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)
“Fuck!”
“The doctor believes he’s going to be okay, but they’re keeping him here for a few days to observe him.”
“Does he need anything? A private room?”
“No, he’s okay for now. I just wanted you to know.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Visiting hours are over for the night. I would’ve called you sooner, but I had no reception in the hospital. You can see him tomorrow morning at eight.” I hate that I’m so far away, but at the same time I’m glad Dad moved to Providence after I graduated so he could be closer to Brian, who took a teaching position there after graduating early in December. With me traveling with baseball, I hated the thought of him being alone.
“I’ll be there.”
We hang up and I walk back over to the bar. Another shot is waiting for me, so I pick it up and down it. I want nothing more than to have another and another, but I need to be sober in the morning to drive to Providence to visit my dad. It’s only an hour drive, but it will be a bitch to do if I’m hungover. And the last thing I want is for him to see me like that.
“Everything okay?” Melissa asks, reminding me she’s still fucking here.
“What the hell are you still doing here?”
“I told you I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” Her hand lands on my thigh and she squeezes.
“Don’t touch me,” I tell her, removing her hand from my body.
“Oh, c’mon, Landon,” she purrs. “Let me help you forget about Harper.”
“Isn’t she like your best friend?” Hell, from what I remember, she was her only friend. Nobody but Harper could ever stand to be around Melissa long enough to be anything more than acquaintances with her.
Melissa shrugs. “She has Richie now. I’m just trying to be there for you.”
“Hey, Landon,” someone calls out. I look over and see Cohen, my old teammate and friend from high school, standing by the pool table.
“What’s up?” I say, walking over to him, hoping Melissa will get the hint and go away.
“Chilling, man. Doing the college thing.” We fist bump and then bro hug.
“Nice.”
“I heard you got moved up to the Majors,” he says. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
“So, what brings you back to town?”
The image of Harper standing on her doorstep, holding her tiny but visible baby bump, with her engagement ring glinting in the light, pops into my head.
“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head. “Just passing through.”
“Wanna play a game of pool?”
“Sure.”
While we play a game of eight ball, Melissa hangs around, flirting with me and Cohen. At first, I ignore her, but the more she rubs on me, the more I find myself wanting her—needing her to help me escape, forget about Harper and the fact that our entire future is destroyed. When Cohen sinks the eight ball in and says he’s going to call it a night, we say goodbye, leaving just Melissa and me.
“How are you doing?” she purrs into my ear. My body shivers at her words. I don’t like this girl, can barely stand her, but for some crazy fucking reason I find myself pushing her against the wall, trailing my lips down the side of her neck.
“How about we take this somewhere private?” she suggests, and I nod my okay.
She grabs my hand and we head out to the parking lot.
“Your place,” she says, when we get to my car.
I hit the key fob and the doors unlock. As I’m folding into my seat, a weird feeling comes over me. I only had three shots, and that was a good hour ago, so I know I’m not drunk…
Before I can give it a second thought, Melissa leans over and pulls my face toward her, kissing me hard. Her lips are harder than Harper’s, less fleshy, and she kisses sloppier. My heart falls into my stomach. All I want is Harper.
“Stop,” I say against Melissa’s lips.
“What?” she asks, confused.
“I can’t do this.” I shake my head, and she scoffs.
“Why not? It’s not like Harper is waiting for you. She moved on.”
“Yeah, but I still can’t do this.”
“Landon,” she whines, “don’t be like that.” Her fingers graze my dick over my pants and I grab her hand to stop her.
“I said no.”
“Whatever.” She huffs. “Can you at least take me home?”
“Yeah.” I put the car in drive and head out of the parking lot and onto Main Street. Melissa only lives a couple miles from here, so I’ll have her dropped off in a few minutes.
I pull up to a red light, and while I wait for it to change, she tries change my mind, but I stick to my answer: no.
The light turns green and I take off. I don’t see the truck coming (I’ll learn later he was making an illegal right turn at the same time I was changing lanes). Our vehicles collide, and because Melissa isn’t in her seat belt, she flies through the window. The cops and ambulance are called, and we’re both brought to the hospital. She dies on the way, and I live. I’m given a breathalyzer test and I’m just under the legal limit, so they can’t charge me with anything.