Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 112951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
He barked out a laugh. “Okay. I’ll tell him you’re game.”
“I don’t want him to come here.”
“You want to go to his house?”
“Yeah.” I was breathless just thinking about it.
“I’ll give you a ride. After what he did to Carruthers and that other asshole, he’s a solid guy. He cares about you, genuinely.”
That had that lump back in my throat, swelling again. I blinked back a few tears. “Thank you, Gage.”
“Don’t thank me. Do you realize how popular I am in school the last two days? People are using me to get to you. I feel like a damn celebrity.” His tone sobered. “Love ya, Kenz. There’s a bunch here who do. We’re all going to take care of you.”
That lump swelled up so that I couldn’t talk. I choked out, “Thank you.” Then hung up because the tears weren’t waiting. They fell free, and I was still in the hallway when my mom opened the door. She took one look at me, saw the tears, and opened her arms wide. “Oh, honey.” She wasn’t pretending to be an actress. This wasn’t a show. I heard the love, and I walked into them.
I might’ve needed Blake’s hug before, but this time, I needed my mom’s.
I was back in that hallway, hugging myself and listening in on my mom and Gage talking. “I don’t understand why he can’t come here,” she said.
Because I wanted privacy.
Because I wanted to be somewhere I could think.
The door was open an inch, but every word said was like a blow to my chest.
When we stood to leave, Mom started with the questions. Where were we going? How long would I be gone? I was going to see a boy? And that last question, it was her third time asking. She did again, “I just don’t get it. We don’t live here, so this is her home away from home. Doesn’t a daughter need her mother?”
“Mom, she’s only going for a few hours. She’ll be back tonight. I’ll pick her up.”
“But—”
The door creaked. Blake stood there, leaning against the doorframe. He rested his head against the paneling, using one finger to open the door a little wider. He took me in, one sweep of his gaze, and gave me a pitying smile. Then he turned and said, “Nothing’s going to happen to her, Mom. She’ll be safe. Gage vouches for this guy, and we already know he went after her two attackers.”
I jerked, hearing those last two words. But he was right. I had been attacked. That was me. I was the girl who was attacked.
Victim.
That word felt like a blow in itself.
I had become a victim.
“But—”
“Mom.” Blake pushed off from the doorframe, crossing the room. “She’ll be fine there.”
“That’s a whole house of boys. Right? And he’s on the football team. There must be other players there. What if they’re not like this guy? And we don’t really know him. He attacked the two boys. What if he’s violent, too?”
“He’s not,” Gage said, frustrated. “I would’ve done the exact same thing if I’d known who they were at first. I just wouldn’t have gotten away with it like he did.”
“See. Right there. He got away with it. He could get away with other things, with—”
I had enough. I pushed the door the rest of the way and stood, still hugging myself. “I’m alive. I’m safe. Nothing will happen to me there. I will be back in a few hours.”
Her face was wet from tears, and she was hugging herself. That damned afghan was draped over her again, and she sniffled, using the corner to wipe her face. That was why she wore it. It wasn’t to keep her warm. It wasn’t for decoration. It was for the tears.
I let out a sigh. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I promise.”
Blake was on her left. Gage on her right. Both sons reached out a hand, comforting her. She managed a smile and bobbed her head in an awkward nod. “Okay. I’m just being a mother, you know. I worry.”
“I know.” I moved in for a hug, and once she let me go, Gage and I almost sprinted for the door.
He moved around me, holding the door to the stairs open for me. “She might change her mind.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” I swept past him, not pausing a beat as I went down the stairs. Two flights later, we were outside and in Gage’s truck.
He chuckled under his breath as he pulled out of the parking lot. “I can’t believe I’m giving you a ride to see Shay Coleman.”
“I’m not supposed to be insulted you said that?”
“No! No.” He lifted a shoulder. “You have to agree with me, though. Shay Coleman? Man. When I realized something was going on between you two at the bar, I almost shit my pants. I talked to him about you at that party, but I never suspected he was interested in you. He acted like you were an annoying little sister.”