Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
I nod my head, putting my hand on the handle and wishing I didn’t feel this way. I wish I had more confidence, but I don’t. I’m the one who’s chasing him, that should tell me enough, shouldn’t it? I’m stupid. So stupid.
The realization springs me forward. I should have known better.
“Hey,” Nathan says as I pull on the lever and put one foot on the asphalt below. His heavy hand lands on my thigh and I sit back stiffly in my seat to face him again, praying my true feelings don’t show.
Judging by his expression, they show.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“I just wish you wanted me as much as I want you,” I tell him, knowing full well I’m exposing more of myself to him than I want to; more than I’ve shown anyone else.
“Harlow, you don’t really want me,” he says like this is a joke. It pisses me off.
“First of all, don’t tell me what I want, and second of all, that’s not my name.”
His brow furrows with both confusion and anger as he replies, “Everyone calls you Harlow and you don’t snap at them.”
“You’re not everyone,” I admit to him, leaning forward as tears sting in my eyes. I feel stupid as my body gets hotter and hotter sitting here. I should just blame it on my hormones.
“Hey,” he says and draws my attention back to him as he licks his lips. “I want you, okay?” he says softly and then stares at me for a long moment.
He moves slowly as he leans forward and puts his hand on my chin.
This is it! My heart feels like it’ll burst, but at the same time I feel nervous, like it has to be perfect.
His thumb brushes along my cheek and then he leans in that much closer until he brushes the tip of his nose against mine. I close my eyes and tilt my chin up, just enough to give him the permission he’s looking for.
I’ll never forget how it feels to have his hot lips against mine. It’s not just my lips, it’s my entire body that reacts. My blood flows with a heated desire. My fingers dig into the cushion of the seat. My toes curl in my shoes.
It’s over too soon and I try to protest, reaching up to grab his hand as he pulls away. But when I open my eyes, his are still closed, for the longest moment. And I savor the sight.
“Trust me, Hally,” he says with his eyes still closed, “I want you.”
I let out an easy sigh at the memory, my chest filled with warmth. So many memories are coming back to me. Each of them another reason to run back into his arms.
Just as I slip my fingers to the end of the towel that’s wrapped around my body, ready to strip it off, the door opens and I nearly have a heart attack. I grip the towel tighter as the door opens and then closes just as quickly, leaving Lydia standing in the room with a huge ass grin on her prettied-up face.
How the hell does she always look so bright eyed and happy? She barely sleeps, yet there’s not even a trace of bags under her eyes. And with her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, she looks peppy and ready to take on the world.
“That was a-fucking-mazing,” she says with enthusiasm that forces a smile to my lips.
I’m still taking it all in, but I smile back and tell her, “Thanks.” I chew on my lip wanting to say more, but I can’t think of what to tell her. It feels like I’m holding everything back. I suppose I am, but for good reason.
Lydia doesn’t seem to notice. If she does, she doesn’t let on.
She grabs a bottle from the fridge and sits on the far side of the bed and lets her heels rest on the edge, wrapping her arms around her knees. “Julie quit,” Lydia says quietly and then takes a swig from the bottle of water. “Did you hear?” she asks me.
A grimace hovers on my lips as I pick up the lotion from the vanity. My skin’s still damp from the shower. “About Julie?” I ask her and pop the bottle open. The soft smell of lavender floats toward me as I let a line of lotion trail down my right leg and then rub it in.
“Yeah, I heard,” I tell her and then swallow the lump in my throat. Julie didn’t have the nicest things to say about me. But I have to keep in mind that she doesn’t know me and she’s obviously upset. I had to tell myself that over and over in the shower.
If she hates me, it’s not because of me, really. It’s just the situation.
“Don’t worry, she’s gonna get over it,” Lydia says between sips of water and then tightens her ponytail.