Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
And wait a moment. Did he just say that I was with Frank? “Justin, you don’t think that Frank is… Frank is…” I couldn’t figure out how to ask such a preposterous question.
“He’s an asshole, is what he is. And he doesn’t deserve a girlfriend like you.”
My mouth fell open as Justin confirmed my fears. Was that why he was being standoffish? And Dominic yesterday? Because they thought I had a boyfriend?
“Justin… Frank’s not my boyfriend, he’s my father. I wasn’t earning much money, and I had no choice but to move in with him.”
This time he was the one whose jaw dropped. He stared at me for at least thirty full seconds without saying anything.
Then he grabbed me and kissed me.
15
NAOMI
“So, I heard that we may have gotten it wrong about your roommate situation,” Tye said as I rubbed oil into his scapula. He was stretched out on my table and sounded relaxed but a little sheepish.
“Just a bit, yeah.” I pressed harder, and he winced. “Sorry. But I can’t believe that you guys would think I’d live with a guy like that.”
“You are living with him.”
“But not by choice,” I insisted. “And I’d never date anyone who’s even a little like my father.”
“Good to know. So why—”
“Finances,” I said. “Or lack thereof.”
“It happens,” Tye said. “A lot of people, even people my age, have had to move back into their parents’ basements.”
I sighed. Frank didn’t even have a basement. If he did, I would’ve had a lot more privacy than I did. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“No problem,” Tye said. “Like what, though?”
“Justin.”
“What about him?”
“He, uh, told me about his trouble in school.” I was pretty sure Tye knew about that, but it wasn’t my place to tell him if he didn’t.
“You mean his dyslexia.”
“Right.”
Tye sighed. “The thing is, he knows the material. I just think he gets in his head too much, and that messes him up.”
“So how do we help him?”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Massages?”
“Yeah, they help. But also quizzing him, and being supportive, like you have been.”
“And keep him supplied with sandwiches?”
Tye grinned. “That too. He likes you. He’s more relaxed when you’re around.”
“I wish I could hide under his desk when it’s time to take the test.”
Tye’s eyebrow cocked upward. “Not in a dirty way.” I smacked him lightly between his shoulder blades. “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. Now close your eyes and enjoy the rest of your massage.”
“Will do.”
I ran out of oil near the end of his time with me. Tye looked so content that I tiptoed away, not wanting to disturb him while I got some more. But when I had my back to him, trying to locate the right bottle, I heard him moan.
“That feels good. Different, but good.”
Perplexed, I whirled around. Then my hand went to my mouth, stifling my gasp. “Glad you like it,” I managed to say.
It took a few seconds for Tye to register that my voice was coming from across the room. Then his eyes flew open.
“Careful,” I warned before he could lift himself up off the table. “You’ll might hurt her.”
The orange cat was on his bare back, kneading his skin with her little paws.
“Willow,” he muttered. “I’ve had stalkers who were less obsessed with me.”
I chuckled. “Do you think she’ll let me take her off of you?”
“No,” he said flatly. “Not unless you want to lose a layer of skin.” He did a carefully controlled pushup, lifting the cat up with him. Then he swung his legs to the side, and she hopped down to the table next to him. From the relieved look on his face, it seemed she hadn’t scratched him during the dismount.
She dipped her head and licked at her fur for a moment. Then she shot me what could only be described as a nasty look and jumped off the table.
“What’s with you and Dominic and the crazy exes?”
He laughed, and I handed him a towel to wipe off the excess oil. “I’m not sure who I’d rather encounter in a dark alley at night—Yvonne or Willow.”
“Willow. She’d probably bring you a dead mouse as a token of her affection.”
He rolled his eyes. “She already does that with the little lizards around here.”
Ew. I could just picture a pile of them at his doorstep.
“Anyway, back to Justin… the test in three days,” he said, picking up where we left off before. “I think it’s best if we just stay the course. Keep doing what you’re doing. Quizzing us. Giving us rub-downs. Providing support and stress release.”
I nodded, wondering if he knew that Justin and I had mutually relieved each other’s stress yesterday with an explosive kiss.
“I’ll do my part,” I vowed, and I meant. Whether that required massages, sandwiches, or occasionally showing up in a string bikini.