Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“I was a kid. That doesn’t make you strong.”
He lost it then, and I managed to tune him out. He’s not worth it, he’s not worth it, he’s not worth it.
It didn’t take much time to get him booked at the station. He was passed out less than five minutes in, and I knew he would be right back at it when he got out. They wouldn’t be able to hold him long, and he’d be doing the same thing on a different day. Some things never changed.
When my shift ended, I drove out to my place in silence. After locking my gun away, I went straight for the shower, stripping out of my clothes and hoping the hot water would help wash away my thoughts—about my dad, my hatred for him, and the part of me I liked to pretend wasn’t there, that still felt inadequate because of him.
Then…then my thoughts shifted to a certain guy with a contagious smile and expressive eyes, who looked at me like I was something. Kellan had always looked at me as if I was important, as if I mattered, in ways no one else ever did. Not Griffin, not other friends I’d had over the years or people I fucked. He looked at me like he could see me, like there was nothing I could hide from him, and damn if I didn’t like that.
And it scared the shit out of me.
I turned off the water and got out of the shower. I wrapped a towel around my waist, looked into my room, and remembered him staring up at me from his knees…the way he’d tasted, the way he’d felt, how much I wanted to do it again.
I had his number. I could call him, even if it was only to talk, because I liked talking with Kell.
I groaned, shoving that thought right the fuck out of my head. He’d left my place that morning, and that was supposed to be it between us. I had no business wanting to call Kellan Caine. No business at all.
Too bad that didn’t stop me from wanting it something fierce.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kellan
It had been a little less than a week since I sneaked out of Chase’s cabin with my tail between my legs. It wasn’t something I was proud of, but I still supported my decision. Well, the one about leaving, not the one about fucking. Okay, so I still supported the sleeping-with-Chase choice too because he fucked me so good and I deserved that, but now it was time to move on.
That’s what Josh said last night when I got sloppy-drunk and told him all about Chase’s cock. He wasn’t impressed, but in Chase’s defense, that was only because Josh didn’t actually see said cock and he had my best interests at heart.
So today I’d slept half the day, nursing my hangover. I was off, one of the other younger local artists was teaching classes, and it was a good thing. I did not need to be around children at the moment.
Groaning at the pounding of my head, I made my way into the kitchen.
“You look like you were run over by a truck,” Griff said.
“Shhh… Too loud.”
“I’m speaking in a normal voice.”
“Speak in a normal voice minus a few levels.”
Griff rolled his eyes. “I’ll make you coffee and breakfast.”
“Thank you. You’re the best brother in the world.” And he was, even if he did make me crazy.
I sat down and rested my head on my arms on the table. I remembered drinks, Josh bringing me home and putting me to bed, but I had no idea what time that had been.
A few minutes later, something was set on the table beside me. Coffee, water, Tylenol. “Oh my God, I love you.”
“You better,” Griff replied.
I took the pills, a drink of the coffee, and holy fucking shit, at the moment, that was better than an orgasm.
Griff put a bowl in front of me filled with scrambled eggs, peppers, and ham. Surprisingly, it made my stomach growl when I’d expected it to make me nauseous.
“What’s going on with you lately?” Griff took the seat across from me.
“What do you mean?” Obviously, I knew what he meant. I’d been on edge since Chase had come home, and it was hard for me to get things like that past Griffin.
“I don’t know. You’re just…off. The last week especially.”
I’m in love with your best friend. I’ve always been in love with him. I slept with him, and I soooo want to do it again. “Nothing’s off.” Ugh. I was such a liar.
“Kell, you know you can talk to me, right? About anything? I might freak out at first, but I come around.”
I couldn’t stop my eyes from finding his then. There was nothing but concern on his face. There were times I felt judged by Griff. There were times I knew he judged me, and he often freaked out and went off the deep end, but he was right—he always came around, and I knew it all came from his heart. He had this hero complex he couldn’t ignore, which was amped up when it came to me. I felt lucky to have him, but also frustrated that he had appointed himself my keeper.