Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 142818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
But no one came to save the respectable boy from the girl with questionable morals and a thing for much older, dangerous men.
Well, just one much older, dangerous man.
I opened my mouth to say what, I didn’t know, but Bennett spoke first.
“You and him, you’re a thing, aren’t you?” Bennett nodded to the door leading back into the clubhouse.
I froze. If Bennett saw that, barely knowing me, then other people definitely saw it. Or it was only a matter of time before they saw it.
“I-I, um.” I was unable to lie when I was this shocked but unwilling to tell the truth.
He smiled sadly, without the malice I might’ve expected. “It’s okay, I get it. This life…” He looked up at the Sons of Templar insignia painted on the building without distaste, just curiosity and wonder.
“I didn’t really know a life like this existed,” he shrugged, looking back at me. “Or at least I was conditioned to think the reality was much different than what it really is.” He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. “I understand why you want him. This life is nothing like what I could ever give you, and I think you’d be deeply unhappy with whatever life you’d have with me.”
I gaped at him, unable to fathom just how clearly he’d seen me. Just how calm he was. No resentment or anger toward me.
“He seems … nice,” he offered, gesturing toward inside.
I continued gaping. He’d had a very intense altercation with Elden. He may have been polite, but no way would anyone be able to describe him as nice with a straight face.
“And you seem at ease around him, playful,” he continued.
I screwed up my nose in confusion. I was a lot of things around Elden... Unnerved. Alive. Passionate. Nervous and confident at the same time. But not playful.
“With me, I now see that you’ve been forcing it.” He smiled sadly. “I would never want you to do that, no matter how much I want you. I want you to do tequila shots with him, joke with him. Be happy. And protected. He will definitely be able to do that better than me.”
Tequila shots.
It clicked. He was talking about Colby. He thought Colby was the man I had a thing with.
I opened my mouth to correct him then quickly closed it again. If I denied it, then I’d have to tell him the truth, or come up with some convincing lie. No. That wouldn’t work. There was no harm in letting him believe a little white lie that would spare his feelings and make my life a little easier.
“Although I’m surprised he wasn’t madder at that other guy pulling you away like that,” he frowned. “Though he came up and explained that it had to do with your mother’s restaurant, something about a party to celebrate her feature in Food & Wine… I wouldn’t think a biker would be overly concerned with that, but it’s nice to see.”
I swallowed a hysterical laugh that hovered in my throat at the thought of Elden being concerned with party planning. And then I silently thanked my friend for having my back.
I nodded somberly, trying to gather myself. “I really am sorry, Bennett,” I said sincerely. “I never wanted to hurt you. And I really do like you.”
He smiled at me, reaching to tuck my hair behind my ear. I forced myself not to recoil , hoping Elden wasn’t looking from a secret perch somewhere.
“I know,” he stepped back. “But not in the right way. And that’s fine. We can be friends… If you want?”
“I really do want that,” I replied honestly. “You really are a really good guy, and you will find a girl who deserves you.”
“Let’s hope so. I’ll make sure to ask my next date whether they have a connection to a motorcycle club because I now know I cannot compete with bikers.”
I flashed him a genuine smile. “Please stay,” I nodded to where music had started to thump. “We’re having a more … reserved dinner at my mom’s house, and I’d like you to be there.”
Bennett looked past me to where a car was loitering outside the gates. The Prospect guarding had his hand on the inside of his cut looking a little too trigger happy for my liking.
“That’s my ride,” Bennett told me, eyes narrowing at the Prospect. “And I should probably go rescue them.”
“No, you don’t have to leave,” I told him, thinking how incredibly horrible it was that he’d be alone and rejected during the rest of Christmas.
“I do,” he refuted with a sad smile. “Plus, I’ve actually got a friend in the area who is more than happy to have me for their dinner, though I doubt it will be as fun as yours was.” His sad smile quickly morphed into a happier one. “I’ll see you at school, okay, Violet?”