Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
I find myself resting my hand on his back and turning my ear towards him. To hear better as he continues, “My cousin’s house.”
I wonder why he was there. My interest is quiet.
And he just gives me answers like breath he’d been imprisoning. “It was really bad, Luna. Being there, I hated it…it reminded me so much of where I grew up. But he’s the one who stole Sulli’s Jeep, and I thought I’d go and threaten him.” He touches the House Stark shirt. “Had to change my clothes after they got wet.”
He explains all of that too. How his cousin was making sure he didn’t have a wire on him.
He’s explaining the whole afternoon, and I don’t even realize my arm is fully around Donnelly—and his arm is around me—until his fingers grip my dress a little tighter.
“And then I bitched slapped him.” He lets out a strained laugh.
My lips try to rise, but it hurts knowing Donnelly got hurt, too. “I hope it stung his face; I really do.” I also want to say that I wish I could’ve been there, but what if I am too soft? I wouldn’t have shown my fists.
I wouldn’t have scared anyone away.
“Looked like it hurt,” Donnelly whispers. “Been happy I just didn’t have to deal with my dad, too.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s still in prison.”
Oh, I forgot about that. “Right, I knew that. Sorry.” My face heats. He never forgets much about me, and I should’ve remembered this.
“No, it’s alright. She’s been in and out a lot.”
I search his eyes. “Do you like her?”
He thinks about this for a long second. “Sometimes.” He nods. “Sometimes, I even love her. Even after what she did.”
I don’t ask him what it is. I’d rather him just tell me when he’s ready. Even if he never will be, it’s okay.
He stares back out at Xander. “I’m still hoping she leaves my dad. I’m hoping she gets clean again. I’m hoping she stays out of prison next time. But that’s the thing—there’s always a next time. It’s hard to keep hoping when they keep disappointing.”
“The next time might be decades, though,” I mention softly. “Sometimes they do conquer their vices for longer than you think.”
I’ve always known my parents could relapse again. My dad could drink one day. But they’ve fought off their addictions for my entire life, and that’s something to be proud of—even if they fall off the wagon tomorrow.
It doesn’t diminish all the days they battled and won.
“Lily and Lo are inspirations,” Donnelly says with the start of a smile. He knew I was referring to my parents. “Maybe one day, my mom will…” He stops short, cocks his head with a heavy sigh. “I dunno.” He thinks again. “It all ended at Colin’s house worse than when I got there.” He explains, “They want me to steal from Beckett. And I can’t do it. I can’t…” He shakes his head repeatedly and tells me how Colin thinks Beckett and Donnelly are a thing. Based off a rumor about SFO being fake bodyguards to hide their real relationships.
When Donnelly was transferred off Beckett, I remember how fans thought his boss moved him to further hide the romance.
It probably doesn’t help that neither Beckett nor Donnelly have ever publicly stated they’re straight.
“Colin took a picture of me in his kitchen,” Donnelly explains the blackmail tactic.
My stomach knots. “You could always just ask Beckett for something. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if he knew the truth. He might even want to help.”
“I can’t…” Donnelly’s face twists.
I bring up the fact that we do have a lot of money, but Donnelly is staunch in his position and I’m not really here to sway him. I just wanted to listen. “It’s okay, either way.”
“You aren’t going to tell anyone—”
“No,” I say as strongly as I can. I know he shared this in confidence, so I wouldn’t run to my parents or Farrow or Moffy. He’s trusting me, and I’d want the same trust in return if our places were swapped. “I’d make a promise—how we do on my planet—but we’re surrounded by earthlings.”
And this is when Donnelly dips the umbrella forward. Hiding us from every human in the gym for point-two seconds. Just so his tongue tangles with mine again.
Our lips never touch, but our smiles have risen outwardly. And inside me.
Umbrella swoops upward once more, and just as I say, “Good promise,” Delilah is inbound, headed for Donnelly.
“Where’s…?” I start to ask about Xander, but I already see my brother racing towards Easton who saunters through the gym in a matching blood-red suit.
My brother has never looked happier. “You made it?!”
Easton is grinning at Xander. “I snuck out!”
“No way, man.” They basically tackle each other in a hug, and they bounce onto the dance floor together.