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)
“Nice,” murmurs Wyatt.
“Where are you thinking of going?” Piper says to me.
“Community college, then a state school, probably. I haven’t gotten all my applications straight. But Vandy—I’m so happy for you. Congrats, Piper.” I stuff a fry in and swallow it down. Don’t be sad, don’t be. I smile at her.
“What about you, Wyatt?” Piper beams.
He cocks his head. “Somewhere in Nashville so I can be close to my mom. Maybe Vandy. I haven’t worked it out yet. I’d like to play baseball somewhere.”
My heart dips as I think of Piper and Wyatt going off to big-time schools without me.
Tyler leans in over the table toward Wyatt. “Did those tattoos hurt?”
“Yes,” he replies solemnly. “I don’t recommend it for a six-year-old.”
“Balls.”
Wyatt snorts. “Ava mentioned you’re an artist?”
“I draw,” Tyler deadpans.
“Yeah? Well, I’ve been thinking about getting a new one, a dragon for our school mascot. Can you draw that?” Wyatt gives him a steely look, and I smile seeing Tyler’s spine grow straighter.
“He’s throwing down a challenge, Tyler,” I whisper out of the side of my mouth.
Tyler sets down his burger, wipes his hands on his pants, and gives Wyatt a long look. I think I see myself in his eyes. Determination.
“I can draw you the bestest dragon you have ever seen. What colors do you want?”
“Kickass,” I murmur. “You should see this kid—freaking amazing.”
Wyatt grins at Tyler. “Red and gold. You draw it and I’ll see if I like it.”
“Deal!” They shake on it.
“Carrot cake!” Lou calls out as he approaches our table with a platter. “It’s gonna go bad tomorrow so somebody’s gotta eat it!” He pauses at the looks on our faces. “That’s a joke. It’s good for at least two more days.”
Tyler says he doesn’t want any carrots on his cake, so Wyatt takes his piece. I laugh as I see Lou box up the rest and hand it over to Sister Margaret to take back to the other Darth Vaders or whoever else might want it.
After everyone leaves, I’m watching their taillights when Lou eases up next to me. “You’ve done good, Ava. He’s happy. You’ve got friends. You’re gonna be okay, right?”
“Yes.” I sigh. Lou knows everything since I had to take a few weeks off after the keg party, and while he isn’t the type to give hugs, he pats me carefully on the back.
It’s ten by the time I pull up at the dorm, park, and get out, thankful for the good streetlights in the area as I fast-walk to the front entrance.
“Ava,” comes a male voice on my right, and I nearly jump into the bushes.
“Knox! What in the blue hell! You nearly scared me out of my shoes—”
He’s leaning back against his car before he straightens and jogs over to me. “I wasn’t thinking. Sorry. I texted you I’d be here, but you must have been driving.”
Wearing low-slung jeans and a tight Dragons shirt, he towers over me. Dark hair frames his face.
“You look good,” he says gruffly, running his eyes over my frayed shorts and Lizzo shirt.
I laugh, knowing I probably smell like grease from the diner. My smile subsides when I take in his expression. “What’s up?”
He seems to gather himself and smiles. “Just missed you.”
A blush steals up my face, recalling us naked in my bed. Was it just last night? It seems a million miles away. “I missed you too. How’s Dane?”
He takes a deep breath. “He’s messed up. When I got home this morning, he…he was at the lowest I’ve ever seen him. He wanted to die, and I-I didn’t know what to do.”
Oh, Knox… “I’m so sorry! Is he okay? Is there anything I can do?”
He flinches and looks away from me, scanning the parking lot. “No. My dad’s home with him—” He stops when several underclassmen rush out the front doors and call out to him. He gives them a half-hearted wave.
“Do you want to come upstairs and talk? I can sneak you in the side entrance—”
He shuffles his feet on the concrete, still not meeting my eyes. “Nah, I need to go home. Dad, Dane, and I…we’re still going over some things and talking. We’ve needed to for a long time. Maybe…maybe it was a good thing that Dane cracked. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can crawl back up.” He sighs and rakes a hand through his hair.
“True. Maybe his breakdown can be a breakthrough.”
His gaze is firmly focused on a point over my shoulder and when I look back, there’s nothing there. Why is he avoiding my eyes?
“Do you regret last night?” I blurt.
“No, but…” He exhales and sticks his hands in his jeans. “Ava, I really want this thing we have, but maybe we’re moving too fast.”
Moving too fast?
After last night?
My chest feels tight. “Is this…a brushoff?”