Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Chapter
Seven
FLEUR
Out of everyone that could have been at my front door, this is absolutely the last person on earth I want it to be. Embarrassment hits me like a tidal wave.
“I’m Van.” He keeps his eyes locked with mine as he addresses my mother, who is drooling all over herself. She really has no shame. Van is in freaking high school. Not that you could tell from his appearance. He looks every bit a man. Van gives a charming smile, making his dimples show. “Red’s boyfriend.”
“What?” My mom turns to glance my way. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. My mother has always had this way of being able to make me shut down. It’s not that I’m at a loss for words. There are so many I’d love to say, but they never pass my lips.
“She didn’t tell you?” Van runs his fingers through his short dark hair. “She's been fighting me on it, but I finally wore her down to give me a chance.” I don’t know how he manages to pull it off, but he gives a sheepish expression as if he’s a bit shy about it all. If I didn’t want a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me, I’d probably find this whole situation endearing. Maybe even a tad swoon-worthy. I remind myself once again that this is all an act. One he is really good at.
“She told me nothing.” My mom's eyes roam over Van again. I’m sure she’s trying to find a flaw to explain why he’d be dating me or chasing me down. Good luck. She won't find one because he’s annoyingly perfect. His whole life is.
“You forget, babe? We were going to work on that article.” He closes the front door. I haven’t known Van long, but I do know that it’s useless for me to try to argue with him. He’s not going anywhere without a fight. What I want more than anything else is to get him away from my mother, so I give.
“No, let me get my bag.”
“And a coat. It’s getting cold out,” he calls after me. I quickly grab both, not wanting to leave him alone with my mom any longer than he needs to be. When I get back to the living room, my mother is asking him how much he works out. I can’t with her.
“Let’s go.” I grab Van’s hand to pull him out quickly.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” my mom shouts out the front door.
My mom never showed up to school events or teacher conferences. I’m not sure she knows where my school is, so I’ve never had one of those embarrassing mom moments kids have out in front of school. But I’m pretty sure this has to beat those tenfold.
“What are you doing here?” I try to release his hand when we make it to the parking lot, but Van doesn’t let me.
“I wanted to see you.”
“You wanted to see me?” I repeat. Butterflies take up in my stomach at his words. What the heck?
“Yeah.” He shrugs.
“Take a picture.”
“All right.” He goes to pull out his phone, and I snatch it from his hand.
“I was being a smartass.”
“Let’s go for a ride.” He keeps my hand captive to lead me over to his car, opening the door for me.
“She’s probably watching. Can you drop me off around the block?” I offer him his phone back.
“Get in, Red, or I’ll kiss you.”
“You will do no such thing.” I stupidly lick my lips, unable to help myself. I’ve been thinking about that quick kiss he laid on me for longer than I should have been already. I don’t need another.
“Bet.” I scramble into the car. “You’re hard on a man’s ego, Red,” I hear him say as he closes the door behind me, making me laugh. “Seat belt,” he says when he slips into the car, heading out of the parking lot.
I notice my mother’s boyfriend pulling in as we exit. Our eyes lock before his turn to a glare.
“Who is that?”
“Mom’s boyfriend.” I say. Van mutters something under his breath.
“There is a little book store two streets over. Can you drop me there?”
“It’s almost dark. I’m not dropping you anywhere. I’ll take you there if you want to go, but I’m coming in with you.”
“You’re always so bossy.”
“I didn’t think I was bossy until you, Red. Pretty sure you make me this way.”
“Don’t you think it would be easier to deal with a few girls at school than to deal with me?”
“I want to deal with you.”
“You’d be the first.” The second I speak the words, I regret them. I can feel his eyes on me while we sit at a light. I keep my attention trained out the window.
“Are you hungry?” Van asks after the silence stretches for way too long.