Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“Me too.” I nod, even though I have no intention of answering his calls after tonight.
I really need to give up on the idea of college guys being “intellectual and deep” once and for all. He’s the fifth guy I’ve dated, and although he didn't try to slip his tongue down my throat or try to impress me with a never-ending game of beer pong, his conversation was as shallow and mundane as the others.
All he did was talk about himself.
“I really need to get home.” I lean back. “I have school in the morning.”
“Are you sure you don't want me to walk you inside?” He unbuckles his seatbelt. “I’d hate for you to slip in all this rain.”
“I’m sure. I have to go through the back door so I won’t wake up my parents before my curfew.”
“That's the good thing about dorm rooms.” He presses a stale kiss on my forehead. “There are no parents and no one cares about curfew.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“It is amazing.” He wiggles his fingers. “I’ll call you on Friday so I can show you what I can do with these, okay?”
“Okay.” I vow to block his number once I get inside. “Looking forward to it.”
Stepping out into the drizzle, I wave at him before walking up my neighbor’s driveway. Then I watch until his headlights disappear around the corner before jumping the fence and running into my real backyard.
As thunder roars in the distance, I run to the oversized treehouse and unzip the duffel bag I left there hours ago.
Panicking, I pull a pair of sweatpants over my fishnet tights. Then I cover my black halter top with a hoodie.
I’ve got exactly fifteen minutes before my parents realize that the human-shaped mound on my bed is nothing more than sweaters and hoodies.
The lights in the kitchen suddenly turn on, so I slide behind the tree trunk.
Seconds later, I see my dad heading toward the fridge.
Walking like a zombie, he takes out a beer and sits at the breakfast bar. He opens a laptop and stretches his fingers, making it clear that he’ll be sitting there for a while.
Shit.
There's no way I can get through the back entrance without him spotting me, and I can’t risk getting caught sneaking out without permission again.
I’ve been grounded more than enough this year.
Thinking fast, I pick up a rock and hurl it at the parlor room window.
It misses, so I pick up another.
Then another.
It takes five tries before a rock hits the glass and ricochets off a drainage pipe.
My father immediately stands and looks around.
Come on. Come on…
He doesn’t make a move, so I pick up the biggest rock I can find and launch it.
This time, I break the glass.
My father grabs a baseball bat and runs toward the sound.
Finally!
I run to the house as fast as I can, getting soaked with each step.
My sandal strap snags on a lawn tool, and I fall face forward on the ground.
I yelp in pain as I struggle to free it from the blade, but it’s stuck, so I’m forced to leave it behind.
When I make it to the steel ivy brackets that cling to the side of the house, I hold them for dear life.
Climbing up, I make it to the second story and push up my window.
Using my bare foot for balance, I force my body over the sill and fall onto the floor.
“I made it.” I let out a sigh of relief. “I effin’ made it.”
The lights come on.
“I could’ve sworn your curfew was ten o'clock, Scarlett.” My mom is glaring at me from the bed. “Didn't we discuss this the last time I grounded you?”
I glance at the clock, tempted to tell her that it’s nine fifty-eight, but I bite my tongue.
“I also recall saying that you needed to ask to leave this house.” She crosses her arms. “You’re only seventeen years old, last time I checked. But since I clearly can't trust you, don’t make plans for the next three weekends. You're coming with me and your sister to shop for prom dresses in Nashville.”
“Can’t you drown me in our pool instead?” I roll over onto my back. “I think that would be slightly less painful for me.”
“Very funny, Scarlett.”
I groan and stand up. The mere thought of tagging along with my mom and sister for more than an hour is punishment enough.
She tosses me a dry towel and gets off my bed. “Where were you anyway?”
“Out on a date,” I confess.
“Really?” She smiles. “Who is he? Or were you with a she?”
“It was with a college guy, Mom.”
“I’m sure, hon.” She snorts. “So, you were with your weird little friend Kaizen?”
“His name is Kevin.”
“That’s what I said.” She smiles. “I like him a lot, and I love that he adores me.”
He hates you.
“Yeah, I was with Kevin,” I say, stunned that she still doesn’t know me in the slightest. I could literally tell her what I’ve been up to for the past several months and she wouldn’t believe a word.