Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“You never have to ask.”
This party is wild like the last one I attended. Lots of people I don’t know. Drugs. Alcohol. People fucking in any dark corner they can find. I’m on edge, but I’m on a mission.
Find Charlotte.
Force her to get her head out of her ass.
“Want a drink?” Kayden asks, trying desperately to be the attentive boyfriend.
“No, thanks.” I glance around the crowd. “You seen Char yet?”
“They’re not here—” he says and then growls. “That motherfucker.”
I turn to see Ryan walking in with Charlotte, Isaiah, and some guy I don’t recognize. Definitely a sketchy looking dude.
“Who is that?”
“The fucking enemy.” Kayden’s jaw ticks. “I see how the fuck it is and here I thought Ryan was cool.”
“Focus,” I say, elbowing him. “We need to get Charlotte away from him. I want to talk to her.”
Kayden is focused all right. But on the wrong thing. I can tell he wants to beat some ass. When Charlotte starts to pull away from Ryan and he yanks her hard to him, Kayden bursts forward, not needing much direction after that.
“Dude,” Kayden bellows. “Get your fucking hands off her.”
Ryan releases Charlotte to face off with Kayden. They go nose to nose, spitting out obscenities at each other. I take it as my cue to sneak Charlotte away. Rushing over to her, I grab her hand that feels bony in my grip and tug her away from them. Her dull eyes flare to life and she hisses at me.
“Get the hell away from me, Roux!”
I’m stung by her harsh words, but I don’t relent. “No. You’re going to hear me out.”
She struggles to pull her hand back, but I’m currently stronger to the surprise of both of us. It’s as though she doesn’t realize she’s been fading away for weeks.
“He’s a parasite,” I grind out. “He’s hurting you and you’re letting him.”
“Leave me alone!”
“No! You’re my best friend, Charlotte. You may have forgotten, but I didn’t. I won’t let that dickhead kill you!”
“Overdramatic much?” She yanks her hand free and steps back. “You fucked up accusing my boyfriend of those things and then getting my family involved. Friends don’t throw each other under the bus. We’re nothing now, Roux. I have Ryan now.”
“Ryan is an abusive psychopath!”
She slaps me. My best friend hauls off and slaps me. I’m stunned by her striking me, even though it wasn’t with enough force to hurt. Char is a bag of bones and gaunt. She couldn’t hurt me if she tried right now.
“You hit me,” I whisper.
Her blue eyes soften for a brief moment and her bottom lip wobbles. “Stay away from me,” she pleads. “I just need you to stay away from me.”
With those words, she rushes off into the crowd, leaving me to shatter alone. I touch my stinging cheek, tears rapidly beginning to fall down my cheeks. Swiveling on my feet, I turn and head for the door. On my mad dash for the exit, I nearly run over the man standing in my path. Strong hands grip my biceps, steadying me.
Jordy.
I throw myself into his arms, choking on a sob. He envelops me in a protective embrace, nuzzling his nose in my hair.
“You okay, Little Hoodlum?”
“I am now that you’re here for me.” I tilt my head up to look at him. “Why are you here for me, though? How did you know I’d be here?”
It all comes crashing down on me.
Right.
He’s not here for me. He’s here for Kayden.
Ice chills me to the bone as I slip out of his arms and rush out the door. Tonight, the air is cool and it’s starting to sprinkle chilly drops. I don’t have a car. Since I rode with Kayden, I don’t even know where to go right now.
I just need to escape.
The rain starts to pick up, splattering hard on my head and soaking through my hoodie. Droplets land on my glasses, making it difficult to see. I weave myself in and out of cars, eager to get away from the sounds of the party that can still be heard thumping behind me. It grows darker the farther I run. Less cars.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Footsteps thud over the sounds of rain and now rumbling thunder. The rain starts pelting me, soaking me to the bone in an instant. I look over my shoulder but don’t see anyone in the darkness.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
The footsteps quicken, which makes my heart race. I take off running full speed ahead down the dark road. My mind is a blur as I think about Charlotte’s hate-filled eyes. Someone grabs me from behind.
I scream, but the moment I’m pulled against the hard body that breathes heavily from exertion, I recognize it.
Jordy.
His smell. His touch. The way he nuzzles my soaked hair, inhaling me.
“Where you running to, Little Hoodlum?”
“Away.”
“From me?”
“From life.”