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)
I smack his arm. “Way to undo all the poetic shit in one statement.”
We’re both laughing when we head inside. Since he came by earlier and turned on the heat, it’s nice and warm inside. It’s a small cabin nearly identical to Cal’s being that it’s two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a small dining room, kitchen, and living room. Cal’s is more modernized while this unit seems to still have drapes from the seventies. Orange and brown and yellow are the color scheme. It makes me want to tear it all down. Loden doesn’t seem horrified by the colors, though. In fact, there’s a pep in his step and he bounces around the place showing me every little detail.
He’s proud.
The man who was a rock god, lived in a friggin’ mansion in California, and drives a Porsche is proud of a tiny, fixer-upper cabin in the middle of Nowhere, Oregon.
“I’ll order pizza and you can help me unpack,” Loden says.
“Ahh, the real reason I’m here. To do the hard work.”
He shrugs, grinning. “A trick, yes. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
I flip him off but then tackle the mountain of clothes that have been dumped onto his bed.
Me: I’ll be by soon. Miss you.
Chaos Hoodlum: It drives me crazy knowing you’re literally two hundred feet away. I want to storm over there, toss you over my shoulder, and bring you home.
Home.
My heart does a little patter in my chest.
Me: Twenty more minutes. I’ll say goodbye and then head that way.
Chaos Hoodlum: Clock is ticking, loser.
I laugh just as Loden exits his bedroom. He took a quick shower to wash off the grime from unpacking. Of course he’s your typical rock god. Tattooed. Muscular. Pierced. He’s a walking work of art. One day, he’s going to find the right guy who will not just love the gorgeous man on the outside, but want to protect and care for the broken, imperfect one inside. I hope Hood River will lead him right to his happy rainbow.
“If you want to give me a blowie, baby, all you gotta do is ask,” he says, winking my way.
I roll my eyes. “Pass.”
“Then roll up your tongue, woman.”
“You know you’re hot. Anyone with working eyeballs knows you’re hot. Doesn’t mean I want to suck your dick.”
He chuckles, dropping down onto the sofa. “Thank fuck. I got a blowjob from a chick once. She was fucking terrible. I mean, I’m willing to go the extra mile since you’re my friend and all, but I’d hate a sloppy, shitty blowjob to ruin our friendship.”
“Cal has no complaints,” I throw back, giggling.
“Maybe I should watch you give him one. You know, to critique your form.”
“Bad boy,” I tease.
He’s still smiling when he picks up his acoustic guitar off the coffee table. Leaning back on the sofa, he strums a few chords, his eyes closing. In this moment, he’s the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him.
“I’m going to head out,” I say, leaning forward to kiss his forehead. “Call me tomorrow.”
“Want me to walk you?”
“I’m good. I’m going to surprise Cal a few minutes early.” I waggle my brows at him. “See if I can’t practice my blowjob skills.”
He laughs. “Love you, dirty bitch.”
“Love you too.”
I throw on my coat and grab my purse, stuffing my phone inside. When I open the door, icy wind blasts my face. Pulling my hood over my head, I trudge through the snow, keeping my head down low to hide my face from the harsh elements.
Cal’s truck is parked crooked and crazy. It’s one of the cute things I like about him. That he drives that big dumb truck and parks it wherever he wants like he owns the world. I walk past his truck toward the steps of his porch, slowly so I don’t fall, when I hear a crunch.
I turn my head toward the sound, wondering if Cal’s come out to try and scare me.
Smack!
Pain explodes inside my head as I crumple to the snow in a heap. Something hit me in the head. Hard. Metal. Powerful.
A small groan rattles from me as I’m lifted into someone’s arms. As soon as I get a whiff of the familiar scent, I try desperately to open my eyes.
No.
Please, no.
My words don’t work because I’m blacking out as this monster carries me away from my happily ever after and right into what I know will be a haunting nightmare.
Please, God, no.
Cal
Don’t be a stalker.
Don’t be a stalker.
Don’t be a stalker.
Fuck this. I’m a stalker. She’s mine and if she wants to taunt the beast inside me, then so be it. Twenty minutes turned into thirty. I warned her I’d come for her if she kept me waiting. Knowing my fucking girl, she probably did that shit on purpose.
I can’t help but smirk as I throw on my coat, hat, and gloves before heading out. The snow is heavily falling, making it difficult to see. I take long strides from my cabin to Loden’s. At first, when she told me a while back that he wanted to move here, I was annoyed. And, at first glance, he always seems to be flirting with my girl. But, the more I get to know Loden, the more I realize he’s just needy as fuck. Charlotte is a good friend and a good person. Of course he’s drawn to her light. If he weren’t gay, I’d have a huge problem with his affectionate way toward her. Since I know he’s not trying to get into her pants, I deal with his annoying ass.