Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
He walks into the kitchen of our garage apartment and rummages around in the fridge. I follow him, leaning against the counter. Once he finds a container of leftover meatloaf Kelsey sent over with Charlotte yesterday, he pulls it out to nuke it.
“You and Kayden looked awfully cozy,” he says, his back to me. “What’s up with that?”
I let out a heavy sigh and decide to come out with it. “We’re seeing each other now.”
Roan whirls around, his eyes flaring with fury. “What?”
“He’s my boyfriend,” I state, lifting my chin. “You know I’ve always liked him.”
“Liked,” he growls. “It was a crush. I didn’t think you’d actually go out with him.”
I cross my arms over my chest and shrug. “It’s not a big deal.”
The microwave beeps, indicating it’s done cooking, but Roan makes no move to pull it out. His eyes flare with an unfamiliar anger. Truth is, we don’t argue or fight. This feels foreign and I don’t exactly love the feeling.
“You’re seventeen.” His voice is low and furious.
“So?” I bite out, throwing my arms in the air. “You were fucking Sidney and half of the other girls in this town long before that.”
“It’s different,” he snaps. “I don’t want you seeing him.”
“Well, you don’t get a choice!” I shriek. “I like him and he’s my boyfriend.”
“No.”
“You can’t no me on this, Roan!”
“I will because I’m responsible for you. He’s bad news.”
It all clicks into place.
“This is because of Jordy, isn’t it?” I demand, seething with anger. “He sent you a stupid letter too? Come on, Roan, you know Kayden. He’s been a permanent fixture around here for years. Where the fuck was Jordy? Oh, that’s right, he bailed on us.” Hot tears blur my vision, but I’m not done blowing up. “He left us and refused to see us. Screw him and his letters.”
Roan’s features soften. He hates when I cry. “I went to see him.”
“What?”
“That’s where I went today.”
I gape at him. “You went and saw Jordy and didn’t take me with you?”
“It’s complicated.”
“It is not complicated,” I cry out. “I should have gone with you!”
Guilt shines in my brother’s eyes. He stalks over to me and pulls me to him for a hug. I clutch his hoodie, inhaling his familiar scent. Roan has been my rock—my stand-in parent—for as long as I can remember.
“Kayden’s brother is Renaldo. He’s a shithead who’s into a lot of illegal stuff. Jordy is worried. I’m worried. It’s for the best.”
Anger bursts up inside of me again. I push away from his hug, shaking my head.
“Kayden is different and you know it. He’s a good friend, and so far, a great boyfriend,” I state with a huff. “He doesn’t even pressure me to have sex.” White lie.
The look of horror on Roan’s face is priceless.
“You better not be fucking him. Or anyone, Roux. You’re too young.”
“I can fuck whoever I want,” I volley back. “You’re not my dad.”
He flinches at my words. Okay, so that was a low blow. Ugh.
“You’re right,” he growls. “But I’m your big brother and if I feel like someone could potentially hurt you, I’ll do everything in my power to prevent that from happening. Don’t make me turn into an asshole over this. I will. For you, I will. Even if that pisses you right the fuck off.”
All guilt I felt dissipates.
“Maybe I should move into Mike’s,” I hiss. “He’s my legal guardian. At least he won’t bully me away from dating someone I like.”
Roan sneers at me. “Your threats won’t work with me. We both know Mike will be stricter on you than I could ever be. Accept that you and Kayden are over. If you want to date someone else, then you can let me meet them. Kayden is a hard no.”
“I hate you,” I whisper, storming out of the kitchen before I do something stupid like punch him.
He calls after me, but I ignore him. I grab a hoodie and throw it on before shoving my feet into some shoes.
“Where are you going?”
“To Char’s,” I grind out. “Unless I’m restricted from seeing my other best friend too?” I glower at him. “What do you say, Dad? Am I allowed?”
“You’re being unfair,” he mutters.
“That makes two of us.”
I push out the front door and stomp down the steps, furious at my brother. I’m so focused on how much he pisses me off, I nearly tackle Hollis in the process. He grabs my shoulders, steadying me.
“Hey, squirt. What’s wrong?”
I angrily yank off my glasses and swipe at my tears. “Roan is in a mood. Can you run me to Charlotte’s?”
He looks up the stairs, probably having a silent conversation with his new husband about me, and then nods. “Sure. Let’s go.”
We climb into his purple Mustang. I refuse to check if Roan is watching us. I’m being an emotional bitch, I know, but I can’t help it. Between Kayden getting pissy with me for not wanting to go to second base and Roan throwing out ultimatums, I need a break from boys altogether. Hollis is the only boy not on my shit list, but since he’s madly in love with my brother, I know where he’ll stand on the issue, and it won’t be with me.