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)
I didn’t care. How much hand did one man need?
“You should teach me to play your guitar.” I turned, lifting it from its stand.
“I don’t think I’ll be teaching you anything.” Isaac stole the guitar from me and returned it to its spot.
When he faced me, I was in his space, or he was in mine. So, I tipped my head back and smiled while jabbing my pointer finger into his chest. “I bet you have a lot to teach because you,” I tapped my finger like a woodpecker, “were in a band.”
His chest was hard, and I wondered if he had tattoos on it too.
“Go slide into Matty’s bed and sniff his pillow. I’ll tell everyone you took two Tylenol and needed a nap. Maybe you can do a better job of not embarrassing yourself in an hour or two. My parents have the croquet set up in the backyard. I’d hate for you to do anything inappropriate with one of the mallets. So sleep it off, Sunday Morning.”
I squinted, but it didn’t help my vision issues. “You were going to get my sister drunk.”
Isaac rolled his eyes. “You’re so ignorant. I wasn’t going to let her drink it. And even if she had taken it, after one sip, she would have spit it out or at least known that it wasn’t just Coke.”
I canted my head. “Your eyes are so dark. And the white part is really white.”
“The sky is blue, and the grass is green. Are there any more brilliant observations you want to discuss before you take a nap?”
“Do you believe in God?”
Isaac returned a blank look. I was unsure if it was a stare-off, but if so, I lost.
“Fine,” I grumbled, stiffly holding my arms out to the side while attempting to walk an imaginary line between Isaac’s room and Matt’s, seeing if I could pass a field sobriety test. Heather’s uncle failed one the previous year.
I failed too.
Collapsing onto Matt’s bed, I curled onto my side with my folded hands tucked under my cheek and fell asleep.
CHAPTER THREE
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS, “I WANT A NEW DRUG”
“My bed’s going to smell like you. Now, I’m never going to wash my sheets.”
I snapped my eyes open. My mouth was dry, and my thoughts were sluggish.
Matt stood a few feet away from his bed, arms crossed, lower lip trapped between his teeth. I sat up and yawned. My vision was back to normal, and the numbing buzz had disappeared.
“My dad gave me three minutes to check on you.” He looked at his silver watch with a black leather band. “I now have two minutes before he comes looking for me.”
“Where is everyone?” I asked, running my hands through my hair.
“In the backyard. Your parents said they’ll be leaving soon. What happened during dinner? You were acting weird.”
“If I tell you, can you promise to keep it a secret?”
“Of course.” Matt rubbed the back of his neck.
“After you went outside with our dads, Isaac poured the rest of your Coke into a glass and added alcohol from a flask.”
Matt shrugged. “So what? That can’t surprise you. He’s not exactly a rule-follower. And he’s twenty-four. My parents know he drinks and smokes, but they don’t say anything because they think he earned it after six years in the Army.”
“You didn’t let me finish. Eve wanted a drink, so he started to hand his to her. And I panicked and grabbed the glass, telling Eve it was mine. And then I gulped the whole thing down.”
Matt raised a single brow as if he doubted me.
“By dinner, I was buzzed and numb and couldn’t stop giggling.” I scrunched my nose.
“Your parents will totally forbid you from ever coming over here if they find out.”
“No duh.”
“How do you feel now?” he asked.
“My stomach isn’t great.” I pressed a flat hand to it. “I didn’t eat very much.”
“Come on.” He held out his hand. “Let’s get a snack.”
He pulled me to my feet and slid his hands around my waist. “Did you talk your dad into letting you go to prom this year?”
“Pfft. What do you think?”
“I think we should convince him to let you go. Maybe your mom could volunteer to chaperone?”
“And subject herself to sinful music?”
“Even my mom thinks it’s unfair to keep you from experiencing a school dance,” Matt said.
I twisted my lips. “Hmm, maybe your mom should say something to my mom.”
Matt grinned. “Maybe.” He dipped his head and kissed me.
“Hey, kids.”
We jumped apart, turning toward Isaac like soldiers coming to attention. His broad shoulders and unmatched confidence engulfed the whole doorway.
“Matty, stop trying to pick the lock to Sarah’s chastity belt. Her parents are ready to go home.”
“Shut up.” Matt pushed him, but Isaac didn’t move until he was ready to step aside. He had too much size on his little brother. “I wasn’t picking the lock to her chastity belt. Come on, Sarah,” he said, jogging down the stairs without me.