Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Which always made me feel somethin’ I couldn’t put my finger on. A sensation that shook me to my core and made me feel weak, out of control. Not in sync with my mind ’cuz my heart fluttered every time I saw those freshly cut yellow flowers perfectly placed in the center of my bed. He was cuttin’ them from his mother’s garden that Camila was adamant they grow at their new home. Sayin’ she wanted Journey and the boys to know Bailey was still with them.
No matter where they lived, she’d always be there.
Just this mornin’, I woke up to sunflowers decked out all over my room. How he kept sneakin’ into my space without me noticin’ was beyond me.
Except this time there was a note.
When I lie awake at night, all I see is you.
Happy sweet sixteen, Gremlin.
I took a deep breath, once again readin’ over the note on my desk. I’d been lookin’ at it all damn day. I couldn’t stop myself from doin’ so. There was somethin’ so vulnerable about it, and Jackson was anythin’ but that.
Before I could give it another thought, Shiloh snatched the note.
“It’s your birthday! You’re not thinking about Jackson like you do every day.”
“I don’t think about him every day.”
She gave me a stern expression.
“I mean not all day.”
“Do you want me to be truthful or supportive?”
“Hmm ... truthful.”
“You asked for it.”
“Wait, I take it back! Supportive!”
“Too late.”
“Shiloh—”
“You and Jackson have always had this love hate dynamic. It’s been like this since we were babies, crawling around in diapers. Aunt Alex said it best, Jackson might truly be in love with you, but he has a shitty way of showing it.” She paused for effect. “He’s still messing around with Willow, and you know it. The whole school knows it. You try to pretend like it doesn’t bother you, but I can see it in your eyes, Harley. You’re my cousin, my family, my flesh and blood. I know you, and I know how much it hurts you to see them together.”
I bit my lip, contemplatin’ what she was confirmin’.
It did bother me to see them together.
Why?
“Do you love him?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Do you love Trigger?”
“Eww.”
It was my turn to give her a stern expression. Trigger was more relentless than Jackson, if that were even possible. He’d been on her butt since middle school.
“Harley, he doesn’t leave me alone. I have no choice but to pay attention to him.”
“Ditto.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Fine. I see your point.”
“Trigger’s nice, Shiloh. Not to mention, he’s really cute.”
“He wears the same cowboy boots to school every day. I’m almost certain he doesn’t own anything else in his wardrobe other than white shirts and the same Levi jeans. Oh, and the same button-down he wears to church every Sunday.”
I smirked. “It’s his good shirt.”
“If he’s not playing football, he’s looking to drink or fight. He’s a redneck through and through.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It is to me. I’m going to be the number one lawyer in the world. I need someone who knows how to carry on an educated conversation. All he talks about is his stupid truck.”
“It’s a badass truck.”
“Harley! I wear a dress almost every day. It’s lifted so high off the ground, I wouldn’t even be able to step into it.”
“He could always carry you. Maybe that’s what he’s hopin’ for.”
“Ugh. Why are you always team Trigger?”
“’Cuz I like him. He’s nice and funny, and really cute.”
“He’s annoying and dumb, and a little cute.”
“But you’re thinkin’ about his wardrobe. Are you also thinkin’ about what he looks like naked?”
“Harley!”
“You’re talkin’ to me, Shiloh. Do you want truthful or supportive?”
“Neither. I don’t want to play this game.”
“Tough. You like him, I know you do.”
“I’m way out of his league. His vocabulary is worse than your Jameson bloodline.”
I smiled.
“I don’t like him. I can’t help that he’s like this lost puppy that won’t go away.”
Right on cue, Arnold, one of the animal rescue officers, called my name from out back, “Harley! Come out here, girl! Got a surprise for you!”
Bringin’ both our attention toward the direction of his voice, I snidely chuckled. “Maybe it’s Jackson, they finally found his real home at the animal shelter.”
“Stop thinking about Jackson, Harley.”
Crap.
We both made our way outside to the van Arnold was standin’ by.
“What’s up?” I replied, noddin’ to his back that was facin’ us.
“Well, birthday girl. Look what I found.” He turned around, lookin’ at us, and I instantly fell head over heels in love.
Gaspin’, “Oh. My. God!”
There in his arms was a Wheaten Terrier puppy. Not a mutt like expected, a purebred. I could tell by the black fur around his nose and ears, mixed in with the light brown fur on his coat. He couldn’t have been more than a few months old.