Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“Just nice?” Jayden asked when I closed the oven and straightened up.
“More than nice. Lucas took me to a lovely restaurant, and we talked and had a good meal.”
“But?” Jayden prompted.
“Well, the evening didn’t start off very well, with the whole thing with my necklace. And then… I don’t know, it was weird. It was almost like Lucas and Kyle were working together.”
“That would feel weird,” Jayden said. “But they both wanted to help you, so maybe not too surprising.”
“Yes, I know.” What I didn’t know was how to explain it better. “It was just a bit unsettling, like cops and robbers on the same side.”
Jayden nodded, but he was staring past me, his gaze unfocused. “I sometimes think that if the thing with Natalie hadn’t happened, and if their parents hadn’t gotten married, maybe they would have—” He cut himself off with a sigh. “But they didn’t get along even before all that.”
“High school students aren’t exactly known for befriending kids who aren’t like them.”
“And yet you still want to teach them.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I do.” Because maybe, just maybe, I could teach students both what they needed to know to become good writers—and how to be a little kinder, and more tolerant of each other.
“You’ll be good at it. Should we check the taco cups?”
“Yep.”
He opened the oven, and I was pleased to see that the cheese had melted evenly. I took the trays out and set them on the counter to cool off.
“Something smells good.” Kyle entered the kitchen, a six pack of bottled beer in each hand.
He put them in the fridge and then came over to the counter to explore. I slapped his hand away when he reached for one of the mini taco cups. “They need to cool down.”
He still looked like he was going to grab one, so I pushed him away. God, his stomach muscles were firm. He looked amused at my attempt to move him out of the way.
“Okay, but when they’re ready, I’m going to have one for quality control.”
“You can have more than one,” I told him. He had on a navy t-shirt that fit snugly over his chest—and brought out the blue of his eyes. His tight black jeans emphasized how long his legs were. “No game tonight?”
“Nope.”
“Or frat party?”
Kyle grinned. “They can do without me for one night.” He leaned against the counter next to me. “I had a long week. This uptight chick who’s tutoring me wouldn’t let me rest until my damn paper was done.”
“You actually got it uploaded before midnight?” I was pretty sure I was beaming with pride.
“Sure did. Did you?”
“Yep.”
“Then I’d say you both deserve a beer,” Jayden said. I turned to him guiltily—for a moment, I’d forgotten he was there. “I’ll text Lucas and tell him it’s time.” Lucas was sorting through more of his great aunt’s stuff in the basement.
“Time for what?” Kyle asked.
“Movie night,” I said. “That’s why I made these.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “First it was study group. Now it’s movie night. Can’t you people plan an evening without naming it first?”
I shot him a smile. “I’ll tell you on Random Questions Night.”
Jayden laughed. “Lucas will be up in a minute. Are you joining us?” he asked Kyle.
Kyle cocked his head to the side, thinking it over. “Will I like the movie?”
“Do you like science fiction?”
“Oh god,” I said with a giggle. “It’s already Random Question Night.”
They both laughed. Then Kyle said, “Sci-fi’s not really my thing.”
“Come watch the movie with us anyway,” I urged, suddenly hoping he would. “We deserve to celebrate.”
He held my gaze for a long moment. “All right.”
A few minutes later, we were in the living room, each of us with a bottle of beer and the taco cups on the coffee table. Jayden was sprawled out on the couch, his legs crossed at the ankle. Kyle was in the nearest armchair, his beer already halfway finished. Lucas was messing with his phone, trying to get the movie to stream to the TV. From the look of frustration on his face, it wasn’t cooperating. Wi-Fi was sometimes spotty in this house.
Kyle glanced over at where I was perched on the arm of the sofa. His gaze was assessing as he took in my oversized sweatshirt and leggings.
“What?” I asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
“Why don’t you put on that dress, the one from the other night?”
I almost spilled my beer. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“I can see why neither of you were on the debate team,” Jayden teased.
Kyle pointed at him. “That’s why. Jay hasn’t seen you in it.”
“Dude, she’s not a tourist attraction.”
Kyle winked at me. “If so, she’d be the best one in the tri-state area.”
I laughed, thinking the matter was settled.
It wasn’t.
“There ought to be a dress code for movie night,” Kyle continued.
“Leave her alone,” Lucas muttered from across the room, but he seemed distracted, still trying to get the movie to stream.