Total pages in book: 238
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1159(@200wpm)___ 927(@250wpm)___ 773(@300wpm)
I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I watched her. We all heard the music, one by one, each of us making our way down to the ballroom.
Micah couldn’t resist, instantly gravitating toward her, and it wasn’t until he had her in his arms that I saw the tears on her face.
She was quickly smiling, though, and it was heart-wrenching, because I knew I’d made her cry. No matter how many times I told myself she deserved to suffer, this wasn’t in my nature.
I’d be lost without some second chances myself. There were always two sides to a story, and everything was just a matter of perspective.
But finding out that she was the one who sent us to prison was almost a relief. It finally gave me permission to hate her and not just resent her because she had rejected me.
Micah swung her out, and she twirled, stepping on her tiptoes, and the both of them danced the Mashed Potato or some equally dumb dance, and I smiled even wider. For a few moments, we weren’t in Blackchurch. We were friends, hanging out and having a good time.
And suddenly, I missed home a lot.
“Go to her,” Alex urged me.
Taylor, Aydin, and Rory hung back, amusement written on their faces, and part of me wanted to go to. It was like a whole other world to see her like this.
But years of disappointment and doubt kept me rooted in my spot.
“Ow, ow!” Emmy suddenly yelped.
I shot my gaze up, seeing her stumble before Micah rushed in and pulled her up to him, keeping her steady.
She hissed, lifting her leg off the floor, and I saw blood stream down the bottom of her foot.
I took a step, but then Aydin stormed in, heading to the middle of the dance floor, and I stopped, watching him.
“Ow,” she grunted, but then chuckled, looking around the floor. “Shit, the glass.”
Aydin glared at Micah. “I thought you said you cleaned it up.”
“I did clean it up,” he rushed to explain.
Aydin swept Emmy into his arms, a couple of drops dripping off her heel, and my blood boiled so hot I felt nauseated, seeing her in his arms.
Goddammit. If my head would just settle on one emotion where she was concerned, that would be fucking fantastic. I hate her, but she’s mine. Go away, but don’t go with him!
He carried her past us, and we followed as I zoned in on her hands locked around his neck. He took her up the stairs, to his room, setting her on the bed as we all lingered by the door.
He could’ve taken her to the kitchen. He had a first aid kit there, too.
She lifted her foot up, setting it on her knee, probably trying to keep the blood off the carpet, but he knelt down in front of her and took it, holding a cloth to the bottom.
“It’s okay,” she said, trying to pull her leg away and hold the cloth herself.
He wouldn’t let it go.
Lifting it up, he inspected the damage, and I got angrier by the second. She’d stepped on a shard. She was an architect. She’s had her share of splinters, asshole.
Aydin looked up, jerking his chin at the guys. “There’s a bottle in the pantry,” he told them. “Go have fun.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Taylor said, sliding back out of the room.
Rory slapped Micah’s stomach. “Pool party.”
He breathed out a laugh, and they all left, heading back down the stairs and leaving Alex and me with Aydin and Emory.
I looked after the guys as they disappeared down the stairs, a sinking feeling in my gut. They were going to be drunk in an hour.
Aydin wanted them drunk.
I stepped closer, watching her and him, bracing myself for the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to stop myself.
“I want a bottle,” she joked to Aydin.
He looked up at her, a smile playing on his lips. Without taking his eyes off of her, he reached over into the cabinet on the bedside table and pulled out another container and a glass, setting them both next to the lamp.
She grinned as he opened the bourbon and poured her two fingers.
“Here you go.” He handed it to her.
I could smell the amber liquid from here, my tongue suddenly ash in my mouth as he returned his attention to her foot.
Alex remained near the door, and I just wanted to pull Em out of the room and get the girls away, but I had plans for Aydin, and I wasn’t ready to escalate it right now.
Even though it looked like that decision was getting more and more out of my control.
Emmy cupped the glass in her lap, staring down at it. “My brother got so drunk on this stuff once,” she said. “I remember how it tasted like it was yesterday.”