Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“We have to stop. We can’t be together—
“You’re right. Get off me,” I snap, shoving him until he stumbles backward. “Please leave.” It hits me right there that he’s only acting on jealousy over a guy I never even kissed on the lips.
“Jules,” he pleads, sitting on the bed next to me.
I shake my head and scoot away from him, hating how easily I fell into his arms only to be hurt again. “Don’t. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I understand one thing. You just mauled me because you thought I had a boyfriend and you got possessive. I get it—we both find each other hot, but that’s it, and don’t try to say otherwise because I haven’t seen you for over half a year.”
He stands up and paces around my room, going back and forth, running his hands through his hair. He stops to open his mouth and no words come out, and then he starts pacing again. He does this three times and by the last time, I’ve had enough.
I stand and walk straight to the door. With my hand on the handle, I say, “If you can’t figure out the words to explain yourself, stop trying. I’m going back to my party, and I hope you see yourself out.” He reaches for me, but I pull myself away and walk out of the room.
I’m not a fool. He doesn’t really want me. My mother and stepfather don’t have a loving relationship; it’s almost a parasitic one, whereas Penny’s parents have a love to last a lifetime, so I’ve seen what the two worlds look like. I won’t settle for anything less than the kind of love they truly share.
I take the stairs in a rush and nearly run into my uncle Denver who’s waiting for me. “Everything okay?” He looks me up and down. I must look completely disheveled, and my eyes are glossy with unshed tears.
“Yes. I’m going to schmooze with my guests. Excuse me.”
“Okay.” He lets me pass, and I walk to the downstairs bathroom off the kitchen. I need a moment to breathe and get away from everyone. Once I’m locked in the bathroom, I press my hands on the edge of the sink and take a deep breath. Rolling my head around to loosen up the tension, I finally look at my reflection in the mirror. My lips are ruddy and puffy from Anthony’s kiss. My entire body feels his touch as if he’d just let go. My breasts are tender, my pussy throbbing and needing relief, but most of all, my heart is cracking. How can so many warring emotions flood through me?
“It’s my party, and I can cry if I want to,” I sing in a hushed voice. Quickly, I let the pain turn to anger. I hope that he’s left because I can’t take looking at him.
A knock at the door catches me by surprise. “One minute,” I call out, turning on the water to pretend I’m actually using the bathroom for more than my pity party.
“Open up. I know you’re not peeing. I’ve got to go,” Penny pleads. I unlock the door and my cousin comes in, throwing her arms around me as best as she can. “I’m only half serious. Technically I always have to pee, but seeing as Blade just left and informed me that he’ll be waiting in the car until we’re done and you’re hiding in here, I’m guessing things didn’t go well.”
“They went well for all of a second.”
“What do you mean?”
“He finally kissed me, and then regretted it. He then fought to tell me why he’s been avoiding me for months. I can’t handle this. I thought maybe now that I’m nineteen, he wouldn’t be so upset about my age, but he can’t get past that. I’m finishing my freshman year of college in two freaking days, and he thinks I’m too young.”
“It’s more than that, but I’m not sure that it’s my place to say anything. I will say this. He’s been avoiding the bakery as much as humanly possible since you quit, and he’s worked so much on his blades that no one sees him for days on end.”
“I haven’t seen him for months. Maybe it’s time I finally move on,” I mutter, patting my face dry with a hand towel.
“Do what you have to, as long as it’s not with Brandon. I’ll remind Blade that he blew his shot,” she offers, rubbing my arm.
I press my hand to hers, stopping her motions. “No, don’t. I don’t want him to come running because he’s jealous. He pulled that today, and he only regretted it.”
“You two hardly know each other, so maybe it’s best to take it slow.”
“I know this isn’t coming from Miss virgin to married and pregnant within a month.”