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)
“Looking good, Valen,” he says, looking me up and down.
I snort. “Where’s your date?”
“My date?” He smirks, flashing his dimples. “Oh, I’m sure my date will be here any second.”
I narrow my eyes at him, wondering why he’s being so weird.
“I think you two will really get along.”
“Oh yeah?”
He nods. “My date is super chill. Funny as hell. Athletic. Not to mention, tall, dark, and gorgeous.”
“Okay,” I draw the word out. Why does he keep saying my date like that?
“Does that bother you?”
“Why would it bother me?” If he’s bringing some supermodel along for Christmas, good for him. In fact, it’s ideal. Seeing him with another girl is a surefire way to kill any lingering attraction.
“Well, speak of the devil. Here’s my date now.” He holds out his arms and I look up to see a very confused Ryan walking toward us, duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
“Ryan is your date?” I deadpan. The word has officially lost its meaning with how many times we’ve said it.
Holden takes Ryan’s cheeks in his hands before pinching them. “Did I lie? Just look at this face.”
Ryan smacks his hands away before adjusting his black beanie. “What the fuck is he talking about?” he asks me.
“About how you’re tall, dark, and gorgeous.” And he is. Dark eyes with full lashes. The pronounced hollows of his cheeks and a razor-sharp jawline are softened by full lips and an easy smile. Rich, brown skin. He towers over me, even more so than Holden. I’m used to seeing him on the basketball court, but he’s even more attractive up close. It’s easy to see why everyone wants him, my cheer team included.
He lifts a shoulder. “Can’t disagree there.”
And humble, too.
“Get your pretty ass in the car and let’s go,” Holden says.
“Change of plans.”
“What do you mean, change of plans?” He eyes his duffel bag. “I thought you didn’t have enough time to go all the way home for Christmas this year?”
“I don’t. I was supposed to have a few days off, but now I don’t even have that. Coach wants us to run some new plays since we play Stonewood two days after Christmas.”
“So, you’re not coming?”
“And miss out on the powder princesses? Fuck that. I just have to drive separately. You’ve got me for two days, sweet cheeks.” He gives Holden’s face a playful slap. “Consider yourself lucky.”
“Powder princesses?” I snort out a laugh.
“Girls who dress up in those hot little ski outfits but don’t actually know how to ski or snowboard. You know the type,” Holden supplies.
I raise my eyebrows at his insinuation. Truth be told, my mind went in a completely different direction. One that involved a white, powdery substance. “You mean like Shayne and me?” I challenge.
“Fuck no,” Holden says. “Powder princesses aren’t…there for skiing. They’re there to hook up.”
“Maybe that’s exactly why I’m going,” I say just to mess with him for his shitty comment.
“In that case,” Ryan says, slinging an arm around my shoulders, “want to ride with me?”
“No,” Holden barks out the word so harshly that we both look at him, surprised. What the hell is that about?
Ryan’s face breaks into a wide grin while I continue to look at Holden with confusion. Before the moment can get too awkward, Shayne and Thayer are back from using the bathroom. Shayne waves while Thayer extends his hand, pulling Ryan in for that handshake-hug thing that guys do. Their familiarity throws me for a second until I remember that Holden and Ryan have been roommates since August, so it makes sense that Thayer would be friends with him, too.
“Ready?” Shayne asks. “It’s freezing.”
“Sooner the better,” Thayer agrees. “It’s supposed to dump later.”
Holden
My car smells like a fucking Creamsicle. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but every time Valen moves around or flips her hair while she and Shayne talk animatedly, I catch a whiff from where she sits behind me. Having her next door has been bad enough. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since she stood in her doorway and uttered my name like an accusation, but having her in my car, and soon to be in a secluded cabin, is a different level of torture. Too bad I promised Thayer and Shayne I’d be on my best behavior where Valen is concerned.
I know she hated me after how I treated her last year. Admittedly, I was a dick. In my defense, I had to watch her choose her slimy ass boyfriend over me minutes before I found out that my cousin and best friend was responsible for my brother’s death. Suffice it to say, I didn’t handle it well. So sue me. But when I showed up at the door the first night they moved in across the hall, Valen didn’t look at me with the usual disdain I’ve become accustomed to.