Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Lock the door behind me and seriously consider calling the police about last night,” I say, knowing there’s no way to make this better right now. I let my temper get the best of me and gave Mel the excuse she needed to finish pushing me away. “If something happens to you because you’re keeping quiet for Matty, he’ll never forgive himself.”
“Thanks, but I can handle myself. And my brother.” She hits the button to open the garage door as I head down the steps.
I open the back door, tossing my bag onto the seat and slamming it again. I’m about to wish Melissa well and climb into the driver’s seat, when a tiny, golden-brown squirrel suddenly lands on the truck’s hood. I have no idea where it came from, but thanks to the rental’s giant tires, the creature is roughly level with my head.
So, when he emits a husky screech and leaps my way, he lands directly on my face. I stumble backward, arms flailing as the creature clings to my hair with its front claws and wiggles around on my chin.
“Slap it off!” Melissa cries from the stairs.
I pull in a breath, about to shout back that I can’t hit an animal. But then I feel fur pumping against my lips. The sensation is so disturbing, all that escapes my mouth is a repulsed grunting sound.
The grunting seems to get the squirrel even more worked up. Its back claws now latch onto the sides of my jaw as it assaults me more aggressively.
That’s what this is—an assault. A sexual assault by a rodent with perverted intentions. I make another horrified gargling sound before pulling myself together enough to grab the squirrel by the scruff.
I expect the detachment to go badly—complete with claw marks and perhaps buck teeth imbedded in my nose—but as soon as I tug on its fur, the beast releases me with a happy chirping sound.
I curse and toss it to the garage floor, where it lands with a light bounce before turning to glance at me over its shoulder. It chirps again, a huskier sound this time, before weaving its way toward the open garage door.
“What the hell was…” My words trail off as I turn to see Melissa filming me with her cell. Heat flares in my chest. “Really? I was being attacked by a potentially rabid animal and your call was to film it?”
She smiles, still filming as she says, “I don’t think it was an attack. I think he was trying to make love to your chin dimple. I’ve never seen an animal hump with so much urgency. How does it feel to be a sexy hockey bro who is irresistible to women, men, and the rodent population, Mr. Boudreaux?”
“Turn it off,” I say curtly, propping my hands on my hips and casting my burning gaze down to the floor. I glance under my arm while I’m at it, just to make sure the squirrel hasn’t decided to come back for more. But thankfully, he’s nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, come on, where’s your sense of humor? You’re not bleeding. I say all’s well that ends well.”
I look back up, hurt in my voice as I say, “I don’t call this ending well, but…whatever. Good luck, Melissa. I hope things get easier for you. When you’re not being an asshole, you’re a good person who deserves happiness.”
She shuts off the cell phone. The smile falls from her face, but she doesn’t say a word as I get into my truck and drive away.
I guess she said all she wanted to say.
My mood as foul as the weather outside, I make my way to Gram’s house and do my best to forget about my steamy night with my teenage crush.
Until my life takes an unexpected turn and suddenly Melissa McGuire is back on my radar in a major way.
And just like that, I know nothing in my life will ever be the same again.
Chapter 5
Melissa
Two and a half months later…
* * *
The only thing worse than a pound of Aunt Gina’s leftover liver dip no one touched at the Super Bowl party, that I now have to find a way to use so food doesn’t go to waste on my watch?
A pound of liver pâté and Aaron Boudreaux on the television doing a pre-game interview, humble bragging about how great it’s been to volunteer with the Little Brothers Club since he moved to Minneapolis two months ago.
His deep, rumbly voice makes me cringe as I shove the pâté to the back of the fridge. Aaron is always an asshole, even when he’s trying to be a nice guy. It’s in his DNA, I guess. Thankfully, Nora didn’t inherit that particular strand of Boudreaux family genetic material.
Nora is lovely and I can’t wait for Matty to put a ring on her finger and make her my new sister for real. I’m not even going to be sad about the fact that Matty and Nora getting married means there will be a permanent thread of connection between Aaron Barf-dreaux and myself.