Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“There’s not much to tell. I was driving the car when it happened. I walked away with three cuts and a broken arm,” I said, my voice even. “And my mom died from it.”
“Fuck.” He pulled me into his arms and held me. “I’m sorry.”
I accepted his words even though they didn’t make me feel anything anymore. When I thought about the accident these days, I felt nothing. When I thought about Luke, I felt nothing. I was just blank all the time. Blank all the time unless Lachlan was in front of me.
“It was horrifying,” I whispered. “I blacked out and broke my arm from the force of the airbag, but I came to while I was still in the car and. . .” I shivered. “It was awful.”
“I’m sorry,” he breathed against my hair.
“It’s another reason I need you to stay away.”
“Why?” He pulled back. “The accident wasn’t just an accident?”
I shook my head. He watched me for a long time. I could see the wariness in his expression as he looked at me. I mean, these were some crazy allegations. He had no reason to believe me. But then, his expression shifted from wariness to confusion to anger. He remained there.
His jaw ticked. “Do you think you know who caused it?”
“I know who did it,” I said quietly as the image of him popped into my head. I pushed it away quickly. “As I said, I’ll tell you everything when I know it’s safe.”
“So, what, in order to keep me safe, you’re not going to see me until then?” He stared at me, disbelief clear in his expression. “After tonight?” He held both my hands in one of his. “You’re leaving for the other side of the country, and you think I’m not going to see you every chance I get until then?”
“Did you not hear a word I said?” I searched his eyes, hoping the gravity of the situation would sink in. “This is exactly why I tried to keep this from happening.”
“Come on, Lyla,” he said, tilting his head like that idea was absurd. “This was always going to happen.”
“I don’t understand why,” I said. “Why me? Because I’m difficult?”
“You know why you.” His eyes bore into mine. My stomach did a flip. “What if I come here? Or you go to my place?”
“You shouldn’t spend the time you have left of college hiding out and not going to parties,” I said.
“I’m not interested in parties.” His gaze was intense again. “I’m not interested in any of it.”
“I’m just saying we’re going our separate ways, and you might regret it,” I pointed out. “You’ll go to Toronto or Boston, and I’ll be elsewhere.”
“Lyla James.” He smiled one of his slow, sexy smiles. “You sure you weren’t interested in me?”
I pursed my lips. “Be serious.”
“I’m being serious.” He chuckled, lifting my hand and nipping the tips of my fingers with his teeth. “I could be in Toronto and you in Tokyo, and I’d still find a way to keep exploring this.”
“Lach.”
“Look, if sneaking around will make you comfortable, fine. I don’t give a fuck what I have to do.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Okay?” He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, what?”
“Okay, let’s keep seeing each other,” I said, adding, “In private. In secret. Until we leave.”
“And then?” He lifted my hand again and kissed the inside of my wrist.
“And then we’ll see.” I inhaled sharply when he pressed his mouth over my pulse.
“Hm.” He dropped my hand and kissed me again, biting my bottom lip into his mouth as he pulled away. My heart skipped every time he did that.
“Come closer,” he said quietly, bringing me closer to him under the sheets. He reached out to turn off the lights and pulled me so my back was against his chest. He pressed his lips to the back of my neck. “You know we have the same middle name?”
I laughed. “No freaking way.”
“Hm.” He nuzzled against my neck. “I was going to tell you the second time I saw you, but I thought you might knee me in the balls.”
I bit back my smile, even though it was dark and he couldn’t see me. I wouldn’t have kneed him, but I could see why he’d think that.
“Hey, Lach.” I smiled in the darkness.
“Hm?”
“I remembered what I was going to tell you.”
“What is it?” He asked as I turned in his arms to face him.
“I’m always numb unless you’re around. You make me feel.” I couldn’t see his face, but I heard his sharp intake of breath.
“Fuck, Lyla James.” He pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine in a slow kiss.
CHAPTER 14
LYLA
I was walking into the tunnel and fell into a fit of laughter when I saw Lachlan. I had noticed him in the stands. Even if I hadn’t, his resonating shouts every time I ran on and off the field would have made him hard to miss. The football stadium was at capacity, but somehow I could hear his, Prescott’s, and Marissa’s shouts everywhere. I’d kicked twice for an extra point and nailed it both times. I had to admit that I would miss the heck out of this. I was hesitant when Banks asked me to do it after speaking to his coach and the team. The first time I ran out there, everyone was confused. The second time, they acted like I was Elvis performing his last concert. The energy in the stadium was palpable every time I ran out there. I knew it was because I was a girl and kicked ass, but it still reminded me of my glory days in soccer, so I loved it.