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)
I shift in Landon’s seat, trying to get comfortable, and he tickles my sides. “Stop rubbing against my cock,” he growls into my ear. I laugh harder, forgetting we’re surrounded by our friends and my ex.
“So, what? You two are together now?” Richie asks, a sour look marring his face.
“No.” I shake my head. “We’re just friends.”
Landon’s hand tightens on my hip, but he doesn’t say a word.
“What if they were dating?” Melissa presses. “Would that bother you?”
I shoot daggers her way. Why must she always poke the proverbial bear?
“Harper can do whatever she wants,” Richie says. “We’re over.” He stands. “We need to get going to our game.”
“Is this a real game or still preseason?” I ask Landon.
“Preseason. We still on to hang out later?”
“Yep. I’ll meet you at your place.”
Landon lifts me off him and sets me back on the bench. “I look forward to it.” He leans over and kisses my cheek before grabbing his drink, then heading out the door.
“You two are so together,” Melissa says in a singsong-y voice.
“I already told you we’re just friends,” I say in a tone that conveys she needs to drop this. Thankfully, she does.
“So, I was thinking…” Landon begins. We’re lying in his bed and the movie we were watching just ended. My head is resting in the crook of his shoulder and his arm is around me.
“Careful, you don’t want to hurt your brain.” I roll over onto my stomach and laugh at my own joke.
Landon scowls. Then, before I can stop him, he grabs me by my hips and flips me onto my back. He tickles my sides until I can’t breathe and beg for mercy. My arms flail out and my hand accidentally smacks his lamp. It topples to the ground and the sound of the light bulb breaking echoes through the now-dark room.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry.” I try to scramble up to clean my mess, but Landon pins my hands over my head, preventing me from moving. Because of the light going out, and the movie being done, it’s hard to see him, but I can feel him. His hands are entwined with mine, and his legs are nestled between mine. His crotch is pushing against my center.
“Like I was saying,” Landon says, with humor mixed with something I can’t pinpoint in his tone. “I was thinking.” His lips are so close to mine, I can smell the mint on his cool breath. He sucks on mints like he’s addicted. “Valentine’s Day is coming up and I want to take you out.”
“Like on a date?” I ask, just to clarify. Because he doesn’t date. Ever.
“Yes, but not like a date. A date.”
I want to say yes, but I’m scared. These last several weeks of hanging out with Landon at his house has become my safe place. He’s become my safe place. Sure, we go to the movies or to the mall, but it’s only been as friends. If we go on a date and it doesn’t work out, where will that leave us? Everybody knows couples who break up never remain friends.
“Harper,” he prompts. “Say something.”
“I want to, but I’m afraid if it doesn’t work out, we’ll lose our friendship.” And I really need our friendship.
Landon chuckles, and then his body is removed from mine. I hear rustling, and then the room is illuminated by his cell phone flashlight. “So, you’re friend-zoning me?” he asks with a smirk.
I glance down and find the lamp on the floor. Reaching over, I pick it up and set it back on his nightstand. Landon kneels on the ground and sweeps up the broken bulb pieces with a piece of paper, then drops them into the trash can.
“I’m making sure I don’t lose you as a friend,” I tell him once he’s done and back to looking at me. “You’re important to me. Really important.”
“You’re never going to lose me, Harper,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine.
“That’s not true. In four months you’ll be drafted into the Majors and I’ll probably never see you again.”
Remaining on his knees in front of me, he cups my cheek with his hand. “Maybe all we have is four months, but I still think it’s worth pursuing. I like you, and I want you to be my girlfriend. I want to take you out for Valentine’s Day and hold your hand in the halls. I want to kiss you and touch you and spend these next four months with you. Even if that’s all we have. But if that’s not what you want, I’ll accept being your friend. I’ll take you however I can get you.”
His words. They shoot like an arrow straight to my heart, splitting it wide-open. Everything he mentioned, I want too. We’re young, and we may not be forever, but we can still spend the time we have together.