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)
“Are you sobered up?” Isaac gave me a slow once-over.
I adjusted my sweater. “Why do you think I have a chastity belt?”
“Where to begin …” He scratched his chin. “You’re wearing a cardigan. You’re Matty’s girlfriend. My parents think God sent you just for him. So, I don’t want to think of you as a dumb blonde, but you’re making it hard on me by asking that question.”
I planted my fists on my hips. “We’re all sinners. What makes you think I’m so innocent?”
I was innocent in action but impure in thought. Some of my favorite song lyrics were about sex, not God. Every day, I thought about sex. Whenever Matt kissed me, I imagined what it would feel like if he did more than just kiss me. Half of my friends had already had sex, and the other half had at least been felt up.
Not me.
Matt talked big, but that’s where it ended. I don’t know if it was Pastor Jacobson, his dad threatening Isaac’s life after he impregnated a minor, or just his morality, but Matt always talked me out of anything more than French kissing. And honestly, we barely made it into France. We were more like a rock in the Swiss Alps that rolled just over the border into the French Alps.
“Sunday Morning, no matter how high you tip your chin and puff out your tiny chest, your boots are still too big for your feet, not the other way around. So you’d better button up your cardigan and skitter out of here before I call your sad attempt at a bluff.”
I took two steps closer to Satan. “You know nothing about me.”
He gazed down at me, and his face was alight with amusement. “Have you cheated on my brother?”
I squinted. “Of course not.”
“Then your hymen is still intact. Now, run along.” He turned to the side and made a shooing motion with his hand.
A wave of heat surged up my neck and pulsed in my cheeks. I was equal parts angry and embarrassed. But I wasn’t angry at Isaac. I was angry at Matt for being too good.
Too cautious.
Too worried.
Too obedient.
We were eighteen: barely eighteen, but legal adults. In five weeks, we would have our diplomas.
Maybe that’s why he wanted me to convince my dad to let us go to prom. He was ready to take the next step.
“Just because I haven’t had an abortion doesn’t mean Matt and I haven’t done it.”
Guys who didn’t wear ties to Easter Sunday Service and ate Cadbury Creme Eggs during prayer should not have been on my list of people to impress. Yet, there I stood, lying to Satan because heaven forbid I let him think the preacher’s oldest daughter was a virgin.
“Done it?” He wasted no time mocking me.
“Sarah, what are you doing? Are you coming?” Matt called up the stairs.
Isaac’s grin nearly cracked his face in half. “That’s a problem,” he whispered. “Your boyfriend doesn’t know if you’re coming.”
I swallowed hard.
Don’t react.
“If you did it,” Isaac scratched his chin before leaning closer to me, “you didn’t do it right.”
I turned sideways to slide past him without making physical contact.
“Sorry,” I said to Matt as I lifted the skirt of my dress on my way down the stairs. “Isaac was asking me about Jesus and if I truly believe He loves sinners like your brother.”
Matt chuckled. “Did he really?”
At that point, what was one more lie?
“Uh-huh.” I lifted onto my toes and gave him a quick kiss. “Bye,” I said before skipping past him, slipping my feet into my white flats, and heading outside.
“Sarah, how’s your head?” Violet asked as she, my mom, and my sisters plucked the croquet hoops from the grass while my dad and Mr. Cory assembled the mallets and balls in the wooden storage stand.
“A lot better. Thanks,” I said, using my hand to block the sun from my eyes.
“Honey, Violet has a job opportunity for you.” Mom rested her arm over my shoulders as we walked toward the car.
“I thought you were fine with letting me pick my job since I’m an adult,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Just hear her out. I think you might like it better than working at Dixie’s.”
I shot Violet a fake smile when she approached me as my sisters piled into the back seat.
“Mary Lou Eddleton needs a hip replacement, so we don’t have anyone to manage the farm stand. How would you feel about doing it? We’d pay you more than you’ll make at Dixie’s.” Violet clasped her hands in front of her, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.
“Can you really pass up such a great offer?” Dad asked, opening the front passenger door for my mom.
The porch screen door creaked as Isaac and Matt stepped outside. Matt had changed out of his suit into cut-off sweatpants, a Devil’s Head baseball T-shirt, and a matching hat.