Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
He smelled like citrus shampoo or maybe body wash, with that trace of chlorine underneath. When our cheeks nearly brushed, he grew very still, as if holding his breath.
And for some reason, his presence centered me. Almost like he epitomized home or maybe our childhood. Before everything went to shit, of course.
He flipped to my section in the book, and my stomach tightened, knowing my stuff wasn’t nearly as good as the other artists.
“These two are cool…” Alex pointed to a football helmet and then to a lacrosse stick—the two biggest sports on this campus.
“Were you thinking of an object, like swim briefs? Or something more symbolic, like a body of water?” I was probably overwhelming him, but I couldn’t help being excited about the possibilities.
He sighed. “I thought seeing samples would help, but now I just feel more confused.”
“Don’t stress about it. You’d need a good two weeks for healing time before you get back in the water, so take that into account. They sell waterproof bandages and stuff like that, but I still wouldn’t recommend the pool.”
He nodded. “I figured I’d have to wait until winter break or post-season.”
“See? Plenty of time to make a decision. I’m certainly not going anywhere.” I nudged his shoulder with my own. “You’ll figure it out, and when you do, you’ll be ready.”
“Thanks for not making me feel dumb. It feels like a big deal, and I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”
“Understood,” I replied, knowing that Alex was not an impulsive person. As a kid, he always watched and listened before offering any opinions.
“I tried to get Bailey to tag along so it could be a cool thing we shared, but…”
“He refused? I’m not surprised. It would practically be sacrilege for him anyway. Plus, the brother he hates is involved, so…”
“It sucks that it has to be like this.” His fingers traced over the pages. “Your art is really good, by the way. It’s always been really good. You’re so talented.” His cheeks flushed as he looked away, making my stomach flood with warmth.
“Appreciate that.” I glanced out at the traffic on the street. “I still don’t know what I’m gonna do with my degree. But I’ve taken some interesting classes, and I suppose it’ll lead me somewhere.”
“I hear you. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do with my degree either, if I’m even gonna like teaching or whatever. But I’ve got some time to decide.”
“You said there might be volunteer opportunities at the teen center, so that’ll help you choose which direction to go,” I pointed out. “You’ve always been good with Zoey, and I bet you’ll be great with other kids too.”
His cheeks reddened even further. “Thanks.”
“But don’t forget to also think about who you are outside of your family.”
His eyebrows joined together. “What do you mean?”
“I…sorry. I wasn’t trying to imply anything. Just that this experience is all about you now. Not your family or my brother—because you’ve taken good care of him too.” I pressed my shoulder against his. “This is the time to think about what Alex wants.”
“The same could be said for you.” He glanced at me. “Maybe we have that in common. Holding it together for our families. Or at least trying to do the right thing.”
“Except I wrecked mine.” My laugh was hollow. “And let’s be honest, Bailey was always the golden boy.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You might’ve been a little rebellious and, well, moody…” He smirked. “But you were there for your family all the same.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Your personality is warmer. Kids would flock to you and steer clear of me.”
“I won’t argue that,” he quipped, and I grinned. When his warm thigh pressed against mine, neither of us moved away. It was so innocent but so intimate at the same time. “By the way, I went to the LGBTQ club I was telling you about.”
“How was it?”
“Good. Pretty laid-back.” There was hopefulness in his gaze like maybe he was trying to convince me to join. “And this weekend, I’ll be going to the teen center with Jordan and a few of the others to discuss volunteering.”
“Jordan, huh?” I playfully bumped him, even though my stomach felt tense. “The dude who shamelessly flirts with you?”
His eyes widened. “Now you just sound like your brother. He’s a good guy.”
“I don’t deny it. But it’s hard to miss how he seeks you out.”
“A gay guy seeking out another gay guy on the same team? Shocking!” Alex teased, and I felt like an idiot because he was right. The feel of community was important, even if I was allergic to joining shit. “Besides, he flirts with everyone. You jealous or something?”
I snickered instead of answering him and admitting something I wasn’t ready to. “I like this bolder version of Alex. Just putting it out there.”