Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Everything that escaped Isaac Cory’s mouth sounded sexual.
“Are you saying you’re going to let me play your guitar again?”
“Depends.” He shrugged.
“On what?”
“What are you going to do for me?”
“I’ll pray for you. Preachers’ daughters’ prayers carry more weight than the average person’s. Should I pray for you to quit smoking or for your salvation?”
The corner of his mouth quirked into a half grin as amusement sparkled in his eyes. “Why do you want me to quit smoking so badly? Will your heart break if I die of cancer? Or do you secretly want to kiss me?”
I scoffed while surveying the area behind me, looking and listening for signs of Wesley, Matt, or anyone else. “I secretly want to kill you and steal your guitar, but you know the rules. Number six: Thou shalt not kill. And number eight: Thou shalt not steal. Or maybe you don’t know the rules.” I shrugged.
“I know the tenth commandment is Thou shalt not covet. And I’ve been breaking that one a lot lately,” he said.
“How so?” I asked as Isaac physically brushed past me.
“Sunday Morning, I’ve been coveting the fuck out of you since Easter Sunday,” he said, strolling out of the barn.
I died and went straight to Hell.
I needed a best friend, but since Heather kissed Isaac, I wasn’t sure I could tell her what he said in the barn, even though she said he didn’t seem interested in her. And I couldn’t tell any of my other friends because I didn’t trust anyone like I trusted Heather.
But I was dying to tell someone.
Why did he say that? Maybe he didn’t know what the word covet meant. But that made little sense. Isaac was a valedictorian.
It had to be part of his game. Isaac loved making people squirm and irritating them. He was an expert bear-poker.
“Sarah?” Eve yelled. “Matt’s on the phone!”
I ran to my bedroom from the hall bathroom and picked it up. Then I composed myself, letting out a slow breath and finding my weakest voice. “Hello,” I said as if I were on my last breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“No. I started my period. And I have terrible cramps.” I hadn’t started my period, but I needed an excuse to stay home. I couldn’t have sex and sort through the meaning of Isaac’s statement on the same day. But mostly, I couldn’t have sex again. How did all of those married women do it? It had to be a sacrifice as honorable as serving one’s country—a physical invasion all in the name of procreation. Ensuring the survival of humanity. Women weren’t simply loyal soldiers to a country; we were the Davids of the world, and sex was our Goliath.
“That sucks,” Matt said. “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” I faked a little groan at the end. “But you are sweet for asking.”
“I love you,” he said with disappointment in his words, like loving me was his consolation prize for the day.
I groaned, holding my stomach as if he could see me.
“Is it inconsiderate of me to ask how long it lasts?”
I flopped back onto my bed with my legs dangling over the side while I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You could never be inconsiderate. And it just depends. A week … maybe two.”
My periods were five days, but I was supposed to get my real period the following week, so I had to build in some extra time.
“I feel like in school, they said a week was the norm. If you’re having it for two weeks, maybe you should get it checked out.”
I rolled my eyes. Why did my boyfriend have to be so smart? He remembered how long a woman’s menstrual cycle lasted, but he didn’t remember the location of the clitoris?
“You’re right. I hope nothing is wrong with me,” I said, figuring I might buy even more time if he thought I was having serious female issues. “Maybe we should wait until I get things checked out.”
“You should ask your mom.”
“Maybe,” I said, staring at the speckled texture on the ceiling that had a yellowish-brown stain from a roof leak. “Did you ask Isaac to take Heather to a movie so we could … you know?”
“No. Why?”
“Well, when he dropped off eggs at the farm stand, he said that’s why he took her to the movie. When’s the last time he had a girlfriend?”
“I don’t know. He’s been in the Army. I suppose he might have met someone and had something short, but nothing we ever heard anything about. Why do you ask?”
“I just wondered if he’s ever been serious about anyone or anything for that matter.”
“He’s loyal to the family and the ranch. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for our parents,” Matt said, and it made me pause for a moment. Was he defending his brother?