Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 103104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
But for someone to use me…no, no, no.
They kiss. Full-on tongue. Gross.
No way am I staying for a porno.
I inch away to leave, and a clatter sounds as my phone falls out of my pocket and crashes onto the concrete floor next to me. The make-out noises stop and I cringe, trying to back away while snatching up my phone. I hear the stairwell door bursting open where they are. Relief washes over me.
Still in stealth mode, I risk another peek and see Jolena still there, her shoulders hunched as she pulls a compact out of her purse to fix her lipstick. Her hands shake as she sucks in a deep breath and pats at her auburn hair.
I frown, having a little epiphany as I crouch down. Where’s her pride? Her self-love? She reminds me of Mama, accepting excuses when someone treats her horribly, pretending he isn’t doing her wrong. Money and a pretty face and her queen bee status sure haven’t gotten her much. She left me at that party and I seethe whenever I think about it, but part of me, I realize, pities her.
Forgetting her, I take off again, opening the doors to the third floor. Utter silence meets me until I turn the corner and run smack dab into a broad chest covered by a white button-down shirt, one that smells like pine.
I look up into gray eyes, taking in the manbun and handsome angular jaw.
“Watch where you’re going, sweetheart,” Dane says. “You never know who’s up here.”
The hall is empty, and he’s too close to me, our chests almost touching. It’s the first time I’ve been alone with him with no one around, and I push him away from me, harder than I meant to, making him stumble.
He straightens, tosses his head back, and laughs, running his eyes over my hair and face. “I see why he’s drawn to you.”
My teeth clench. “Who?”
“You know who.”
“Just stay away from me,” I call out, my voice more shrill than I intend.
His eyes narrow. “Don’t hurt him, Ava. Don’t mess with my brother.”
What? “You’re crazy.”
He lets out a gruff sound. “You don’t know the shit he’s been through. He acts like it doesn’t bother him, holds it in so tight I’m afraid he’s going to crack someday, but he’s got a heart. He does, and if you even think for a minute you’re gonna possibly ruin his last chance at playing football—”
I shake my head. “What on earth are you talking about? How can I hurt your brother? He’s the one playing hot and cold with me!”
He clamps his mouth shut. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“Are you in some delusional world where you think I have power over him?”
He taps his hand against his leg, those flinty, dilated eyes on my face.
“You’re high. Back off and leave me alone.” I whip around to go in the opposite direction—
“Ava!” There’s a desperate quality to his voice that forces me to turn around and answer.
My fists curl. “What?”
His face is weird, drawn up and twisted, strangely vulnerable.
“What is it? Say it!”
He closes his eyes briefly as if he’s waiting for me to disappear, but I hold steady, feeling as if I can’t move. He’s got something to say.
“Knox went to every single football player’s house after you went to the police. He raked them over the coals, even the seniors who are gone now. He pissed off the team. We lost games because he pointed his fingers hard at every guy who danced with you, including me.”
Confusion pummels me. Why? Why would he feel responsible for me?
Forget that.
My chest rises. “Was it you?” I snap out. “Apparently I was all over you and I have no memory of it. Don’t think I missed anything.” I eye him up and down and scoff. I’m brave right now, so brave, because he…he looks as if he’s in some kind of internal war with himself.
He swallows and looks away from me, his throat bobbing. “I’m not…like …that. You aren’t the only one who doesn’t remember much from that night.”
I’m walking away when his voice reaches me, that tinge of anguish back. “Ava, wait.”
I ignore him, keeping my back to him as I hold my arm up and flip him off.
His next words make me freeze. “Knox hired a private investigator to look into that night. Nobody knows but me and our dad, but he followed up with him for three months, trying to get to the bottom of what happened, and I don’t even know why he cares except that he…” He trails off and I turn around.
“Why would he care so much?”
He shakes his head.
“Why?” I yell, putting steel in my voice.
He flinches. “Shit. Our mom was assaulted. Like you.”
The air is sucked out of the hallway and I gasp, my hands holding my chest. I study Dane’s face. “I didn’t know.”