Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Come back to mine. Please.”
She bites her bottom lip. “I could use Daphne as an excuse.”
I kiss her with a smile. “A reason I can finally enjoy you two being friends.”
She slaps me on the chest. “Hey! She’s actually really nice.” Honey peers around the corner, searching for her father. “I have to go and get some things and will give it an hour or so before I break it to my parents.”
“Do you want me to come and grab your things?” I ask.
“I think that will only make it worse,” she says. “I can come to yours later or—”
“I’ll wait.”
She nods, and before she can pull away again, I tug her back to me and kiss her. Her hands clutch my sides, and I kiss her for all the days I missed out on kissing her. She smiles against my lips before she backs up.
“I won’t be long. Am I staying the night? Just so I know if I have to pack anything.”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. Waking up next to Honey sounds like a fucking dream. One I am eager for.
She nods before she walks off, and I watch as she leaves.
I’ll happily wait a lifetime for her.
But an hour or so is better.
CHAPTER 43
Honey
My father is looking at me with his stern “father look” as I like to call it. It’s not the normal mad look he gives to people he hates, or even those he likes. No. For Rya and me, he has this other look. It’s him trying to be mad at us, with a hint of disappointment mixed with love.
It usually fails and we end up getting what we want.
“You’re going to see that man, aren’t you?” he asks, and I walk over and kiss his head.
“Papa, he’s a nice man. And no, I’m not. I’m meeting with a friend named Daphne.”
“He is not nice,” he declares. “Do you know what he does?”
My mother laughs behind us and he scrunches up his nose at her reaction.
“Love, do you forget what you do?”
“But this is our daughter.”
“It’s not like she’s marrying him.”
“Yet,” my father tacks on.
“I’m telling you, I have plans with a friend. Calm down.”
Unfortunately, my father is the suspicious type and has a nose like a hound when it comes to lies. And I feel somewhat guilty for lying to him, but it’s easier this way. For everyone.
“Do you love him?” Father questions.
I laugh. “Papa! I’m visiting a friend. But if you must know, I think you and Dawson are more alike than you think.”
He scoffs at that.
“It’s true. Like you, he says it how it is, no bullshit. And I’ve never been mistreated by him,” I insist. Dawson only mistreats me in ways I prefer, but I keep that thought to myself.
I would never be stupid enough to tell my father about the auction for my virginity. I’m pretty sure if he ever found out, he would storm out of here after locking me in my own apartment and hunt Dawson down and kill him.
And I still need that man.
My father is unconvinced. “Good. Don’t let your heart interfere. Just because you’re here and dating now, does not mean all men are good.”
“Remember how I said the overprotectiveness is too much? This is what I’m talking about,” I say, pointing at him.
He crosses his arms over his chest, and I look past him to my mother, who mouths, Be safe, before I walk out.
CHAPTER 44
Honey
Dawson is where he said he would be, waiting for me.
“Sorry it took so long,” I tell him. He offers me one of his smiles before he takes my bag and walks toward his car.
“Your father let you go?” he asks, surprised.
“Yep. Not without a warning, though,” I say, smiling as he opens the car door for me. Putting my bag in the back, he walks to the driver’s side.
I feel like a teenager sneaking around and lying to my parents about who I’m seeing, but it’s kind of nice in a weird way. Because I never really did this before. It’s foolish. But also fun.
“You hungry?” he asks, and I nod. “Anything in particular you want before we head to my place?”
“Do you have food at your house?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m not a complete savage,” he jokes. If only he knew that my sister never had food at her apartment before Crue. I’m just grateful she has a personal chef now to make sure she’s actually eating meals.
“Okay, well, just keep driving, and I can cook us something.”
“You like to cook?”
“Yep, very much so.”
“Lucky me.” After a beat, he asks, “So, how long will your parents be in town?”
“I’m not sure. We haven’t really discussed it.”
He doesn’t seem too happy with my answer, just grunting in response.
We drive for about thirty minutes before he pulls off one of the main roads and then turns down another street. The area has plenty of greenery and space between the houses. Some have ranches, and others are situated along the water.