Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
I love their love.
I love the way his eyes follow her when she walks into a room, and they go all soft and warm.
I love the way she reaches over and takes his hand often, always by his side no matter what.
I love the way he helps her, the way he helps all of us.
I love the way they dance in the living room when they think no one is watching.
I love the way he always takes his jacket off and puts it on her shoulders if she’s cold.
I love the way she brushes his hair from his eyes and then kisses him softly.
I love everything about them.
I wear a smile the entire way to the club, and when we arrive, I jump out of the truck with a squeal of delight as I see all the people standing around, waiting for me. Decorations line the very masculine space, purple and gold, my favorite colors. A big eighteen balloon is hanging by the front door, floating in the air. It’s nearly as big as I am.
“This is amazing!” I hug my mom so tight she laughs and then wheezes. “Thank you.”
“Wasn’t just me, honey. Believe it or not, King did most of this.”
I run toward King and throw myself into his arms. He catches me with a grunt and then chuckles, low and deep, before wrapping me in his big arms. “Thank you,” I say into his chest. “Thank you, Dad!”
For a moment, he goes quiet and then he hugs me so tight I can barely breathe. I’ve never called him that, not because he hasn’t done a million things to prove himself to me, or that I don’t see him as a dad, it has just never felt right. Now, though, it feels so right it almost hurts. “Just made my fuckin’ year, honey. Happy birthday.”
I pull back and smile up at him. “Stop making me cry, I’ll ruin my makeup.”
He grins down at me. “Go, have a good time, you get drunk, you stay here. You don’t go tryin’ to get into places with anyone, understand? I can watch you here. Got no problem with you havin’ a few drinks, but I don’t want you runnin’ around town. You’re not of legal age just yet.”
I roll my eyes playfully, but smile and say, “Of course.”
I spin around with another squeal and run into the clubhouse where so many of my friends are waiting. I do the rounds, saying hello to all of them and accepting drinks as I make my way toward the corner where my favorite friends are. Cohen, Mykel, Samson, Alarick, and Kendric. They’re all sort of staring at everyone, like being here is a little painful for them.
I suppose it would be, but they have to remember they were eighteen once, and wanted to have fun just like we do.
“Hey, happy birthday, girl,” Kendric says, stepping forward and giving me a hug.
“Yeah, happy birthday,” Samson grins, doing the same.
“You’re old as fuck now, you know,” Mykel teases, shoving me with his shoulder before pulling me into his arms. He gives me the longest hug. He always does. Outside of Flick, he’s my best friend here.
“Calm down, I’m not that old yet,” I laugh.
“Get over here, if I don’t hug you, I’ll look like a dick,” Cohen murmurs, grabbing me and pulling me close. “Don’t tell Samantha, she’ll probably bust a top.”
I shake my head. “You two have like, the worst relationship.”
He lets me go and I move to Flick, who is staring at me in a way I have never seen. It’s as if suddenly I’m someone else and he’s only just seeing me for the first time. His eyes are lusty and heavy, and yet at the same time they’re a little pissed. Like seeing me here is making him angry somehow.
“Where’d you get that dress?” he asks me.
I exhale. “Don’t go all protective big brother on me, Flick. I’m eighteen, I’m going to enjoy that.”
“You don’t have to show your ass to enjoy it, and I’m no fuckin’ brother.”
Oh, boy. Someone is moody.
Cohen shoves Flick’s shoulder and growls, “Say happy birthday to her, you fuckin’ dick.”
Flick looks to me and then slowly leans forward. For a moment, I think he might actually kiss me, but his head moves to the side and his lips graze my cheek, his hands gently rest on my hips and he pulls me close enough that I can hear him murmur into my ear on his way back up, “You look fuckin’ beautiful, darlin’. Happy birthday.”
My heart does a silly little flip flop and my cheeks burn as I step back.
Luckily for me, I’m slapped with a cold bucket of ice water when the girl Flick is “seeing” comes running over and throws herself at him. Terrah is a pretty, blonde, bouncy girl with a perfect model body, big fake lips, massive boobs, and skimpy clothes. Exactly what you’d expect a man would go for. She shoves those filled lips against Flick’s mouth and kisses him with a ferocity that makes Mykel grunt with displeasure and growl, “Jesus, woman, you’re goin’ to eat his fuckin’ face off.”