Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
There was a hint of fear in her face. As though she realized she’d been vulnerable and didn’t like it.
“I’m pretty quiet on my feet, baby. And you were exhausted. Remember, I’d never hurt you.”
“I guess I am tired. I didn’t intend to fall asleep.” She glanced over at where the cartoons were playing and red filled her cheeks. “Um, I, uh . . .”
“Don’t,” he told her.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t make up an excuse or lie about watching cartoons. Or feel embarrassed. Watch what you want to watch. Okay?”
“You don’t think it’s a bit childish?” she asked, biting her lip.
Another trigger from her past? Being thought of as childish? Damn, her father had a lot to answer for.
“Nope.”
It wasn’t the most verbose answer he could have given, but he thought it got his point across.
Isa’s lips twitched. “Best and final answer?”
“Yep.”
“Okay, then.” Her shoulders eased, the tension leaving her. “Um, how is your nose? Are you sure I can’t get you something for it? Do you want some painkillers?”
“It’s fine. Not broken. Heck of a punch you’ve got, though, Slugger.”
She bit her lip, but he could tell she was pleased at his words. “Loki taught me. So I could stand up to the bullies.”
Bullies? What fucking bullies?
“Where the hell was he?”
Her eyes widened at the snap in his tone. “Uh, well, he couldn’t be with me all the time.”
Why the hell not?
And yeah, he realized he was being ridiculous. But Remy didn’t like that she’d been bullied. And so badly that she’d had to learn how to punch properly?
“Loki took care of most of them, though. And after a while, everyone stopped messing with me because they knew Loki would get them back twice as hard. Once, this neighbor of mine, Teddy, threw Razzie up in a tree. Razzie is my rainbow bear. My mom gave him to me.”
“Fucking little dick.”
She snorted. “Oh yeah, Teddy was a real dick. He thought he was so much better than everyone else. He pushed me over, and suddenly, Loki was there. Loki pinned Teddy down until he cried and apologized. Then, after Teddy and his friends ran off, Loki got Razzie for me.”
“That’s when he taught you to punch?”
“Oh no, that came later. Teddy and his friends cornered me at lunchtime. They were calling me names and I punched Teddy in the nose. I broke my finger because I didn’t do it right. The teacher called my dad and I was grounded for a week.”
“What? What about Ted?”
“He told everyone I attacked him. That he didn’t do anything. They all believed him,” she said sullenly.
“Even your dad?”
She snorted. “Especially my dad. He thought Teddy could do no wrong. He was everything that he could ever want in a son.”
“A bully and a liar? Great qualities to have in a son.”
She grinned before the amusement faded from her face. “Teddy could be very persuasive. He was an excellent liar.”
Fucking little shit.
“So Loki taught you to punch properly.”
She bit her lip, clearly hiding another smile. “He told me that he couldn’t be my best friend if I was gonna punch like a girl. I told him that I was a girl and he said that he didn’t want to listen to my excuses.” She let out a laugh. “So I learned to punch. And then I asked him how he thought I punched now since I was still a girl.”
“What did he say?” he asked.
“He said I punched like a fighter. A warrior.”
He could see them. The tiny blonde warrior and her protector. But fuck, they’d just been kids. He hated that they’d had to defend themselves.
“Your father never did anything?” he asked.
“My dad would’ve rather forgotten that I ever existed. And that’s what he did after my first brother was born.”
Fuck. Him.
“First brother? How many do you have?”
“Three. They’re all horrid.” She was smiling as she said that. “Awful, snotty, whiny brats.”
“How old are they?” he asked.
“Um, let’s see. Rusty is twenty-eight, Simon is twenty-six, and Bryant is the baby at twenty-three. He’s my favorite, but don’t tell the others. Trust me, they know how to sulk.”
“Your secret is safe with me. So, I take it they’re none of those things.”
“Oh, they used to be. And now . . . they’re all successful, smart, funny men. Some people might think they’re handsome. But I remember wiping their snotty noses, so, you know. Gross.”
“They don’t live here?”
“My dad and Judy, my stepmom, moved away from here about fifteen years ago. When B was just eight. That’s probably why he’s my favorite. Because I spent less time with him.” She tried to joke, but there was pain in her face.
“You didn’t want to go with them?” he asked.
“I wasn’t asked.”
Fuck.
Remy clenched his hands into fists. If he ever met her dad or stepmom . . . he wouldn’t be responsible for his reaction.