Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
With campus empty, though, it’s easy to feel like ghosts here, haunting the abandoned courtyards, secluded from sight and beyond reach. Unsure we’re even real until the luxury cars pull up and whistles chase me back over the hill and through the trees.
“To think,” I say, clapping at Bo and Penny to coax them into keeping up with us when their heads droop. They drift closer to Casey like I’m the wicked stepsister. “There are girls out there who would slit their best friend’s throat to live on an all-boys campus.”
Casey snorts. “They can have it. I give them a week before the smell runs them off.”
She’s not wrong. By September there’s a distinct odor that gets baked into these walls, into every room and corridor. I don’t care how many janitors and buckets of ammonia they throw at it. Boys are animals and there’s no getting around it.
Still, occasionally, the view isn’t terrible.
“What about St. Vincent’s?” I ask my sister. “Think you’re ready?”
“Sure.” Her answer is a little too quick.
“It’s okay if you’re—”
“No, I know. It’s whatever, right?” She flashes a smile and flicks sweat off her forehead. “Fresh start. I’m excited. I just want school to start already. All this anticipation.”
I’m not sure if the sugar coating is more for her benefit or mine. Fact is, we’re both relieved to get away from Ballard Academy and all that bullshit. I haven’t even spoken to Mila or any of my old friends all summer. Not that I was holding my breath for an apology. Mila and the girls can choke on their gluten-free vegan protein bars, for all I care.
“It’s okay to say you’re not okay,” I tell Casey. Despite what she says, I know she’s not. Going to St. Vincent’s may seem like a solution, but the rumors and gossip don’t end at Ballard. It hurts to know that this will follow her.
She gives me that sunny smile that’s so uniquely Casey. “You worry too much.”
I don’t know how she still smiles. Where the sunlight comes from, or how she’s protected that brightness through it all. If I went through what she had, I’d have sunk so deep, so dark, they’d be finding trapped miners before they got to me.
“I enjoy it. It’s practically a hobby. Like collecting rocks or something. I take my precious little worry pearls out of their pouch and polish them.”
Casey laughs and it makes me sad all over again. Although her laughter sounds the same, I can’t help but think it’s a lie. She doesn’t want to let her big sister see the cracks, not when she’s spent months carefully gluing the pieces back together.
“You’re exhausting.” She shoulders me off the path, and then, with a whistle to the dogs, she takes off at a sprint, kicking up dust in my face. “Race you.”
My phone vibrates, so I let her get a head start while I pull it out of my back pocket. I figure it’s our dad, demanding to know why I dragged his sweet, precious Casey out into the heat, but a glance at the screen reveals an even more annoying caller.
My ex.
Despite my better judgment, I answer it. “What do you want, Duke?”
“So you didn’t block my number.” He’s got this assuredness in his voice that reminds me why I’ve been ignoring his texts. Duke is the kind of insufferable ass who winks at you with a mouthful of blood as he asks for more.
“That can change, if you prefer.” I make sure my tone is as cool and indifferent as possible.
“I missed you,” he says, undeterred. “Can’t wait to see you when I get back.”
Ha. Like I should be flattered. I’ve heard his bedroom voice before, the one that calls at three in the morning trying to talk me into sneaking into his dorm. Two years of our on-and-off relationship has inoculated me to his persuasions. We’re currently off, and I plan on keeping it that way. Duke might be hot, but we were way too toxic together. There’s only so much make-up sex you can have before you start to wonder if maybe it’s possible to hook up without breaking up every other second.
“Sorry,” I inform him. “Save your excitement for the Ballard freshmen and townies.”
“Hey, don’t bite. I’m being nice.”
“This isn’t a thing anymore, Duke. Let it go.”
Casey comes back for me, rolling her eyes when she realizes who it is.
“You say that now,” he insists. “But we both know you can’t stay away from me. See you soon, babe.”
I hang up on him, growling at the phone. Dude is a piece of work.
“You’ll be back together by dinner,” Casey tells me.
“He can eat shit.”
“Heard that before.”
“Duke’s first love is himself. He’s never getting divorced.”
“Heard that one too.”
This time I growl at her, which just makes her laugh.