Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“This feels like the start of a bad porno,” Penny says when she enters the kitchen, drenched in sweat. “Cheerleader makes breakfast in her pajamas. Two convicts do terrible, terrible things to her with the spatula.”
I hand Jace his plate and he carries it over to the table, chuckling at Penny.
“I’m not having sex with either of them,” I grumble. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but no pornos here.”
“I did watch a porno with two sisters once—” Loden starts, but I cut him off with a glare.
“Don’t encourage her,” I bite out. I point my spatula at Jace, who’s laughing. “You neither.”
“For real, though,” Penny says. “How many hot guys do you have just hanging on your every word? Do you have a harem now? Ohhhh, Dad is going to lose his shit if you’re having threesomes in his apartment. Does Cal know? Is Cal in the harem? What about Terrence?”
“Penny!” I bark out. “No harems. No threesomes. Get your head out of the gutter and make an omelet if you’re hungry. I’m not cooking for your bratty ass.”
She smirks. “Nah, I just ate with Dad. He had to swing by the office, but he’ll be home soon. Quick, hide your boyfriends.”
I smack her ass and she laughs before escaping the kitchen to head to her room that we’re now sharing.
“For the record, the sister porno started with an ass smacking,” Loden says unhelpfully. “Just saying.”
“Zip it.”
The three of us eat, both of them hiding smirks while I try not to blush profusely. Damn Penny for always stirring shit up.
After dinner and cleanup, I take Loden’s hand, leading him outside. I check my phone for messages from Cal but come up short. It makes my heart ache, but I’ll worry about him later. Something is up with Loden. He’s never come to visit me before. Despite the playful grin he plastered on since he’s been here, I know better. He’s hurting.
We sit on the patio sofa, me on one end with Loden’s head in my lap. I stroke my fingers through his black hair and wait for him to spill. Tonight, as the sun disappears behind the horizon, a chilly wind blows across the river, making me wish I’d grabbed a blanket.
“I want to get drunk, Char. Like shitfaced, fall-down wasted. I want to drink until I black out.” He sighs. “I want to feel numb.”
My heart twists painfully in my chest. “Why?”
“It’s too much. Everyone. Everything. Always in my fucking face. Demanding. They want me to be a circus monkey. I can’t fucking breathe, baby. I can’t breathe.” His voice cracks. “No wonder you like it here. It’s calm. No one pulling your strings and telling you where you have to go.”
“Maybe you need a vacation,” I suggest, taking his hand in mine.
“You have no idea what sort of hoops I’d have to jump through to make that happen.”
“You came here with no problems.”
His dark eyes flash with deviance as he pins me with a stare. “I left. I didn’t even tell Mena. No one knows I’m here. I had trouble leaving LAX. Cameras everywhere, but once I arrived in Oregon, no one knew me. It was bliss.”
“You should let her know you’re okay,” I urge. “That’s erratic behavior. She’ll be worried. When it’s family, it’s okay to let them know your plans. She’s not trying to control you like they are.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll call her.”
“I’ll give you a minute,” I tell him. I rise and leave him on the patio to head inside. Music plays in Penny’s room where she’s holed up. Jace is in my old room with the door closed and Dad’s office door is also shut. I pull my phone back out to text Cal.
Me: I miss you.
Chaos Hoodlum: Do you?
Me: Of course I do. I was just mad. I’m sorry.
Chaos Hoodlum: Has he messaged you anymore?
Me: No.
Chaos Hoodlum: Good. I’m sorry too. I just got so fucking worried.
Me: The great Cal Hutton knows how to apologize…color me shocked.
Chaos Hoodlum: Smartass. Come see me.
Me: I have a visitor.
Chaos Hoodlum: Lo?
Me: Yeah. Don’t be jealous.
Chaos Hoodlum: I’m not. Jordy told me Jace is staying there too. How is that? Do I need to kick that convict’s ass?
Me: He nearly stabbed Lo because he thought he was Ryan.
Chaos Hoodlum: Daddy Hoodlum gets an ass kicking pass then.
Me: How’s Terrence?
Chaos Hoodlum: Going home soon.
Me: What?! No way! That’s amazing.
Chaos Hoodlum: I need to get to bed. See you at school tomorrow.
I can’t help but feel like I’ve been brushed off. Unfortunately, Terrence is a touchy subject for us. All I want is for him to heal and be happy.
Rather than let it bother me, I send him a thumbs-up emoji.
Chaos Hoodlum: Bad, bad girl.
Me: You like it that I’m just as bad as you.
Chaos Hoodlum: I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow after practice.