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)
“Huh,” I quickly snapped back. “Well then, maybe now you’ll understand. Seeing as I want nothing to do with you. Now get out.”
“Alright.” She nodded. “I’ll get out of your room, but I’m not getting out of your life. I’m here to stay.”
“Yeah, for Journey.”
“And for you.” With that, she turned around and left. Closing my door behind her.
I reached for the lock, faltering when I heard my brother on the other side declare, “He wasn’t always like this, Camila.” Stopping me dead in my tracks.
I swear those were the first words he had ever spoken to her.
“He’s mad at my dad. It’s not you,” he explained, stirring my heart to race. “Journey really loves you. You make her happy. My mom didn’t have the chance to do that, and Journey is one of the reasons my dad isn’t around.”
I grimaced, hating it was the truth.
My baby sister didn’t deserve any of what was dealt to her. She didn’t ask to be born.
“It doesn’t matter what you say or do, my mom isn’t coming home. That much I can tell you.”
“Is she—”
“I’m sorry Jackson is treating you like this, but Journey isn’t the only one who wants you here.”
She asked him what I was thinking, “She isn’t?”
“No. I want you here too.”
He does?
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I think you could fix things.”
Why?
How?
“With Jackson?”
“Yeah. And maybe my dad.”
“Jagger, what do you—”
I heard his footsteps next and then his door shut, cutting her off.
“It doesn’t matter what you say or do, my mom isn’t coming home. That much I can tell you.”
Those words were like a knife to my heart and yet...
They were the truest words he’d ever spoken.
Chapter 21
<>Harley<>
My daddy was out of town on business which meant Momma was in charge. Meanin’ I could go to the party happenin’ on Oak Island beach after the football game, Friday night.
I was excited, Daddy didn’t allow me to do much. Sayin’ he was protectin’ me from all the little shits who wanted a piece of his baby girl. Like they wanted a piece of his old lady...
He didn’t play around when it came to his family. Raisin’ Luke and Owen to be just like him. They were becomin’ rabid guard dogs when it came to me as well.
It was actually super annoyin’, but I loved my daddy too much to go against his wishes. So, I just didn’t tell him everythin’. I wasn’t lyin’, just withholdin’ information he didn’t need to know.
Momma always understood me. She was forever on my team. Tellin’ me Daddy hadn’t changed. He was like that with her when she was my age, and she found it super annoyin’ too.
“Trigger keeps starin’ over here at you,” I told Shiloh, catchin’ him lookin’ at her for the tenth time that night.
We were dancin’ around the firepit on the beach, to Cash’s band’s live music.
“Well, then let me give him something to look at,” she coaxed, spinnin’ around.
Instantly, she flipped him the bird.
Makin’ me laugh my ass off.
Shiloh was a good ol’ girl and just like the boys, she was feisty.
Don’t piss her off.
However, she didn’t really cuss, got straight A’s, and didn’t cause problems for her parents.
She was a role model for everyone, includin’ me.
All that mattered to her was school and her family. She wanted to follow in her daddy’s footsteps to become a lawyer, attendin’ Stanford Law like he did too.
But it was more than that, Shiloh was just smart about everythin’. Especially boys. The girl had her head on right and didn’t allow bullshit into her life.
She wanted to get married a virgin and everythin’. Only allowin’ one lobster to love her for a lifetime.
To say she was picky would be an understatement. She even had a “do’s and don’t’s” list for her future dude to keep her on track and the path she wanted to follow. No one stood a chance to her high standards.
Specifically, the boys at our school.
“I think he likes you.”
“He likes the idea of me.”
“What do ya mean?”
“I’m way out of his league, Harley, and he knows it. Boys like Trigger only want one thing.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Blowies?”
“That and notches on their belts. I’m a challenge to him, and the worst part is, he thinks I’m stupid enough to fall for it. It’s offensive.”
“Facts. He’s cute though.”
“He’s alright. I’m not into hicks.”
“Hey! I’m a hick.”
“You’re my cousin,” she giggled. “And my best friend.”
I nodded. “More facts.”
She made a heart with her fingers. “Forever and ever, it’s me and you, girl.”
I made a heart back. “You just spittin’ facts now, Shiloh.”
We laughed.
“What are they doing over there under the pier anyways?” she asked, shiftin’ my gaze to the group of football players, includin’ Jackson.
I shrugged. “Bein’ shitheads?”
“Do you smell that?”
I took a whiff of the air. “I do now.”
“Are they smoking a joint?”