Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
What was that?
I ignored the fast-paced beating of my heart, suddenly drumming so hard I swore everyone in the shed could hear it. I went right in for the kill instead, not wanting anything or anyone to change my mind.
A split-second before my mouth touched hers, I was knocked over. Unexpectedly rammed sideways. I didn’t have a choice other than to drag her with me.
I didn’t have to wonder who it was.
I already knew.
Cash was going to pay for this, with my fists in his face.
He quickly yanked Harley up from the ground by her hand. “Shit! I didn’t think he’d take you wit’ him.” Once she was fully standing, he asked her, “You alright?”
She shook away the haze, brushing him off. “I’m fine.”
“If she’s hurt, it’s on you!” I snarled.
“You hurt her every day!”
It didn’t matter there were people everywhere outside of this shed, neither one of us backed down.
I snapped.
Letting go of all my pent-up anger.
My hatred.
My frustrations.
Out on him...
“Yeah? Well I’m gonna hurt you next, McGraw!”
Without thinking twice about it, I sprang to my feet and charged him. Tackling him to the concrete.
“No!” Harley screamed, darting around us. “Get off him!”
“Stop being assholes! This isn’t fixing anything!” Shiloh hollered, rushing to her cousin’s side.
We didn’t pay them any attention, wrestling around for a few minutes, each of us trying to gain the upperhand. Rolling around with elbows, fists, and legs flying everywhere while we brawled on the ground.
We heard the girls screaming and yelling at us to stop, like they actually expected us to.
“You’re gonna get us in trouble cuz you’re thinkin’ with your stupid willies!” Harley shrieked. “You got nothin’ to prove! I don’t care who has the bigger balls! Balls are ugly! Ain’t nobody want your balls!”
Cash was able to flip us over, getting on top of me. I was finally going to get a hit on his face when he was suddenly pulled back and off me.
“Cash! What the fuck?!” His dad, Dylan, reprimanded.
Harley’s old man yanked me up from the ground. “Reel it in, yeah?” he ordered, holding me back as well.
“What’s goin’ on? You fightin’ over Harley?” Dylan questioned.
“The fuck they are,” Creed growled.
“No, Daddy! They ain’t fightin’ over me!” she explained, knowing how overprotective he was over her.
“Then why they throwin’ down, baby girl?”
“Cuz Jackson started it.”
“Bullshit!” I blurted. “You. Started it.”
“Me?” She pointed to herself. “How did I start it?”
“By telling them I love you.”
“The fuck?” Her daddy scoffed out, squeezing the shit out of my throwing shoulder.
“What does that havta do wit’ Cash?” Dylan let out.
Harley’s grandma, grandpa, and mom ran into the shed.
“What’s going on?” Mia asked, her eyes scanning all of us.
I didn’t give a rat’s ass if I’d be in trouble, or that her old man was holding me in a deathgrip.
The expression on Harley’s face would be worth it.
Unable to hold it in any longer, I spit fire. Booming, “You think I love you, baby girl? Jokes on you... I hate you. I can’t stand you. I hurt you cuz I can, cuz I want to, cuz I enjoy it. You mean nothing to me. Nothing.”
“Ditto, asshole!”
“Harley Jameson!” her mom scolded, as her old man spun me around, seething right into my eyes.
“Daddy! Don’t hurt Jackson! I got this! I’m a Jameson! We’re badass motherfuckas!”
“Harley!” Mia reprimanded again, stomping her feet.
“That’s what they say! I’m just repeatin’ what Daddy and Uncle Noah say! Why do I get in trouble? If Daddy hurts Jackson, then he’s gonna get in trouble! I’m just lookin’ out for my daddy!”
“You little shit, back off before I teach you some manners. Ya feel me?”
“Oh my God! Creed!”
“Momma! It’s okay, I’ll teach him some manners! I got lots to teach, and he’s got lots to learn!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I blinked and suddenly saw my dad stumbling out in the yard. A bottle of booze in hand, it was like he appeared out of thin air. Making me witness yet another one of my worst nightmares. Playing out in front of me. Nice and slow. For all to see.
There was nothing left of the man.
The doctor.
The father he used to be.
The one that raised me.
Loved me.
Took care of everyone.
He was as lost as my mom was.
We all were.
No one knew what was going on. We didn’t even talk about it. It hurt too fucking much. His head bobbled side to side, weighing down his body. It was obvious he was shit-faced, trying to remain upright and conscious. Taking another swig from the bottle, not caring he was disgracing me.
Himself.
Our family.
It didn’t even look like he knew where he was.
“What’s wrong with him?” Harley muttered, never taking her eyes off my dad.
Noah quickly made his way over to him, gripping onto his arm. “Aiden, what’s goin’ on? Did you drive here like this?”