Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Gage…” He used his disappointed voice, the one that made it clear he disapproved. I knew all Joey’s voices.
I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. Joey had shot up—he was nearly as tall as me now—but he had no muscle mass. His arms and legs were long and thin, the name Twig still fitting him. “Be nice to me. I’m about to get yelled at by Mr. Jones.”
He sighed. “No, you’re not, because I did your homework for you.”
I immediately tensed up. He’d had school, work, and did his homework and some of mine? “Why’d you do that? You shouldn’t have to do my shit for me.” Now it was my turn to sound all scold-y with him. It wasn’t his responsibility to do extra because I struggled with words. Working together was one thing, but him just doing it wasn’t fair.
“Shut up and take it, Gage.”
He was the only one in our group who never called me Hero. It wasn’t something I’d ever had to ask him not to do. He simply…knew.
Embarrassment burned through me. Grumbling, I took it. Damn it. I hated being dumb. “I’ll make it up to you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know you don’t have to do that.”
I kissed his forehead with a loud smack. Most of the people in town were homophobic as fuck, but the people at school wouldn’t say anything to us. They knew this was just how Jojo and I were, even though I figured most of them wondered if Jojo was gay. I didn’t because I didn’t care either way. He would always be my best friend, no matter what. If he was, he’d tell me when he was ready.
“You’re so gross.” He jerked away and wiped way too dramatically at the spot where I’d kissed him.
“So? You love me just the way I am.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
During class, I kept feeling Katie looking at me, and I’d glance over every once in a while. I mean, how could I not? She was beautiful, and I was horny.
When the bell rang, I went over to her.
“Hey, Gage.”
“Hey, you. Got plans this weekend?”
“Hopefully, I do now.”
“Maybe after the football game Friday night?” I didn’t play, but Romeo did, so we always went for support. His family had money, and Romeo was spoiled as shit, but he never took advantage, and neither he nor his family ever treated the rest of us as less than because they had more than we did. His parents were nice, but they were busy with social engagements a lot and didn’t always make his games.
“Cool. I’d like that,” Katie said.
I’d be with my crew during the game, but afterward, I could make it work.
I looked up to see Joey walk out of his class. He usually waited for me, since our next classes were down the same hallway. “Sounds good. I’ll be in touch,” I said, and hurried for the door.
“Bye!” Katie called after me as I made it into the crowded hallway, jogging to catch up with Joey.
“What the fuck, man?”
“You looked busy, and I figured you know your way to class,” he replied.
“I’m never too busy for you.” I casually dated and hooked up, but nothing was more important to me than my friends—not even getting laid, though sex was really, really fun.
“Aren’t I soooo lucky?” he said with way too much exaggeration. He was definitely less quiet than when we’d first met, even if he’d never be as loud or confident as the rest of us. And he was the only one who knew that despite being confident about certain things, I faked it real fucking good with the rest.
“Yes, yes you are.”
We both started laughing then. If it weren’t for Jojo’s father and the fact that I hated the prick for the shit he did, everything would have been perfect. My teeth ground at just the thought of Chief Robinson. Why in the fuck had I thought of him? He always ruined my mood.
Joey deserved better than him, so I’d find a way to get the hell out of Hendersonville, if only because I knew he’d never go without me.
CHAPTER TWO
Joey
A few weeks had passed since Gage and Katie started doing…whatever it was they were doing. It started the day of Kevin’s football game. Gage was supposed to meet up with her afterward, but toward the end she came over and sat with me, Gage, and Mouse. I’d waited for Gage to say something about meeting up with her later, so she’d go—in a nice way, of course. Being mean wasn’t who Gage was, but he didn’t, and it was…weird. That was the only word I could think of to describe it.
Then she hung out with us another day and another, and Gage did take her virginity, which I only knew because he told me and made me promise not to tell anyone. He hadn’t told Romeo or Mouse.