Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
She stares down at her phone, seemingly lost in her thoughts as I make my way over to where she stands.
“He’ll come around,” I assure her, hooking an arm around her waist, leaning my head on her shoulder. She rests her head on mine, hugging me back. I’m not the most affectionate person, especially of the physical variety, but Shayne is the exception to the rule.
“I thought he would have by now, but I think it’s more about finding out Thayer’s dad is his dad, too.”
“That’ll do it.” I laugh. “If you can get past the fact that your brother is related to your boyfriend, they shouldn’t have a problem with it.”
“Don’t say it like that.” She cringes. “You make it sound so…”
“Incestuous? Illegal?”
“We aren’t related!”
“I know. But it’s so fun to give you shit.”
“I hate you. Besides, that’s not what I meant. I think his issue has less to do with our being together and more to do with Thayer and Holden specifically. He won’t admit it, though. And Thayer and Holden aren’t exactly welcoming their new brother with open arms. I think…” she lowers her voice and trails off, unhooking her arm and stepping back to peek into the room where Thayer’s putting the finishing touches on her bed. “I think they really believe that if they treat Grey like a brother, they’re somehow replacing Danny.”
“Yeah, well, we both know the Ames brothers aren’t exactly known for their emotional maturity. Guess that includes your brother.” She gives me a flat stare, but I can see the smile she’s trying to hold back.
“Enough about them. You know what I want to talk about?”
I raise a single brow, waiting for her to elaborate.
“The fact that I’m finally living with my best friend.”
This was always the plan for as long as I can remember, but then Thayer happened, and I assumed she’d move into his apartment after we graduated, especially since it’s not far from campus. She spends most of her time there, anyway.
Originally, she was offered a scholarship to a different school, but when we both got accepted to Hadley University, we couldn’t pass up the chance to do college together. Unfortunately, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. Turns out, Hadley has a major housing crisis. Normally, we’re required to live on campus as freshmen, but they made exceptions since they didn’t have anywhere to put everyone. Almost two hundred students, including Shayne, were sent to a hotel for the majority of the first semester. I was able to secure a double on campus, and even though I would have preferred a single, I considered myself lucky that my roommate, Lauren, was quiet as a church mouse. That is, until she had her boyfriend come over every single night and fucked him—loudly—while I was in the bed next to them.
Between the unfortunate housing situation, cheer taking up all my time, and volleyball taking up Shayne’s, we’ve barely gotten to see each other at all this semester.
When Shayne told me there was an opening for a double in Hawthorne Hall, the nicest, biggest, and newest building on campus, I jumped at the opportunity. They’re more like tiny apartments than dorms and mostly reserved for upperclassmen and far more expensive than the regular dorms since they’re fully furnished, have two separate bedrooms along with a kitchen, living room, and a full-sized fridge. The best part? No more communal bathrooms. If there wasn’t a housing crisis, there’s no way we’d have gotten so lucky. I still don’t know how Shayne managed to get us in, and before the semester’s end, no less.
“Definitely a cause for celebration. We need drinks. And extra pepperoni on that pizza,” I say, pointing to the unfinished order on the screen of her phone.
Twenty minutes later, Shayne has a fully assembled loft bed, and she stands in her room with her arms folded across her chest, pinning Thayer with a disapproving look.
“What?” he asks, sounding defensive.
“You know what. Why do you have to push his buttons?”
“Because he makes it too fucking easy. And correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t he the first one to start talking shit?”
“Really? You’re going with he started it? What are you, seven?” She shakes her head, leaning back against the wall. “I’ve been patient. I’ve waited for you guys to figure it out on your own because I know it’s…a lot. But is it too much to ask to just try? For me? When are you going to realize that your anger is misplaced? This isn’t his fault any more than it is yours or Holden’s. Your dad and my mom kept this from all of us. Blame them.”
Thayer’s jaw flexes as he considers her words, and then he’s closing the space between them, gripping her hips to pull her closer. “I’m sorry, baby. I haven’t made it easier on you.”