Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Like I’m some kind of liar who makes shit up.
Well...maybe in this case.
My first mistake was trying to pull off this lie. The second was dragging a chick who hates me into this mess. Instead of enjoying the party, my head is on a constant swivel. I have no idea if she’ll go along with the tiny fib I’ve told. Although, if I were a betting man, I’d say probably not.
If Kira discovers that I lied, it will be game over and I’ll never shake her loose. That thought is enough to send icy tendrils of panic scampering down my spine. There’s no way I can put up with eight more months of her stalker-like tendencies. I’ll have to move home just to get away from her.
What a fucking mess.
From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of long blonde hair and my head whips in that direction. I’m about to take off like a man on a mission when the girl turns toward me, and I realize that it’s not Sydney.
Damn!
Everything inside me deflates.
Twenty more minutes drag by without a sighting. I’ve taken up sentinel near the entryway so I can keep an eye on the door. My gaze is coasting over the crowd for the millionth time when it skims over a dark head.
Wait a minute.
My attention resettles on the girl in question.
What the hell is Elle doing here?
All thoughts of Sydney disappear from my head as I shove my way toward my sister.
When she was a senior in high school, she applied at several state universities, but I encouraged her to attend Western. How else could I keep an eye on her?
Most of the guys around here understand that she’s completely off-limits. And if they don’t, I’m more than happy to help them come to that realization.
With my fists.
I crane my neck, attempting to catch sight of who she’s talking and laughing with. More than likely, it’s one of the girls from her dorm floor. She’s made a few good friends and they usually travel in a pack, which is smart. A lone female makes for an easy target at one of these parties.
Her head is bent close to whoever she’s speaking with. I push a few people out of my way until I’m able to catch sight of a broad shoulder and muscular arm.
Yeah...that’s not going to happen. I’ll be breaking up this little love fest before this asshole can get any ideas in his head. Just as I shove another person out of my way, the dude in question comes into view and relief instantly floods through me as my footsteps slow.
Carson.
False alarm. If there’s anyone I trust with my sister, it’s him. The guy is like family. He hung out at my house while we were growing up more than he did at his own. Carson is an only child, and his parents work a shit ton of hours. I always got the feeling that he was lonely. Mom would joke that he was her unofficial third child. Elle is more like a sister to him than anything else.
“Hey,” I greet, pulling up alongside them and interrupting their conversation.
They both startle at my unexpected appearance.
Almost nonchalantly, Carson takes a step away from her before shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “Hi. What’s up, man?”
“Not much,” I mutter, glancing around.
Now that I realize there’s nothing to be concerned about, thoughts of Sydney rush back in to fill my head. The only positive in this situation is that I haven’t caught sight of Kira. I thought for sure she would be here by now, waiting to pounce. I’m not naive enough to think that my announcement has finally done the trick. There’s no way she’s going to roll over and give up at this point. She’s too invested. “You haven’t seen Sydney around, have you?”
Carson’s brows slide together. He knows exactly why it’s imperative that I nail down her location. “Nope. Still haven’t been able to get hold of her, huh?”
I shake my head. “She’s avoiding my calls.”
“Strange that she would do that,” Carson says with a smirk. “She really seems to enjoy your company.”
“Who’s Sydney?” my sister cuts in, gaze bouncing between us.
My attention flickers to her. There’s no way in hell I’m telling Elle about this situation. She’d probably laugh herself silly. And then she’d turn around and tell our mother. Like I need that.
No, thanks.
Instead of answering, I pull out my phone and text the blonde for what feels like the dozenth time in the past two hours. Do you think she could bother with a response?
Of course not. She’d much rather ignore my ass and make me sweat.
A big smile breaks out across Elle’s face. “Well, well, well.” She turns her attention to Carson as laughter bubbles up in her throat. “It looks like my brother has a crush.”