Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
I never knew why she kept my secrets yet refused to do something as simple as go to homecoming with me. Either she liked me, or she didn’t.
Nothing was that simplistic with Josie. I should have known that, but I was too self-absorbed in my own miserable life to see her—really see her.
“Jason is a dick. Why would you go with him to homecoming?” I leaned my back against the lockers while Josie swapped out her books before her calculus class.
“Because he asked me.”
“So you’ll go out with any guy who asks you out as long he isn’t me?”
She slammed her locker door shut and glared at me. “I want to graduate. I want to have a clean record to get into college. I want a future that doesn’t involve addiction. And before you decided to let your dad win, I thought I wanted you.” She took off down the hallway.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Let my dad win?”
“Colten, I have to get to class.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I grabbed her arm to stop her.
She sighed. “Let go of me. I don’t have time for this.”
“Time for this? You mean time for me. No time to talk to me. No time to go to homecoming with me because you no longer want me? Really? We’ve come this far and you’re done? We’re done?”
“I’m going to class. I don’t know what you’re doing.” She took several steps and turned her head, resting her chin on her shoulder while her dark eyes lifted to mine. “Do you, Colten? Do you know what you’re doing?”
I let her go. I had a way of letting her go when I knew she was right, and I was too stubborn to admit it.
So Josie went to homecoming with Jason, and I spent the evening drinking under the bleachers. Alcohol on school property. Not my finest hour.
When I felt adequately buzzed, I sauntered toward the school entrance and waited for Josie and Jason to leave the dance. They were kind enough to not keep me waiting too long. An hour before the dance ended, Josie pushed through the doorway, giggling like Jason was somehow entertaining her. She looked pretty in her white dress and hair pulled back with ringlets around her face. Her nails were painted light pink like the color of her lip gloss.
I didn’t go to homecoming with Josie because my dad wanted me to go to the dance since it was my senior year. Fuck him. I wasn’t going to the dance because he thought I should go.
“Josie …” Her name slurred from my lips as I stumbled toward her. “Did you have fun with Jason?” I asked as if Jason wasn’t standing right next to her.
“Have you been drinking?” she asked, but she knew the answer.
I held up my fingers and tried to measure an inch. “A wee bit.”
“How are you getting home?”
I patted my pocket, then my other pocket, then my back pocket before I felt my keys. “My truck.”
“You can’t drive.”
“Well, you wouldn’t go with me, so I had to drive myself.” I laughed and shrugged, finding it nearly impossible to hold still because everything around me seemed to be moving.
“Dude, you’re going to get suspended. Just call your parents.”
“Dude … I didn’t ask for your fucking opinion. I didn’t ask for you to take my girl to homecoming, and I’m sure as shit not going to call my parents because you said I should.”
“Colten …” Josie reached for my arm.
“Uh uh uh … don’t touch me. We’re not allowed to touch because you didn’t say yes to me. And I told your dad I wouldn’t date you or kiss you. Maybe even screw you. I can’t remember for sure.” I scratched my chin.
“God … you’re a mess. Give me your keys.”
“Can’t. Gotta go. Don’t fuck him, Josie. I heard he has crabs.”
“Fuck you, man. I don’t have crabs.” Jason took a step toward me, but I was bigger and stronger, and he knew it. Even slightly inebriated, I could have knocked him flat on his ass.
“Just … let me handle this.” Josie stepped between us.
“Handle?” I smirked “Are you going to handle me?” I grabbed her hand and pressed it to my cock. I wasn’t even hard.
“Back the fuck off!” Jason shoved me.
I laughed, stumbling backward. “Josie’s my girl. Did you know that? She’s mine. She’s been mine since we were nine.” I laughed some more. “That rhymes. Mine since we were nine. Ha! I’m a poet, and I don’t even know it.” I turned, still chuckling at myself.
“Colten!” Josie chased me, but I pulled away every time she tried to grab my arm. “You are not driving!”
“Are you handling me again?” I clucked my tongue. “Don’t tell Jason.”
“Colten.”
“Josie,” I parroted.
Then she was gone.
I turned.
“Josie?”
She wasn’t in sight, and neither was Jason. It took me several attempts to not only fish my keys out of my back pocket, but to get them into the door of my truck to unlock it. More time was wasted trying to poke the key into the ignition. The truck sputtered to life, and I shoved it in Drive before speeding out of the parking lot. I barely made it to the stop sign before bright cherry lights flashed. Someone snitched.