Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“What’s your rush?” Deb pokes her head out of her classroom as I pass by.
“I’m looking for Brittney,” I huff.
“Is everything okay?” She shouts, but all I do is wave my hand as I continue my destructive path.
Brittney is at her desk when I walk in. “Josh!” She’s surprised to see me. “I’m so excited for our date tomorrow.”
I bite my tongue. I want to tell her to go fuck herself, but I ball my fists, stopping myself.
“You know,” she puts her pen down, pouting her lips. “I recently found out that not only was Luci a student at this school, but she was in your class.”
I shake my head.
“Honestly, it’s kinky and I absolutely love it,” she gushes. “But I know a lot of people who wouldn’t think the way we do.”
“I’d like to be clear on the terms of this date,” I place both hands on her desk. “I go out with you this weekend. I take you dinner, and then you leave Luci alone, got it?”
“I wish it were that simple,” she shakes her head. “We can talk more about it tomorrow night, preferably in either your bed or mine.” She stands, her fingers sinking into my hair. I pull back, but she grips me harder, not letting go. “You look like you could be a lot of fun.”
“I’m not really into someone else’s seconds, or thirds, or seventeenths,” I grab her arms and pull them off of me. “Are you done sleeping around the math and language department or something? Working your way to science?”
“Something like that,” she winks. “Pick me up at 7.”
Chapter 13
-Luci-
We celebrated my Dad’s good news with a big dinner, and as soon as we finish, I head into town towards the bakery I know Josh lives on top of. I feel awful about our fight. He’s not answering his phone, and I have to talk to him, especially before he goes on that date with that monster tomorrow.
I park in one of the public parking lots and head to his building, trying to find the door that leads to his apartment. I can’t find it, and curse under my breath as I call him again.
He doesn’t answer, and I lean up against the storefront, feeling deflated.
“Luci?”
I open my eyes, watching as Josh approaches with a handful of groceries.
“Hi,” I lunge off the wall, grabbing a bag from him.
“Did you just call?” He asks, and I nod. “Sorry,” he explains. “Hands are full.”
“Are you cooking or something?” I hesitate. Crap, what if his date is here tomorrow and he’s cooking for her?
“No,” he assures me, knowing where my mind is going. “I avoid the supermarket at all costs, but, you know, then I need food.” He continues walking, and I follow.
We round the corner, heading down an alley to the back of the building. He doesn’t say anything as we stop in front of a large black door with gold knocker. I’m surprised to see something that looks almost homey in an otherwise sketchy place. He gives me a look, wondering if I’m going to follow him inside, and I do.
We take the dark wood stairs up until we reach a landing, with walls covered in deep brown wood, and red and black carpet. There’s only one door, and next to it sits a table, with a black lamp and an old telephone. I study it, as Josh fumbles with his keychain, looking for another key.
“This is nice,” I don’t hide the surprise in my voice, because it looks and smells like some luxury hotel, not like a place you’d get to from an alleyway.
“Thanks,” he pauses. Our eyes meet and I can sense the anger in his.
“Is this real?” I cough, brushing my free hand over the old phone.
“At one time. Now its just decoration.”
He finds the key he’s looking for and presses it into the lock. I take a deep breath, bracing and steading myself, for I’m about to go into his apartment! It feels like such a forbidden, secret space.
The door clicks open, and he steps aside, letting me enter first.
The early evening sun shines through an oversized window, and I close my eyes and inhale deeply, because the first thing I notice is the amazing aroma. It’s a spicy scent that can only be his, and I'm ensconced.
He clicks on a side lamp, and I open my eyes at the sound, taken aback by my surroundings. He grabs the paper bag from me, taking it over to the kitchen, unpacking the contents while I look around.
Everything is so open. It's not an extremely large space, but the high ceilings make it seem like it is. I really don't know what I was expecting to find, maybe Star Wars posters and lab equipment? Or maybe a true bachelor pad with a beer pong table and drink signs? It’s none of that, though, for this place looks expensive, older, masculine, yet messy in a neat sort of way, like something straight out of a home magazine.