Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Flushing like some kid caught with his fingers in the cookie jar, I come clean. Sort of. “Just checking out the situation in the theater department. There’s no way I got stuck in that storage room by accident.”
“But why would anyone lock you in on purpose?”
“That’s what I’m off to find out.” That and to beat a little lesson into Scully. I don’t know why he did it, but even if it was a harmless prank, it ended up hurting Sadie’s feelings, and I’m not going to stand for that. Plus, Scully is just a general dickhead, and people like him need to be knocked around once a semester for his own good.
“It was probably Rose.”
“Who?”
“That girl who was talking to you when we first ran into each other. She likes you and wanted to get you into a closed-in space where you would suddenly see her for who she is and fall madly in love.”
“I was in there alone. Rose is not in theater. I’m sure it’s too dorky for her, and even if we were stuck in a room together, I already know who she is and I would not fall in love with that.” Rose is self-absorbed and just wants to dangle me from her Dior purse like an expensive charm that proclaims her better than everyone else.
“What would you fall in love with?”
I peer into her eyes and pinch her chin lightly. “It’s not a question I can answer at school, babe.”
A furrow digs into her forehead. “Why not?”
“Because you imposed a no sexy-time rule here on school grounds, and I’m bound by my word not to violate that. If you want to lift it, let me know, and I can take you to a practice room and give you a hands-on description of what I love.” I waggle my eyebrows.
Sadie blushes but rolls her eyes. “I don’t need a demonstration. I can guess from your expression.” She punches my biceps and then releases a little cry. “Ouch! Are you made of steel?”
“Again, the answer would require a lifting of the sexy times ban.”
“Oh Lord. Why do I feel like this is the only response I’m going to get for anything?” She gives me a push. “Go to class, you horny fool.”
CHAPTER 18
SADIE
“Hey.” Van drops down in the seat next to me. I swear he’s bigger. He must really be putting in time at the gym and on the field. It makes sense because he’s never around. If it weren’t for Dunc filling a lot of my time at home, I would probably feel Van’s absence a lot more. It’s still strange—us not being as close as we used to be.
“Hello, stranger.” I give Van a little jab.
“What?” He looks confused by my comment.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “We haven’t really hung out or talked much.”
“Sorry. I got a lot going on.” He pulls out his Chromebook. “I’ll be at the party.”
“Party?” How does he know something I don't? He’s been a ghost lately. Even before he said he was joining the football team. Van isn’t even a party kind of guy, or maybe that was because I wasn’t in the IT crowd so he hung back with me. Had I held him back?
“After the game on Friday.”
“No one told me.” Maybe that’s what Mom was going to talk to me about this morning before she saw Dunc was in my bed.
“It’s our birthday, and you know Mom.”
“Right.” How the heck did I forget that? I guess between the accident, moving, Van joining the football team, falling for Dunc, and the jerks at school, my mind has been in other places.
“Check your email. She sent a long-ass message.”
“Why are we having a party? We don’t know anyone here.” Van’s brows lift. “What?” I pull out my phone. “Tell me.” I know he’s got some other information I don’t.
“There is some online board for school people to post on for the football team. She posted about it there.”
I sink down into my chair, dread immediately filling me, having a good idea who would attend the party. There is a typical crowd that surrounds the football team in my experience. Not to mention if people put together that it’s at Dunc’s house, they will be lining up to attend. And when I say people, I mean the girls at school. Ones that made it clear Dunc was off-limits or they would make my life harder.
This couldn’t get any worse. Those are the last people I want to be around or have in my personal space. A small amount of panic begins to set in at that thought.
“Let Mom have it. She still pouts that she didn’t get to do a sweet sixteen.” I take a deep breath, trying to get myself together so that Van doesn’t start asking questions that I don’t want to answer. Knowing he’ll go into overprotective brother mode.