Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
And for once in my life, I want to trust my fate with him.
My heart is safe with Grayson.
Lila reaches for her laptop and then plops back against her set of pillows. She has more pillows on her bed than actual sleeping space. “Wait, are you going to Colton’s party next weekend?”
My mood instantly sours at the mention of his name.
“I’m not really interested,” I grumble under my breath.
I’ve avoided him since Halloween night, and to my utter surprise, he hasn’t been much of a bother either. His dirty remarks and vile taunts have been shockingly non-existent.
Somehow, I think he’s been acting like less of a jerk because Maddox is friends with Lila now. And I am Lila’s best friend. If he’s an asshole to me, Lila will have a problem with it, which will then become Maddox’s problem. Because everything that concerns Lila, concerns him too.
Because of the relationship between Maddox and Lila, Colton and I run in the same circles now. He’s everywhere I look, everywhere I go. Always present, like a looming shadow over me.
Colton is a constant reminder of what I want to forget— the moment I spent in his arms, and the heartbreak that came afterward.
His cruel words are seared in my memory; he’s tainted my soul with them. He made me feel dirty… and humiliated. Like I was just some common whore who he got off.
My first orgasm was charity from Colton Bennett.
But he’s been really quiet around me lately and we’re tolerating each other for the sake of Maddox and Lila, but…I feel his burning stares on me all the time.
Colton Bennett watches me and there’s a predatory feel in his gaze. Sometimes it seems like there’s an invisible chain holding him back, and he’s just waiting for the moment it snaps.
He knows I want nothing to do with him; yet, his eyes are always on me.
It unnerves me — his defiant attention.
There’s a bitterness that resides in Colton.
A familiar sullenness that lives in me too — a bottled fury.
But that’s exactly the problem…
You can’t put two bitter people together and expect them to get along.
Colton and I will burn the moment we touch.
“If you don’t go, I won’t have anyone to hang out with,” Lila complains, pouting.
“You’ll have Maddox.”
She scowls. “Just because he’s my friend now, doesn’t mean I need you less. I want my girl-friend with me or else it’ll be boring.”
“Your life would definitely be boring without me,” I agree with great confidence.
“What’s the point of going to the party then? Maddox wants me there, and I want you there. It won’t be the same without you.” After a handful of seconds, she tries another tactic. “I know you and Colton don’t get along much, but what if you bring Grayson? You won’t be bored then. You’ll have your man and I’ll have Maddox.”
I slowly tilt my head at her words. “Maddox is your man?” I’m only half-teasing.
“Huh?”
Laughter bubbles from my chest. “You don’t even realize how much deep shit you’re in.”
“Shut up, Riley,” she grumbles unhappily.
“I’ll shut up now. But mark my words — you and Maddox? It’s going to happen.”
“Why is it so hard to believe that we’re just friends?”
“Because Lila, my love…it’s inevitable. Boys like Maddox? They love playing with fire. And Lila? Maddox Coulter will blindly walk into flames and burn to ashes for you, if he has to.”
It’s literally written in the stars for them.
I don’t understand how they are still denying it.
“And, yeah…I’ll come to the party,” I finally tell her when she’s grown silent. Lila nods quietly, a far-away look in her eyes. Lost in her thoughts. Thinking about my words.
But there’s one thing I know about Lila…
She’s over-the-top stubborn.
And so is Maddox.
***
The clinking of our forks and knives against our plates are the only sound echoing through the walls of the dining room. My parents don’t speak during dinner; they rarely ever do. And if they do speak, it’s always to point out my flaws or something I’ve done to displease them.
It’s never, “How are you? How was your day?”
It’s never, “I am proud of you.”
It’s always, “You’ve disappointed me, Riley.”
It’s a ruthless cycle, one I’ve desperately been trying to break free from. But I can’t.
This vessel that carries me, my withering soul, and the heart that beats in my chest — they’ve molded me, like a piece of clay, into the way I am now. They used their bare hands to sculpt Riley Johnson into the woman they want her to be.
I cut my steak into smaller pieces. Their plates are almost clear, but I’ve only taken two tiny bites so far. And those bites have settled heavily in my stomach. The steak tastes bland and I feel gross. The potato gratin on my plate makes me nauseous.
I’m already uncomfortably full, and barely had two bites.