Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“I forgive you.”
“You forgive way too easily.”
She chuckled. “For you, yes.” She patted his arm, and he didn’t like how much he craved that contact.
****
The days passed, and before long it was graduation day. Charity saw her parents, so damn proud, smiling and clapping. Yes, she’d graduated, her grades were good, but again, she didn’t know what to do with her life. She’d been looking at tourist spots across Europe, and none of them really appealed. In fact, the only time she really enjoyed anymore was the moments she shared with Dwayne. They didn’t speak about his lack of desire to want a family or anything like that. That topic was off the board.
He talked about work, which was refreshing as he didn’t hold back nor treat her as a child.
His honesty at times astounded her.
He was also there for prom night. She didn’t go to a dance. Instead, she sat outside on the school bleachers while everyone danced the night away inside the building. Dwayne came to her as she sat outside. He sat down beside her, holding out one of those metal flasks that men seemed to love. They’d not even needed to talk.
The music had drifted out, and there on the pitch, with no one around them, he danced with her. It had been a pretty awesome prom night without any friends, just Dwayne. To most people he was a nightmare, but to her, he was so much more. In way, he was her knight with a gun. He’d come for her when no one else could or would. Singlehandedly, he’d taken on the men that kept her captive.
“I’m so proud of you honey,” her mother said, drawing her in for another hug and pushing the memory of prom night to the back of her thoughts.
“Thank you.”
“So, you’re no longer a high school senior. What are you going to do?” Her father wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.
“I don’t know, party, get drunk, get arrested.” She laughed along with her parents. She played her part well for them and for her therapist. They didn’t really want to know the truth. They only wanted to know that she was moving on, that she wasn’t struggling. So, she didn’t show them that she struggled. Instead, she considered it an acting job, being the perfect daughter around them, and when it came to Dwayne, she was always herself. “I think I’m just going to go and think. Maybe hang out with a few friends. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is, honey.” Her parents hugged her again, and she stood, watching as they left the main graduation area.
She was no longer a high school student. Glancing across the grassy area, she saw all of her friends, or the people that used to be her friends. They were having a good time, and looked happy, and she was happy for them, but that wasn’t who she was.
“Look at you in your graduation garb.”
She spun around, and there Dwayne stood, in the shadows, easily missed if people weren’t looking.
“I didn’t think you were going to come.”
“Why not? This is your big day.”
“Did you have a lot of fun on your day?”
“Yeah, partied a lot, had sex, drank a lot.” He shrugged his shoulders. “What are your big plans?”
“I don’t have any.”
“Where are you parents?”
“I asked them for some time. They think I’m going to hang out with my friends.”
“I can’t give you a lame ass party, but I can give you some fun.”
She tilted her head to the side, watching him. “You promise?”
“Hell yeah, but remove the gown. It makes you look like a clown.”
She was already taking it off as she followed him across the parking lot toward his car. Climbing in, she breathed in the scent of his leather. He had one awesome car. Sitting back, she turned her head to watch him as he started up the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
“So, do we want to remember everything or not?”
“I don’t care. Just make it fun.”
“Fun! Got it.”
He put his foot on the gas, and she let out a little squeal as the car seemed to go at a speed she wasn’t used to. Winding down her window, she stuck her head out and enjoyed the freedom. Her hair was down, and she closed her eyes.
Dwayne put some music on. The sounds of rock filled the air, and she just let loose, allowing the freedom that he granted her to take over, to completely rock her entire world.
“I love this!” She threw her arms out the window and screamed.
She was no long a high school girl.
Her life was changing, as was her world.
Charity didn’t know how long they were driving for, but he pulled up outside a bar.
“Am I old enough to be here?”