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 glance out the bedroom window and out into the back, his view overlooking the backyard for the house next door.
Four girls lounge around sunning themselves, despite the temperature outside not being all that conducive to sunbathing.
I let the curtain fall back into place.
“Who are they?”
“The irritating girls next door.”
“Irritating?”
“Trouble.” He walks to his desk and sniffs the roses. “You don’t even wanna know.”
“Oh yes, I do. I totally do. Spill.”
Now I’m lying across the bed, taking up most of the space, bracing my chin in my hand, watching him intently as he fusses around the room.
“So basically, in a nutshell, two of the girls tried trapping my brothers into relationships. It was pure evil.”
“How!” I feel my eyes get wide.
“Erm. Shannon—there’s a girl named Shannon—sent a picture to the media that made it look like she and Drake were making out on our front porch, and it caused a huge fight between he and Daisy. Total mess.”
“The media?”
“Yeah. Sent it to the tabloids and SportsCenter picked it up. She was basically framing him for something he didn’t do so his girlfriend would break up with him and she could swoop in.”
“That’s…that’s…” A knot of guilt has my stomach clenching.
That’s not what I did to him, is it?
I didn’t go to the media, but Grady did and almost ruined everything.
Thank god it was short-lived. I don’t know how we would have survived if Drew was a different kind of person than he is. Understanding, kind, and totally cool.
He looks at me now that I’ve gone quiet. “Tess.”
My head gives a little shake. “What?”
“Don’t compare yourself to the trolls next door. They’re not even supposed to be here. They should have graduated by now. Like, move, dude—you don’t go here anymore.”
I laugh, despite the thoughts running through my brain.
It’s been a lot.
I let my head hit his comforter.
CHAPTER 50
DREW
WE GET SECOND CHANCES WHEN WE’RE NOT READY THE FIRST TIME.
“Wakey, wakey…”
Her eyelids flutter, but she doesn’t open them.
“Hey. Sleeping Beauty, we have to get ready for dinner. We have that date, remember? The one where you order nine desserts, and I don’t complain?”
That gets her attention.
She stirs.
I lean in and press a gentle kiss to her cheek.
Temple.
Lips.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," I whisper, my voice a soft murmur.
She lets out another contented moan but doesn't fully open her eyes, only lays there as if in a dreamland.
I don’t feel guilty for trying to rouse her. Continuing my gentle assault, I brush my lips over her skin in a series of featherlight kisses. She’s wearing a crewneck sweatshirt cut at the neck and hanging off her shoulder, bare skin begging to be peppered with kisses.
"Mmm," she murmurs again, a slow smile tugging at her lips.
"Rise and shine, gorgeous," I whisper. “Time to wake up.”
Tess finally stirs, her eyes fluttering open.
She blinks up at the ceiling a few seconds before turning her head to look at me.
"Hey." Her voice is sleepy. “What time is it?”
“Four.”
“Hmm.” She reaches for me, pulling me toward her—on top of her, arms wrapping around me, hands lacing behind my neck. “You’re so warm.”
So is she.
“I feel so lazy.” Tess yawns.
“Do you want to stay here tonight? We can order pizza or pasta or something else?” Whatever she wants.
“No. No, I want to go out. If we stay in we’ll just spend all our time being lazy, and that’s not why I’m here.”
When she sits up on the bed, I kiss her exposed shoulder again, letting my lips linger there.
“All I need is a shower, and we’ll be good to go.”
CHAPTER 51
TESS
I’M ABOUT TO TAKE A HOT SHOWER. THAT’S LIKE A REGULAR SHOWER, BUT WITH ME IN IT.
Warm water cascades over me, the day's travel stress washed down the drain with the suds, every drop of water that hits my skin warming me like a blanket.
Closing my eyes against the spray, I revel in the simple pleasure of this moment of solitude.
I hug myself.
Sputter when the water hits my face, hand reaching for the shower gel on the shelf.
A smile tugs at my lips when I take the brown, wood-grained bottle and pop it open, giving it a sniff. It reminds me of Drew, a mix of earthy and fresh that I've come to associate with him. Granted, it would also smell like Drake, but that’s not where my head is at the moment.
Ha!
I put it back on the shelf and grab the feminine shower gel—Ryann’s, no doubt—and give that a whiff, too.
“Much better.”
I lather up with a loofah, not wanting to use anyone else’s, not knowing who they belong to—obviously. A bit like borrowing someone’s toothbrush? I hadn’t thought to pack anything for the shower, and no washcloths are to be found…
I'm lost in my own thoughts until the soft sound of the bathroom door opens catches my attention.
I go still.
Rub my hand on the glass to clear the steam off, my view no longer obstructed.