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)
“Yeah.”
After she heads to her bedroom, I go upstairs to my room. I spend the next hour or so working on my math and English homework. My neck is cramped from the way I’ve been lying on my stomach working, so I decide a nice, hot bubble bath is in order.
Once the tub is filled and the bubbles are practically overflowing, I get in. The hot water relaxes me instantly. I click on my playlist on my phone and click shuffle. The sound of Alicia Keys fills the silence.
I check my phone and find a message from Landon with his number. After plugging it into my contacts, I send him a text message.
Me: Hey, it’s Harper. This is my number.
He responds almost immediately.
Landon: How’d it go with your mom?
Me: My dad spent all our money, we have to move, and they’re getting divorced.
Landon: I’m so sorry. Want to come over and talk about it?
My heart picks up speed at how sweet and caring he is. When I would tell Richie anything, he would tell me to just get over it.
Me: I would love to, but it’s late and I’m in the bath…
A few seconds later Landon texts back.
Landon: I’ll be over in two minutes. Don’t move.
His text has me giggling.
Me: Down boy
Landon: You can’t tell a guy you’re in the bath and not invite him over.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I pull up my camera app and take a picture of my legs hovering over the bubble-filled water. It doesn’t show anything inappropriate, but sending it is a clear sign of me flirting. Before I can chicken out, I send it to Landon.
A few seconds go by without him responding, and I wonder if maybe I stepped over the line. I’ve seen girls flirt with him and he never gives any of them the time of day.
But then a text comes through…
Landon: Now you’re just rubbing it in that I can’t be there :( Seriously, though, those are some sexy legs. I can *almost* imagine what they would…
What the heck?! He didn’t finish his sentence!
Me: What they would what?
Landon: Don’t like being teased? Good! Neither do I! LOL
I snort out a laugh.
Me: Okay, I deserved that.
Landon: Let me come over and take a bath with you and we’ll call it good.
Me: Ha ha! See you at school tomorrow.
Landon: I’ll be the one staring at your legs.
Three
Harper
The next day at school, when I walk up to my locker, I’m shocked to find Landon waiting for me.
“Starting the morning off right, I see.” I nod to the McFlurry he’s holding in his hand.
He smiles wide. “It’s for you.” He extends his hand. I take it and see it’s filled with Oreos.
“What’s this for?” I ask, already taking a bite. Probably not the best option for breakfast, but it’s too good to pass up.
“I figured you could use something sweet after everything that happened yesterday with your family.” He shrugs, pushing his hands into his pockets.
“Thank you,” I tell him, suddenly overcome with emotion. “Want a bite?” I waggle my brows and he shakes his head. “Oh, come on!” I dip the spoon into the cup and pull out a large bite. “You can’t buy this for me and not have any yourself.” Before he realizes what I’m doing, I thrust the spoon into his mouth, filing it completely with ice cream and Oreos. He chokes out a laugh as he tries to swallow the bite.
“Jesus,” he says, once his mouth is empty again. “You’re going to give me a brain freeze, woman.”
“Here, have another bite.” This time, he sees it coming and plucks the spoon from my fingers before it enters his mouth.
“Your turn.”
I try to run, but his hand that’s not holding the spoon snakes around my waist, and he pins me against the locker. “Nice try,” he murmurs. “Now open wide.”
I’m laughing so hard, when the spoon hits my mouth, half of it smears all over my lips and the other half drips onto the ground.
“Landon!” I shriek through my laughter. “You’re making a mess.”
“You’re making a mess.” He chuckles, stepping closer to me until our faces are only a couple inches apart. “You have it all over your face.” He rubs his thumb across my bottom lip then brings it up to his mouth. “Mmm… good.” His eyes light up wickedly.
I suck in my bottom lip, trying to appear unfazed when what I really want to do is jump his bones. Landon’s gaze locks on my mouth and he releases a low growl that causes sparks of lust to shoot through my body.
I don’t realize how loud we were, or that several students have stopped to watch us, until I hear the sound of Melissa’s voice. “Moving on, I see,” she snarks, popping the bubble Landon and I were in.