Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I swallow hard. "I know."
"You and Daphne are having fun," she says. "Why don't you stick with her. She likes you, you know?"
"She likes me?"
Cassie's cheeks flush. "I didn't mean it that way."
But it's there in her eyes.
During some girl talk session, when Cassie and Daphne finally tired of discussing The Matrix trilogy for the eight millionth time, Daphne confessed an interest in me.
An interest Cassie encouraged.
Or at least an interest Cassie didn't discourage.
What the fuck?
"What did she say?" I ask.
"Nothing," she says. "And I said nothing. Stop being so observant."
"You first." I default to a typical comeback, but the defense doesn't stick.
How could I be mad about anything?
Daphne likes me.
Suddenly, I'm fourteen again. I'm ready to skip home because a girl likes me.
I want to send her a note let's meet in the library after class. I want to kiss her between the stacks of books.
"She's not looking for serious though," Cassie says. "Only a fling. And we both know you can't do that. And if anyone found out—" She shakes her head. "Mom and Dad would start planning the wedding. Her parents too."
Sure, our parents would be happy to see us settle down, but I doubt they'd rush headfirst into wedding planning. They're not exactly begging Cassie and Damon to set a date.
"I can do it," I say.
Cassie shoots me one of those Steele-family don't looks. "Seriously, Jackson. She isn't in the place for a relationship. And neither are you. What happened to Maddie?"
"You knew we were dating?"
"Was it a secret?" She shakes her head. "No wonder her Instagram comments are awkward." Cassie looks to her deep pink nail polish. "No. I know you'll do the right thing. You always do. And you're both adults and, obviously, it would be peak hypocrisy for me to tell you not to date her."
It would, but that doesn't stop most people.
"Just promise you won't break her heart, okay? Whatever you do, please be careful with her. If you promise that, I'll drop my defense for the weekend. You can check on me and Damon as much as you want. You can even get updates for Dad so he stops bugging you."
"He doesn't ask for updates."
She raises a brow sure, he doesn't.
Okay, he did ask me to send updates, but I didn't agree. "I'm not sending updates."
"Sure. But you can. Just be careful with my best friend. Okay?"
"Of course." I offer her my hand to shake. "I'd never hurt her."
Unless she asked me to.
But that's not what my sister means.
She doesn't mean don't break her heart, but do bend her over your knee and spank her so hard you leave marks.
Chapter Twelve
Daphne
"So, what's up with you and Jackson." My brother smooths his jeans in a transparent attempt to appear casual.
Of course, I do the same thing. An instinct. Only I smooth my shorts and, despite my outfit, I look even less casual.
We're here, in the dark theater, the only two people in the immediate area.
Zack and Laurel are getting drinks.
Rome and the grooms are with the four of them.
Juliette couldn't make it.
Or there's no Juliette.
It's not clear. And is this woman, who may or may not exist, actually named Juliette? Also unclear.
Very clear: the spark between Rome and Laurel. They have that same I hate you / I want to kiss you vibe Damon and Cassie had once upon a time.
My best friend is with her brother in the lobby. They're talking. Maybe about how Damon and Cassie's vibe went from I want to kiss you to I kiss you all the time.
Which is a perfect deflection.
"Do you think Cass and Jackson are talking about me or you?" I ask.
"Are you kidding?" Damon shakes his head, sending his messy hair over his forehead. "The guy doesn't trust me."
I don't know what to say, so I nod.
"I don't take it personally. Not anymore." He looks around the room as excited attendees pile into seats. There's a huge range of people, from a gaggle of sorority girls in pink to an especially rowdy party of women my grandma's age. Mostly, the crowd is women, but there are a few couples.
The place is smaller than I expected. There's only room for about two hundred people. And the theater looks so normal. A curtain. A stage. Lights.
No giant posters of naked men or dick-shaped furniture.
A totally typical show.
"Can you imagine"—he points to one of the rowdy older women—"if that was grandma?"
"And Mom with her?" I ask.
"And Dad laughing at her awkward blush." His smile is soft. Sad. He notices their happiness now.
He used to deny it. He used to see Dad the way he saw himself. As the alcoholic fuckup ruining the family.
Now, he sees a more complicated picture. Dad is an addict, and he has slipped, but he's been sober for a long time. People worry about him. Sometimes, he hurts those people. Sometimes, he fucks up.