Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 98992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“Carmen,” I hiss at the same time my phone vibrates in my hand, once more collecting my attention.
Ry: Busy?
“I could squeeze in a little play time for you, ma,” Blaze whispers as he looks over at me, bright brown eyes shimmering with something that makes my stomach churn in absolute disgust considering the fact I barely like even kissing him. “I got rubbers and shit. Plus, Nay Cray’s moms ain’t home…”
“Ugh,” I instantly growl my annoyance. “Glad that that’s always most important to you.”
And it is.
It has been from the minute he first shittily kissed me.
Apparently, some girls just down to bang after a single kiss from him. Why is – yet again – beyond me.
And to make matters more fucked up, even knowing I’m a virgin not interested in going that route anytime soon hasn’t slowed him down from pressuring me into sleeping with him. He’s tried every tactic I can think of. Over complimenting me. Complimenting himself for how much patience he’s having. Telling me it’s not a big deal then telling me how big of a deal it is to fuck someone like him, especially for their first time. On the occasion, he’s even tried to tell me what a shitty girlfriend I am for not fucking him yet.
Yeah.
I landed a real winner in this rebound lottery.
The most he’s gotten from me is a little over the pants action and some terrible kisses with way too much tongue. It would be easier to go a bit further if my disgust for him didn’t lead me to constantly growing disgust for myself.
Maybe I should join a convent instead of going to college.
Another vibration from my phone pulls my attention to it.
Ry: Can’t be that busy cuz I kno u’ve checked ALL my texts.
Before I can put the device away, another one appears.
Ry: And u kno damn well I’m waitin by the phone for ALL of yours baby.
A deep, swoony sigh thoughtlessly comes from me.
God, how does he just get into my head so easily like this?
“Who the hell keeps texting you?” Blaze asks with unhappiness.
“Her better boyfriend,” Carmen jokes.
She doesn’t know that anything is going on between Ry and me. No. She’d have my head on a stick and parade it around the courtyard. Sew a scarlet “D” to my chest for “Dumbass” and then walk around ringing her handbell while shouting to the masses how stupid I am for going back to him. Not because she doesn’t think we’re a good fit together – uh, quite the opposite she once confessed –, but because everything is all appearances. Who’s watching. Who’s judging. How much social power are you losing or gaining at every given event.
The undeniable truth is that Ry and I divided an entire fucking campus in the blink of an eye. And if they find out the two enemies were discussing anything other than ways to obliterate each other, there would be a mutiny for the metaphorical crowns neither of us asked for.
As far as I’m concerned, they can have mine.
I just wanna hold my soulmate one more time.
Suddenly, Nathan hangs up and jumps to his feet. “That girl Rae Rae who’s been on my jock since I laid it down a month ago is down at the court and wants us to meet her there. Word is she’s got dro’ and some hot lil’ pieces for my homies. Tiny titties but big ol' booties. You know how I do. You guys down?”
Justus and Eli, or J Club and E.I. as we’re supposed to call them but never do, enthusiastically mumble their approvals.
Nathan tosses his head. “B?”
Blaze glances at me to see the stern expression on my face and swallows an emotion. “Yeah, alright.”
There’s a small twitch in one of my eyes.
“But not for the girls, Nay Cray! I jus’ wanna play ball. Keep my shit lookin’ tight.”
“Yeah. Yeah,” Nathan brushes him off with an unsubtle wink.
Blaze shifts his attention to me. “Ma-”
“Don’t.”
“Hear me out.”
To humor him or perhaps myself, I do.
“Come watch me play? We can kick it after. Dinner?”
Knowing this routine, I aggressively ask, “And who’s gonna pay for the shit? Me? Again? I’m tired of using all my goddamn tutoring money on our so-called dates and your fucking cigarette habit.”
“Hallelujah,” Carmen dramatically chimes in, hands shaking towards the sky.
“No, ma, I’ll pay. I’ll hustle on the court for some cash and-”
“You can’t go out after,” Nathan buts in as he slides on his fake diamond watch he wears to impress girls. “We’re going to record some tonight and practice for that talent show shit.”
Frustrated by his friend, Blaze grumbles something under his breath and tries again at me. “Tomorrow night?”
Answering him isn’t something I even entertain thanks to my cell requesting my attention with another vibration.
Ry: U doin’ that thing where you read u r text too close to ur face?