” he murmurs, “but I already promised the guys we’d hang out tonight. I need to check in on Jordy.”
It’s been three days since I blew him in his bed, and it’s been strained ever since. Not between us. The hiding. I can tell, at school, he wants to haul me to him, but he always refrains from doing what we both want. Plus, he’s worried about his best friend. Jordy hates me, so it’s not like I can even chill with them. So, for the time being, Roan and I have to keep our relationship a secret, even hiding it from his friends.
“I miss you,” I state, hating the whine in my voice. We’ve stolen kisses in the bathroom at school, and at my house on Wednesday when he and Roux were there. But other than that, we haven’t had another opportunity alone.
“Are you coming to Campfire Chaos tomorrow night?”
“I don’t want to.”
“I won’t let him hurt you. I swear, Hollis.”
I believe him. I would just rather have him to myself. If we go there, we’ll be separated. I’ll go off with Sidney and Gio while he and the Hoodlums hang together. It’ll be torture watching him all night and not getting to touch him.
“I know. We’ll see.”
“I can already tell when you’re pouting,” he teases.
“To be honest, I don’t want to see you all night and not get to touch you.”
“Who says you couldn’t touch me?”
“You’ll be with the Hoodlums.”
“So? You don’t think I’m going to tuck in early and drag you back to my tent?”
“How romantic.”
He laughs and the sound warms my heart. “Of course the first guy I decide to hook up with is high-maintenance as fuck.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha,” I deadpan. “And maybe I’ll be the only guy you ever decide to hook up with. I’m kind of a big deal. You won’t ever find anyone like me again.”
He’s quiet for a moment, which makes my nerves go haywire. My stomach aches something fierce until he gives me a reprieve, gifting me with a gravelly response.
“The only guy,” he confirms. “Come Friday night and then Saturday night we’ll go out just the two of us.”
“You play dirty.”
“The only way to play. Dirty is fun.”
“Fiiiiiiine,” I drawl out. “I’ll go, but if I end up in the river again, you owe me more than a date.”
“Hollis,” he growls. “You’re not going back in that river and Jordy won’t touch a hair on your goddamn head. I swear to you.”
I’m about to throw back a teasing remark when my phone beeps. Incoming call. From Dad.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“What?”
“My dad is trying to reach me.”
“Your dad’s a real asshole, huh?”
“Yep.”
“So’s mine.”
He doesn’t give up much on his personal life, so when he does, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning, eager to open the present to learn more about him.
“I don’t know if your aunt told you, but my dad’s in prison.” His voice grows cold. “At least when he was around, Mom gave a shit.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is. We were given shitty dads. It’s our duty in life not to turn out like them.”
My dad may not be in prison, but he destroyed his son with his cruel, callous words and ability to cut me off based on my sexuality.
“My dad hates my being gay so much, he didn’t just give me up,” I say with a ragged sigh. “He gave them up. How could he do that to them?”
“And to you. To all of you, Hollis. Not just them.”
Tears burn at my eyes. I feel like I’m going to throw up, just like I always do when I think about my dad and what he did because of me. “I hate him.” And I hate how my voice cracks with emotion. That Dad still hurts me every day and he’s not even here.
“I hate mine too. At least your mom’s cool as shit.”
“Your mom is a bitch. You and Roux deserve someone who cares.”