Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Our chests are both heaving and our breathing accelerated as we try to act normal.
“Just the dishes,” I say, with my most charming smile.
“That was an hour ago.”
Stella grins. “We were letting the pots soak.”
Michael walks up behind his wife, takes one look at us and smirks. “Come on, Lizzie. Let the kids be.”
“Do y’all need help?” her mom asks, lingering in the doorway.
“Nope.” Stella flicks on the faucet and soaps up the sponge. “We’re good.”
As they head up the stairs, Michael stops and pins me a look. “You two be good.”
His words seem normal enough, but it’s the loaded look he’s aiming my way that says everything his words aren’t. The same look he’s been giving in regard to his daughter for years. One that says ‘Son, you better treat my only daughter like the queen she is or they’ll never find your body.’
I’ll never forget the first time it happened. Stella was only fourteen and she wanted to tag along with us to the lake house for the day…
“Please, Orion, please let me go. I won’t bother you or your friends or anything! Please?”
Orion looks to me and I nod. I’ve never minded Stella tagging along. There’s something about the little spitfire that centers me. It’s crazy really—she’s a kid, but somehow, she always knows the exact right thing to say when I’m upset or angry about something.
Sometimes, I wish she were older, because bro-code be damned, if Stella was my age, I’d go after her in a heartbeat—the way she just gets me would be worth the asskicking Orion would dole out.
Other times, I want to kick my own ass for thinking that. She’s not even old enough to drive, and here I am wishing I could lay claim to her like a caveman.
My only saving grace is that I’m not sexually attracted to her—yet. God knows, once she… develops… I’ll probably be head over ass for the girl. But for now, I’m holding onto the fact that my attraction to her is only a mental thing. It’s pretty much the only thing stopping me from feeling like a fucking creep.
“Fine. But Mom and Dad have to say yes too. You know that, right, Smalls?”
She scowls at the nickname. “Mom! Dad” she shouts and both of her parents step out onto the porch.
“What’s all the hollering, Stelli Bear?”
“I want to go to the lake too. Can I?”
Mrs. C’s eyes cloud with worry but her dad immediately turns to me—not to her brother, but me. His eyes are hard on mine, and his jaw is set as he pins me with his stare.
It feels like he’s trying to peer into my very soul, but he must find what he’s looking for, because after a while, his lips tip up in a hint of a smile. “Take care of her,” is all he says before turning and walking away.
Honestly, it feels like he knew how I felt about his daughter before I did.
“Well, that would have been one way to tell them,” Stella murmurs, sounding more than a little relieved.
“You know, I’m pretty sure your dad would be cool with it.”
She passes me a plate and I load it into the dishwasher. “You think? No way.”
“Bet he would.”
“Bet he wouldn’t. Don’t you remember the summer before high school when he declared I couldn’t date?”
“I also remember he let me take you out to dinner the night of your homecoming dance when you didn’t have a date.”
“Because he wouldn’t let me have one,” she insists. “Plus, you’re you. He thinks of you as another son.”
I grin at her as I lean down and start the dishwasher. “Trust me, I’m pretty sure he feels differently when it comes to me.”
“And I’m pretty sure your ego is getting the best of you here. He’d send you away just like he would any other guy.”
I grip her chin between my fingers. “First of all, I’m not any other guy.”
“And second?” she whispers, her wide eyes locked onto mine.
I draw her face up to mine and whisper my reply against her pillowy lips. “I look forward to proving you wrong, Luna.” And then, I kiss the hell out of her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Stella
Samson: Need some alone time with you, Luna.
Me: Why? So you can get me naked?
Samson: I wouldn’t complain… but I just want to see you too. What are you doing tonight?
My heart soars as I read his text. Maybe he does remember what today is after all. I’ve been waiting for him to mention it—but he hasn’t said a word.
It’s funny how today can somehow be the best and the worst day of my life. I’ve honestly been dreading it, trying to ignore it altogether.
My parents think I have plans with Emmy, which isn’t totally a lie since I’m helping her get ready for her date with Sterling tonight. Man, that stills feels weird.