Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Lee came down the steps, out of the bus, and scowled at him. “Piss off, man. Don’t start.” Then he jerked his chin at me. “Hey kid. Howzit?”
I liked Lee. “I’m good. How are you?”
His lips twitched. “A’ight.”
Connor stood there, leaning against the bus. “What about me? You don’t care how I’m doing?”
Oh. “How are—”
He cut me off with a sharp wave of his hand. “Nope.” He pushed off the bus and glared at me. “I don’t want your pity, Emily.” He walked the steps into the bus, narrowing his eyes at me, and then he was gone.
My brows lifted high, I wondered what I’d done to get that reaction.
But Noah laughed to himself. “Don’t worry about him. He’s got a weird sense of humor. You’ll get used to it.” Oh, so that was a joke? Ha. Funny. Not. A slight pause, and then he asked a smiling, “You ready?”
Was I?
No. Not at all.
Was it too late to thank them for their time and leave?
Yep.
All right then. Here goes nothing.
Luckily, the fear of missing out overshadowed the fear of living. “I’m ready.”
Oh, God, I didn’t actually know if I was and that made me feel slightly ill.
Noah gestured to the stairs. “After you.”
I stared down at the bottom step a long moment before I gripped the rail and pulled myself up, and a wave of excitement rushed me.
One small step for many. One giant leap for Emily.
Noah waited patiently as I slowly walked the steps. Once I made it to the top, I smiled to myself, internally clapping.
Hooray!
But when I turned and focused on the interior of the bus, I dropped my duffle.
Oh my God. “Cool.” The word came out slowly, drawn out.
I felt a large presence behind me retrieve my duffle. “We sure like it.”
Mouth gaping, my eyes roamed my surroundings, taking it all in. To the right was a kitchenette, complete with sink and stove. To the left was a lounging area with a black leather U-shaped sofa that looked like it could easily seat twelve. In front of the sofa was a small table. Mounted on the wall was a large television, and behind that looked to be a booth where people could eat or work. After that was another modest three-seater sofa.
Noah placed a gentle hand to my back, walking me down the center of the spectacular mobile home.
When we passed the kitchen, I saw a closed door and asked, “What’s in there?”
“Bathroom number one.”
I nodded but kept shuffling along. “And that one?”
“Bathroom number two.”
We made it to an area that was self-explanatory. I couldn’t help but smile. “Bunk beds?” There were three rows on each side, and each row held two bunks. Some already had their curtains closed, indicating they’d already been claimed.
Noah looked insulted. “They’re not bunk beds.” He smiled tightly. “They’re cubbies.”
“They’re bunk beds,” called Hell, poking his head out from one of the top bunks, and a bubble of laughter shot up my throat.
“Whatever,” Noah griped, then handed me my duffle. “Pick a cubby and choose carefully because it’ll be yours the entire tour.”
Okay. That seemed simple enough.
When Noah walked away, I looked over at a bunk to the right. I put my duffle on it and moved to jump on in. That was when Connor appeared out of nowhere. “That’s my cubby.”
Sure. Of course, it was.
“Oh, sorry.” I slid out, taking my bag with me.
I then peered into the cubby directly behind it but Connor made a noise, lightly shaking his head. My brow lowered but my question was softly spoken. “That’s also yours?”
He folded his arms across his chest which somehow made his muscular arms look all the more muscular. When he smiled at me, the tattoo on his cheekbone lifted and I almost choked on my tongue. “Okay, then,” I whispered and moved to the back of the line, dropping my bag onto the very last bed in that row.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when Connor snatched up my bag. “That one’s mine.”
What?
How many beds did one man need?
Don’t get mad. He’s a rock star. He has more stuff than you and probably needs the space.
“Right,” I muttered, my lips thinner than they’d ever been in my entire life. When I heard his snigger, I peered up at him but his face was completely neutral.
I tried the left side, taking my bag from Connor’s hand and putting it on the middle lower bunk just beneath Hell.
My insides shriveled when he opened his mouth. “That’s mine.”
For the love of God.
I turned to him and huffed out a breath. “Are you messing with me?”
His reply was honest. “Yes.” And when he bit the tip of his tongue, my insides did a funny little shimmy.
I let out an annoyed sigh that immediately transformed into an embarrassed laugh.
“You like people bossing you around, huh? You a sub or some shit?”