Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Lacey’s eyes get big and she stares at me. “Emma,” she says sternly. “He abandoned you! In the forest! You could have died!”
“Shh!” I hiss and glance around to make sure that no one is listening. “I don’t want everyone to know!”
Lacey frowns. “I just think it was a dick move, that’s all,” she says. “You don’t have to get all Mother Theresa about it.” She flips her hair over one shoulder.
“I’m not,” I protest. “I just don’t think it’s fair to hate someone because of one mistake they made.”
“Leaving you in the woods doesn’t sound like a mistake to me, but whatever,” Lacey says drily. “It sounds like it was a really messed up thing to do.”
I press my lips together and make a noncommittal sound of agreement. This is one of the biggest differences between Lacey and me. She’s so assertive! I respect her and sometimes I wish that I could be more like her. But I’m so timid and shy, it’s always so hard to stand up for myself.
“So, what happened? How did you make it out of the woods?”
I bite my lip and look up just in time to see Dr. Callahan walking into the room and closing the door. Relief washes over me in a cool wave and I close my eyes and sigh.
“I’ll tell you later,” I whisper to Lacey as Dr. Callahan dims the lights and starts one of what will be another boring slideshow. “Basically, I found my own way out.”
But I can tell Lacey doesn’t believe me and after class, she gets up from her desk with a dramatic sigh and rolls her eyes at me. “Come on,” she says. “I know you were about to tell me something really juicy!”
A flush spreads across my cheeks and I shake my head. “I wasn’t,” I lie.
Lacey snorts. For as long as we’ve been friends, she’s always been able to read me like a book. And as close as we are, for once, I’m not sure that I want her to. It sounds kind of strange, but having Dane to myself is a sexy feeling – it’s almost possessive.
Plus, now that I’m back at school, I know that my parents aren’t looking over my shoulder. And while I was able to resist Googling Dane before, now I don’t think I’ll be able to help myself. Suddenly, my fingertips are itching to get on the keys and start looking for information about the mysterious stranger who lives in the woods.
“You want lunch?” Lacey asks as we collect our books and make our way out of the classroom. “My treat,” she adds. I can tell that she feels guilty about pestering me, but I’m not buying it.
“Nah, I think I should really go the library and get some studying done.”
Lacey gives me a surprised look. “Emma, I don’t think I’ve ever known you to turn down food,” she says. “Seriously, what’s the matter with you?”
I try to look as nonchalant as possible as I shrug. “Nothing,” I lie. “I just have a lot of homework.”
“Well, I’ll walk with you,” Lacey says. She stretches her arms high over her head, exposing a pale strip of belly. “I should be on the other side of campus, anyway. I have a meeting with my advisor this afternoon.”
I frowned. “Well, okay. But only if you’re sure.”
By the time we reach the library, I’m practically itching thinking about Dane. Just as I’m about to go inside, Lacey grabs my arm. “Oh, my god,” she breathes. “Isn’t that the guy who ditched you?”
Stopping dead in my tracks, I turn around to see Travis. He’s standing there with a nasty expression on his handsome face and I know he’s remembering what happened over the weekend, but somehow seeing him doesn’t make me feel bad.
“Yeah,” I say.
“I’m going to go say something,” Lacey says angrily. “He’s a jerk, Emma!”
I grab her arm and look into her eyes with a pleading expression. The last thing I want is trouble – why bother wasting any energy on a college boy? But before I can say anything, Travis smirks at me and saunters over.
He leans down close to my ear and whispers: “Maybe I wouldn’t have left you in the woods if you were skinnier.”
I feel rooted to the spot as my cheeks flush bright red. Travis walks off, laughing. Meanwhile, Lacey is giving me a disapproving expression.
“Emma,” she chastises. “Really? You’re just gonna let him insult after ditching you in the woods? Really really?”
I shrug. What did she want me to do, grow a pair and tell him off?
Nah. That’s not my style. And even if it were, why would I bother now that I have Dane? Besides, it isn’t like I was actually hurt. And even if I had been injured, there’s no way I want Travis to know that.