Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I see the three tiny dots from his phone as he replies.
Drew: …
Drew: Sure. Let’s do it.
“Eek!” I squeal because I cannot stop myself, kicking my feet and blankets at the foot of the bed, giddy that we’ll see one another for the first time in over a week.
“Oh shit.”
I scramble, leaping from the bed and going to the mirror above my desk, fussing with my hair and the collar of my tank top.
“Not the best but not the worst.”
The invitation to chat was spontaneous, so I’m not dressed for a cute video date. My fingers tuck the stray strands of hair behind my ear and pick up the gold hoop earrings on my desk.
I put them in, one by one.
My stomach flutters.
Knots up nervously.
The recognizable sound of my phone going off startles me. Even though I’m expecting it, I wasn’t expecting him to call me first.
I jump onto the bed, throw myself down, head on a pillow. Take a few deep breaths and hit Accept.
“Hi.” I sound as if I sprinted a mile or had to run from a wild animal.
“Hey there.” He raises a hand to wave, and I take note of everything: what he’s wearing, his hair, the palm of the hand he has lifted in greeting.
White tee shirt with a blue ringer collar.
His dark hair is swept off to the side as if he ran his hand through it moments earlier.
I remember how that hand felt on my body, calloused and rough.
I liked it…
“Don’t you look cute,” he says. “What were you up to just now?”
Literally nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
“Chatting with you mostly.”
“Same.” He smiles at me.
Oh god…
This.
This is the reason I like him so much. Not only is he crazy good-looking but he’s so freaking nice and kind and caring and ugh, that smile! Not to sound cheesy, but it could literally light up a room, and the fact that it’s directed at me?
Mind blowing.
Drew watches me through the camera, and I smile back, feeling somewhat shy.
What’s going on in his brain?
What’s he thinking?
“Are you a night owl?” he asks, breaking the silence.
“Usually, yes. I’ve always been like this. What about you?”
He shrugs. “No, not really. I’m normally sleepin’ way earlier but got distracted by you.”
“Aw,” I simper.
“Do you always sleep in tank tops? What else are you wearing?”
I cast a glance down my body at the white ribbed shirt. He can't see what I can see, which is my nipples through the fabric, and I know that if I move the phone south, he would get a glimpse. And I want him to, so I move the phone slowly so that his gaze can skim my body even though we are not together in the same room.
“Sometimes I don't sleep in anything, sometimes I sleep in pajamas. My mom is always buying me cute pj's. It's kind of her thing.” I pause. “I have this one pair of red bottoms that have little white snowflakes embroidered on them. I've worn them so much that there are literal holes in the knees and the ass.”
He smiles widely. “Guess I’ll have to see them for myself sometime.”
“Guess you might.”
Is this flirting?
“Are you home alone?”
“No, my brother is here, and I thought I heard Ryann rootin around in her room. She's across the hallway but doesn't come out much, though.” He moves his pillow, putting one arm behind his head. “Spends a lot of time chatting with my brother. She graduates soon so we don't see her much.”
“I'm really looking forward to graduating,” I tell him without him asking. “I don't know if I want to stay in Texas. I guess I'll see what kind of job offers I get.”
“What did you say your major was?”
“I didn’t. It’s boring—English.”
“What made you major in English instead of something like, oh, I don’t know, teachin’?”
“Good question. It’s something I ask myself almost on the daily.” I blow out a puff of air. “I read a lot when I was growin’ up—total book nerd. So I thought majorin’ in English was an extension of that, but it turns out, it’s not. Not sure what I’m gonna do, but I have a little time to figure it out.”
“You could definitely be a teacher.”
I pull a face. “I cannot imagine myself molding minds.”
“Why not? You’d be the sexiest teacher in school.”
I laugh. “Oh right, ’cause that’s what they look for when they’re hirin’ folks. Sexy teachers.”
Not.
He laughs, low and deep.
I hunker down lower on my pillow, hair fanning out around me, trying to look cute and glamorous.
Drew’s eyes stray, and I imagine that if he were here, he’d be staring at my chest.
“So your brother is home, your roommate is home.” I toy with the strap of my tank top. “My roommates are both gone. They aren’t here much since both of them work.”
“What do they do?”