Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
They don’t.
I hear the front door open but don’t care to look to see which of my parents is standing there. Crossing my arms over my breasts, it’s the only way I can hold my heart into place. His red truck disappears down the road. Even now, I can’t hear the roar of the engine.
“Breakfast is on the table,” my mother’s voice says.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat,” she says. “Pining over him will make you sick.”
Then maybe he’ll come back.
She goes back into the house while I stand there, watching the roadway.
Why didn’t he ask me to go with him?
Inside, my father calls my name, but I ignore him and head to my room. I lock the door behind me, not wanting either of my parents to come in. As I look around my room, I know what I need to do.
Under my bed, I keep my suitcase. I pull it out and start throwing clothes in there. I know if I call him, he’ll come get me and we’ll figure things out on our way to Texas. I can’t live without him.
My phone sits on my nightstand, next to a picture of Liam. It’s a photo I took in the early spring with the camera he’d given me for my birthday. I always keep it in my school bag and take random photos throughout the day. But on this particular day, he was standing against his truck, with his foot on the door, waiting for me to come out of class. Liam didn’t seem me walking toward him, but I saw him and the way the sun shined on him. He looked perfect. God knew what he was doing when he created Liam Westbury.
“You’re my future,” I say to the photo of the man I love.
I pick up the handle of my phone and begin dialing Liam’s cell number. His father bought him a phone so he could stay in contact with recruiters. He hates it, but it’s a way for us to talk without his parents listening in on the other line. I get to the last number and my thumb hovers over the nine. If I call him and he tells me he can’t come back and get me, then what?
What do I do if he doesn’t want me in Texas with him?
I sit on the edge of my bed, with the cradle in my hand, looking down at the illuminated buttons even though the coloring is faint. Finally, the line tone changes, and a rapid busy signal starts. My calls been disconnected. I hang up and let the tears flow, wishing things were different.
Under my pillow is one of Liam’s T-shirts. I made him wear it the other day, along with his CK One cologne. I pull it out and bring it to my nose, pulling in a deep inhale. This will have to tide me over until I see him again.
At least, I have the mix tape he made me so I can listen to his voice . . . only, I don’t.
chapter 2
. . .
It’s been six weeks since Liam left, and I’ve hated every single second of him being gone. Right now, we have a routine. He calls every Sunday, like clockwork. Neither of us wants to miss this call. We spend an hour on the phone, racking up Sterling’s bill. We laugh about it because why not.
Other times we talk, it’s hit or miss. He’ll call, and sometimes I’m not home. He teases and says I’m out there living my best life when in reality, I’m nothing more than a third wheel. As much as I miss Liam, I miss Katelyn. She’s always with Mason or he’s always with us, and frankly, it’s annoying. He’s supposed to be at school but hasn’t moved into the dorms yet because he wants to wait until Katelyn’s there. As much as I love them together, they make me want to gag sometimes.
I need girl time. I want to float in her pool and talk about how horny I am and how much I miss Liam’s dick. Not once during sex education did anyone tell us that once you start having sex, especially with someone like Liam, you won’t want to stop. But I can’t say this to Katelyn because Mason is always there when she’s not working.
To add salt to my gaping wound, Katelyn and Mason fuck like bunnies whenever they’re together. Like all the freaking time. I can’t imagine there being anything worse than spending time with your friend and her running into the pool shed to get laid. Katelyn thinks the sound of the pool pump drowns out their sex noises. She’s so very wrong.
When Liam and I talk, he sounds different. I can’t pinpoint why or how, but it’s like life has dulled for him even though he’s living it up in Texas. I remind myself to call Greyhound later to get the bus schedule and see how much it’ll cost me to go there for a long weekend. I want to surprise him, to show him how much he means to me. And if he asks me to stay, well then, my life will become perfect.