Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
“Speaking of,” Chanel says, reaching across to take the remaining slice of pizza off my plate. “What’s going on with Colby? Is he still a dead man, or will the asshole magically revive himself?”
“No idea,” I say. “I haven’t spoken to Tanner much this week, but last I heard, there was no change. I’ve tried ringing the hospital a few times, but because I’m not family, they won’t give me any updates. And the cops aren’t really forthcoming with information to Tanner, so it’s like walking on eggshells with him, always waiting for the other shoe to drop and our lives to spiral out of control again.”
Ilaria’s face scrunches up. “Hypothetical question that has absolutely nothing to do with the current conversation at hand. Does it make me an asshole for not wanting someone to wake from a coma?”
Arizona snorts an ugly laugh, sounding like a bulldog getting a rectal exam. “Classy.”
Ilaria rolls her eyes as a smirk pulls at her lips. “What’s classy is the fact I haven’t asked Bri about her brother despite how thoroughly he rocked my world after her mom’s wedding.”
I send a sharp glare her way while shaking my head. “You just had to go and ruin my appetite.”
“Oh, please,” she scoffs. “You could be sitting in a pile of rotting corpses, using some dude’s grubby toenails to pick shit out of your teeth, and you’d still have a rock-solid appetite.” I grin. She’s not wrong, but damn, there’s something seriously messed up in her head. “Now,” she continues, “answer my goddamn question. When the hell is Damien getting back and do you think he’d be down to bend me over like a freaking pretzel?”
Dragging my hands over my face, I groan. “Ughhhhh.” Not thrilled to be having this conversation, I give her what she wants just for the sake of being able to move on. “He’ll be back soonish, I think, and seeing as though he’s the kind of guy to fuck anything that walks, I think it’s a safe bet to say he’ll bend you over any way you want.”
Ilaria grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You really do know the way to a girl’s heart, don’t you?”
I flip her the bird, and not a moment later, the bell sounds through the school, sending us all back to class and bringing me that much closer to finally getting the answers I need from Tanner.
Chapter 13
BRIELLE
I never realized how much of a needy bitch I was until now. Any normal girl would be using this time to give herself a facial, maybe scroll through socials to add some thirst traps to her spank bank, hell, she might even paint her nails, but not me. I’m standing at my window, staring at Tanner’s driveway just waiting for him to get home.
Pathetic, I know. This is what Tanner Morgan has reduced me to.
Does it make me lame that I wouldn’t have it any other way?
I hear Mom and Orlando downstairs, arguing about something ridiculous. Well, to be honest, it’s more like Orlando arguing and ranting at her while she’s probably on her knees, begging him not to leave her. If I hadn’t needed this space from Tanner to think, I never would have stepped foot back inside this house. There’s just something so humiliating about being here. The way Orlando has been looking at me over the last few days has been … weird. It’s a strange sort of smugness mixed with deep irritation and intrigue. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one fucking bit.
If I didn’t have Jensen keeping me company, I would have gone insane. He came and barged his way through my door last night, arms full of candy and popcorn, demanding we Netflix and chill, without the chill. He dragged an oversized bean bag through the door, plonked it at the foot of my bed, and that’s exactly where he stayed while I did everything I could to not focus on Tanner’s bedroom window.
Like I said, pathetic.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I’m just about to give up when I hear the familiar rumble of Tanner’s motorbike coming from down the street. A thrill shoots through me and my back straightens, more than ready to bolt down the stairs and throw myself out the front door.
The bike grows closer and with it comes the intense anticipation I’ve felt all day, only now it’s so much worse. Despite living next door and seeing him in the hallways at school, I’ve missed him this week. I hate the divide between us. Yes, I was the one who put it there, but now that I’ve had a moment to understand how he is nothing but a victim in this, I’m ready to move forward. I just hope I haven’t hurt him by asking for this space.