Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
"I've got January," I tell him, keeping my voice level.
"I owe you."
I wave him off and jog down the bleachers before cutting across the quad toward the junior high. She's in eighth grade this year. Her classes will be letting out soon. I've memorized her schedule, so I weave through the junior high campus until I make it to the English building. I'm still several doors away from her room when the final bell rings.
Kids come pouring out of their classrooms, talking loudly.
A few greet me by name. I lift my chin at them and keep walking. Everyone knows me because I'm here with January every day, but I don't talk to any of them. She's the only person here I have any interest in.
My eyes land on her, and I draw to a stop. She's got her head bent as she whispers back and forth with another girl her age, Mariah something or another. I don't remember her last name. She's with January a lot, but I never pay attention to anyone but my girl.
They're not paying attention, so I hang back and watch January for a minute. She's beautiful. Most girls go through an awkward phase, but she never did. She went from a cute little kid to a stunning young woman with hair like silk and the brightest emerald eyes I've ever seen. Her skin is golden from all the time she spends outside.
She's still tiny and curvy. I know she hopes she's not finished growing yet, but I kind of hope she stays as short as she is now. She's perfect. I love how she feels in my arms when she gets excited about something and hugs me.
"Yo, January," someone calls to her.
She and Mariah lift their heads at the same time as a boy I've never met starts moving toward her. He's got his backpack slung over one shoulder and a thick chain around his neck. His brown hair is tousled. He probably spent all fucking morning in front of the mirror trying to make it look like he just rolled out of bed. He's tall and lanky, maybe a year younger than I am. I don't like the way he leers at January with a cocky smirk on his face.
Mariah tugs on her sleeve and giggles as he approaches.
"Hi, Corey." January gives him a shy smile that makes my hands clench.
"Hey, gorgeous." Corey stops in front of her and leans down, getting in her personal space. He rests an arm on the lockers above her head, which pulls his shirt up in the back, showing his boxers where his pants sag.
I grit my teeth and start in their direction, pissed he's flirting with her and she's letting him. Maybe she's too young for me, but she's also too young for him. She's only thirteen. She doesn't need to be thinking about boys or any of that bullshit.
"Some of us are going to the dance together tomorrow and then to get pizza after. You wanna come?" Corey asks her.
"Um…" January whispers, and I'm not sure if she's hesitating because she wants to go with him or because she doesn't want to go and is just trying to be nice.
Fuck. Does she want to go with him?
"What do you say, babe? Want to go with me?"
"January!" I bark before she can answer.
She jerks backward, almost falling over. Her head whips in my direction and her eyes grow wide.
Mariah whispers something to her before darting off in the opposite direction.
I stomp toward her and Corey, annoyed he hasn't taken the hint and moved along.
"Hi, Cade," she whispers when I step up beside her to glare at Corey.
He frowns at me and draws himself up to his full height. He's tall, but I'm already six-two. I lift weights and run track. He's not even a match for me, but he's too stupid to get the point. Guess he doesn't know who I am yet. He will soon. I'll make sure of that.
"You ready to go, baby girl?" I ask her, holding his gaze as I step closer to her and sling my arm over her shoulder, making it clear she's off limits.
Corey's eyes narrow on me, but he doesn't say anything.
"I…yeah, I'm ready." January glances between the two of us and frowns like she's only just noticing the tension rippling through the air. "Bye, Corey."
"See you later, January," he mutters and then turns and storms off.
I drop my arm from around her and stomp away, pissed even though I don't have any right to be. She isn't mine. She's never been mine. I wish she was though.
When we were younger, it was different. I didn't understand what I felt toward her until Halloween. I thought I just wanted to keep her safe. But it's not like that now. I mean, I still want to keep her safe and take care of her. But she's also the only girl I've ever thought about kissing.