Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I tell him. “These next four months I’m yours.”
Landon’s lips curl into a boyish grin. “I like the sound of that. You’re mine.” He leans in and his mouth presses against mine for our first kiss. His lips are strong yet soft, and I find myself leaning into him, wanting to deepen the kiss. My lips part, and Landon’s tongue slides through, darting into my mouth. I suck on it, and he groans, pulling back. “And I’m yours,” he whispers.
Five
Harper
Landon: On my way
Me: I’m ready!
Today is Valentine’s Day, which happens to fall on a Saturday, so we have no school and Landon just so happens not to have any baseball. He won’t tell me where we’re going or what we’re doing to celebrate the holiday, but he did tell me to pack an overnight bag—which he apparently approved with my mom ahead of time—and to wear a sexy dress but comfortable shoes. Typical man… doesn’t he understand how fashion works? I had no clue what to pack, so I ended up shoving half my closet into my luggage before I put it all back and packed a couple different options. I also packed a bathing suit in case there’s an indoor pool. It’s been cold as hell lately, so if wherever he’s taking me has an indoor pool, he’ll be getting some brownie points.
Before I head downstairs, I take one last look in my floor-length mirror. I’m dressed in a simple yet sexy spaghetti strap black dress that ends a few inches above my knees. It’s tight up top but flows at the bottom. It should be worn with a pair of heels, but instead, I’m sporting a pair of ballet flats. My hair is down in waves, and my makeup is on the light side.
Grabbing my small overnight bag, I make my way downstairs, setting my bag next to the front door. The house is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Something I’m not used to. Since my dad moved out and in with one of his drinking buddies, the fighting has thankfully stopped, but in its place is my mom, hidden in her room, crying at all hours of the day and night.
The divorce is messy because of the house and credit cards, and my mom has hired an attorney she can barely afford to try to keep her from owing money she hasn’t spent. I haven’t seen my dad since he moved out, and sadly, I think that’s for the best. The man I used to look up to is nothing more than a drunken shell of himself. Before he left, I begged him to go to rehab, but unfortunately even his own daughter crying and begging wasn’t enough to stop the downslide he’s on.
I step up to her closed door and sure enough, I can hear her muffled sobs. I should knock and ask if she’s okay, but every time I do, she just tries to hide it. She has a lot on her shoulders, and I hate that I can’t do anything to help her. But I’m only a junior in high school. I’ve started applying to several local businesses to get a part-time job. Unfortunately, the town we live in is small and most teens who get a job hold onto it.
Instead of knocking, I go to the kitchen and find a piece of paper in the junk drawer so I can write her a note telling her I love her and I’ll text her once we’ve arrived to wherever it is we’re going. Since she’s approved for us to spend the night away, I’m assuming we’re going somewhere far enough that he’s asked if we can spend the night because it’s too far to drive back the same day.
There’s a knock on the door, and when I open it, Landon is standing on the other side dressed in a powder blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The color looks amazing against his naturally tanned skin and tattoos, which are peaking out. He’s wearing black dress pants that mold to his muscular thighs, and shiny black dress shoes. He looks extremely sexy, and the only place I want to go is to the hotel room so I can explore everything I know is underneath those clothes. We’ve only been officially dating for a couple weeks, and Landon is insistent we take things slow, but he can’t possibly think he can show up here looking the way he does and take me to a hotel, and we’ll continue to move at a snail’s pace. If I have to seduce my boyfriend, then so be it. Our time until he graduates is limited and I want to make the most of every day we have together. We don’t know if or where he’ll be drafted, and for all we know, it can be across the country.