Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
“What the fuck?” Aurelia shrieked.
I let her go, but I only stepped in front of her. I was now face to face with Stevie.
I smiled.
She gave me another alarmed look.
That made me frown because I’d never done anything to her. “Hi.”
“Uh, Maddy…” Max sidled to my side.
One of the guys snorted. Another one began snickering. Or the same one. I wasn’t sure.
“Shut it, man.” That was Beltraine.
He always stood up for me. I puffed my chest up, but I was here for a reason. I cleared my throat. That seemed to make Stevie even more alarmed.
I deflated. “Jesus. I’m not a monster.”
More than one of the guys coughed behind me. I gave them a middle finger, which made them break out into laughter. Others were joining in. We were attracting an audience.
Max wasn’t laughing. He was regarding me with caution.
I ignored him, instead saying to Stevie, “My parents are throwing a birthday party for me this weekend. It’s at the house on Sunday. You should come.”
Aurelia scoffed from the sidelines.
I cast her a warning. “You’re not invited.”
Her face twisted up, but she stormed away.
Stevie watched her go, unable to hide her worry.
“Look, whatever. Come if you want. It’s a family thing and after last weekend, your uncle is basically family now.”
“What happened last weekend?”
“Nothing,” Max said quickly, inserting himself into the conversation. He put his arm around my shoulders, tugging me against him. “We’re also having an unofficial birthday party for Mads at Bell’s house.”
“That’s right. We’re still using it for parties.” Beltraine stepped up.
Steele joined beside Beltraine.
Axel was to Max’s left. He flicked up two fingers to Stevie. “It’d be cool if you joined. It’s after the football game. We’ll be at the Sunday event too.” He winked at her.
Stevie floundered, momentarily unable to say something back, but I’d extended the invitation. If she came, she came. If she didn’t, then that was on her. As if we were all one being, the five of us began walking for the parking lot. Max’s arm dropped from my shoulder, but he tucked his finger in the back of my pants, keeping me next to him.
Which I loved. I really loved.
Axel groaned. “We should’ve made a rule no dating within the group. Watching you two is going to get old.”
Traine laughed. “Speak for yourself. This is like constant foreplay happening live and in person. I’m going to have so much sex watching them.”
“Seriously, you guys!” Steele snapped. “Her mom is my sister.”
A guy going the opposite direction overheard him and stopped in his tracks. “Her mom is your what?”
Steele cursed. “Nothing. We’re just—we’re cousins. Move along.” He glared at the guy, who blanched and sped away. He looked over his shoulder a few times, but no one was going after him.
I grinned at Steele. “Cousins, huh?”
He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t respond.
The others laughed, and I moved closer to Max, making our sides brush against each other.
His eyes darkened, watching me back.
I got all happy inside, all warm, all giddy.
I loved that we moved to Fallen Crest.
As we got to the door, it swung open. I frowned at seeing who was coming inside. “Uncle Mark?” Technically he was my mom’s stepbrother, but for all intents and purposes, he was Uncle Mark.
Steele stiffened, throwing a dark look at him.
“Oh hey, Maddy.” He saw Max and did a double-take. “Max. What are you doing here?”
“Transferred in. I’m going to school here now.”
“What? When?”
“Just transferred. First day is Monday.” Max was studying the bouquet of roses my uncle was holding in his hand. “Got a study date?”
Mark was still frowning at Max, and at how close we were standing. At Max’s question, his face cleared before he jerked the flowers up. “Oh. Right! I forgot. Uh. No. No study date, but a date. I’m here to see…” He caught himself, taking note of my sudden attention, his gaze sliding to a few other students how they stopped to eavesdrop. “Never mind. I’m just here getting to know someone. Not anyone for you to cyberstalk or tell your mother about.” He rethought that, adding to Max, “Or your mother.” Back to me. “Or my mother. Got that. Keep this between us.”
Steele shook his head. “Yeah. That’s one way to stop the gossip in its tracks. Good luck, dude.”
I asked, “So you and Cass are really done, huh?”
Uncle Mark softened. “It’s for the best. If we were supposed to be together, we would’ve made it work a long time ago. I, just, I got comfortable. It’s all on me, but if you’re attached to Cass, I don’t think you should worry. Rumor has it that she’s on a plane to Hawaii as I speak. I don’t think she’s going to be leaving the adult group chat any time soon, if you get what I mean.” He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “Love you, Mads. Don’t tell any of your mothers about this. Thanks. Gotta go.”