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)
“Come on, Easton.” Tully slides into the passenger seat. “We need to get our morning coffee and post it as soon as possible.”
Scarlett grabs onto the handle bars and pedals away without another word.
I knock on her window later that night, but there’s no answer.
I know she’s in there, so I tap harder.
Still no answer.
She walks into the room and shuts the curtains, so I climb down the brackets and head to the front door.
“Hey there, Easton.” Mr. Crane smiles, ushering me inside. “Are you here to help us with another one of Tully’s projects?”
“Not this time.”
“Well, we need more tape.” Their mom groans. “And I just broke my second ruler of the night.”
“I’ll run to the store and get it for you.” Scarlett is suddenly on the steps.
“Go with her, Easton,” Mrs. Crane says. “Keep her from wandering down the book aisle and reading until the store closes.”
“I’ll come right back, Dad, I swear.” Scarlett protests.
“I know. Hence why Easton will make sure of that.” He shoos her away, and I try not to grab her waist and kiss some sense into her as we leave.
22
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
ME
Dear Jessica Reid,
Me and my sister haven’t always been close, but she deserved a better class of friend than you. You’re a two-faced user, a master manipulator, and a straight up bitch. I can’t wait to see you get a dose of your own medicine one day.
Wish I Would’ve Told You,
—Scarlett
I can’t breathe in his car.
His sexy scent is suffocating me, and his glare is a heated enough to burn a hole in my skull.
“If you’re made at me about the promposal, you should know I only did that because it was for a sponsor.” He grits his teeth. “Your sister fucking ambushed me before I could set foot in the damn door.”
“You know, I’m starting to think that sponsors run your life.”
“Come again?”
“You have agency, Easton. You can choose to do and not do things, and I’d prefer it if one of the things you didn’t do was fucking hurt me.”
“How long do you plan on holding this silly ass shit over my head?”
“We should get a cheese and sausage platter while we’re at the store,” I say, changing the subject. “My dad will love you even more for that. He’s convinced that your prom date with Tully is a sign that you’ll eventually get married.”
“I’m not staying at prom for more than an hour with Tully,” he says. “I want me and you to go someplace together instead.”
“Someplace in secret, right?”
“Scarlett, I’m trying not to lose you,” he says. “But you’re making this really fucking difficult.”
“You could’ve picked up the phone or texted me with some type of warning,” I say. “I had to hear it from one of our neighbors and rush back to see it for myself. You looked nice by the way.”
“What if we didn’t wait until the deals expired?” he says. “What if I dumped Tully tonight and told her that I just wanted to be with you?”
I turn to face him, waiting for his laughter, but the look in his eyes is calm.
Calm and dead-ass serious.
“You…” I sigh, thinking of all the money and complications that are tied into those deals. My college tuition, sadly, is one of them. “You can’t do that and you know it.”
“If you’re trying to leave me, yes I fucking can.”
“I’m not ready to be a villain yet, Easton.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Being in love is supposed to be easy, and with you it isn’t…It comes with tons of terms and conditions, string after string of complications.”
“I agree. This is the most stressful relationship I’ve ever had.” He hisses. “I can’t win for losing.”
“Me either,” I say. “And that’s what I mean about being a villain…In the rare event that we ever did get to be together, neither of us will be heroes. I’m sorry but, I think we should break up for a while.”
“You know what?” He nods. ‘I think that’s a fucking good idea.”
—
THREE WEEKS LATER
23
EASTON
Scarlett looks sexy as hell in the bleachers this afternoon, even though she scowls every time I glance her way.
My nights without her have been completely unbearable, and I hate knowing that I have to look forward to another one.
I’m not ready to make nice yet…
“Easton!” Coach calls my name.
“Yeah, Coach?”
“Do you know what you’ve accomplished at this practice today?”
“No.”
“Me neither.” He glares at me. “You’re unfocused and you need to go home.”
“What?”
“Go home, Easton.” He shakes his head. “I can’t afford for whatever the fuck in going on in your brain to spread to your teammates.”
I unbuckle my helmet and jog off the field. I grab my bag and notice twenty seven missed calls from a number I always hate to see,
Sighing, I wait until I’m in my car before calling it back.