Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“You two bang on the hood on Harford’s ride or something?”
I glared at Hendrix in the rearview, and a grin stretched over his lips.
“It’s tenser than my dick in here,” he said.
“Speaking of stolen cars.” I eyed the twisted ignition cables dangling from the steering column. “Why are you riding around in one?” Stealing cars to sell was one thing, but cruising around in them, that was just asking for a pair of cuffs.
“It was Old Man Otis’.” Hendrix bowed his head then crossed himself, swerving across the lane. “God rest his perverted old bones.”
Zepp grabbed the steering wheel, redirecting the car back onto the highway. “Eyes on the road, dick.”
“You grave robbed?” I asked.
“He doesn’t need it anymore.” Hendrix cackled like a hyena. “Besides, that man was a dick. And I robbed his front yard. Not his grave.” He turned up the radio, and twangy country music crackled through the speakers. He glanced at Zepp. “What happened to Harford’s corvette?”
Before Zepp could answer, I did: “He pushed it into a lake.”
“What the hell did you do that for, you idiot?” Hendrix did a full turn around to look at me, the car veering to the shoulder. “Why’d you let him do that?”
I whacked him the back of his head. “Look at the road! Jesus Christ. Who taught you to drive?”
He looked forward again. “Old Man Otis.” The car turned onto the highway by the high school, and I leaned between the front seats. “Can you drop me at school? My car’s there.”
Hendrix looked at Zepp like he was God and needed his approval.
“Don’t look at him.” I clipped him around the head again.
“Ow! Call your girl off.”
Zepp said, “She’s not my girl” at the same time that I said, “I’m not his girl.”
Hendrix barked out a laugh. “You two are so bumping uglies.” He did a little dance in his seat while singing: “Bow-chica-wow-wow.”
“Take me to my damn car, Hendrix!” I needed out of this car with these two.
“Please, God. Yes!” Zepp groaned. “Take her to her fucking car.”
I glared at the back of his head. The second Hendrix pulled up at the school gate, I got out, slamming the door behind me. The sedan backfired when they sped off.
I had no idea what had happened. How Zepp and I had gone from shouting at each other to him pinning me against that phone booth. I hated that I liked it. That kiss was rough and angry and unexpected. I stopped in the middle of the abandoned parking lot, staring at my car. I had told him I didn’t need him, but some part of me already did. I was screwed. For once, my car decided to start, and I had never been so grateful for the shit box’s co-operation.
* * *
On Saturday night, I called in sick at The White Rabbit. I couldn’t stomach stripping and having men leer all over me. It had only been a week since Max had drugged me, but things like that happened all the time. The situation sucked, but sitting in the trailer did nothing but give me time to think. Which was the only reason I went to the mall with Jade.
Jade thumbed through the discount rack while I watched, already bored and regretting my decision to come here.
The distinct click of heels stopped right beside me. The girl huffed, and I glanced over, having to stop from rolling my eyes. Of course, it would be Leah in her sweater and plaid skirt, even a damn headband. She couldn’t be any more Barrington if she tried. Two of her friends were with her, like little clones in matching outfits. She flicked through the clothes with a curl of disgust to her lip before her gaze drifted to me.
“Oh, look. It’s Dayton’s trashiest white trash.” She lifted a brow, crossing her arms over her chest with way too much attitude.
“God, fuck off, Leah.” I matched her stance. “You’re Barrington’s biggest bitch. We get it.”
She dug a fist into her hip, striking a classic cheerleader pose. “Just so you know, my boyfriend wouldn’t want you.” She stepped closer—both hands on her hips now. “So that little lie you’re spreading around about him trying to sleep with you, you may as well give that up. It’s pathetic.”
Me trying to sleep with him? Zepp was the one who had started that damn rumor.
Despite that, heat crawled through me, a twinge of jealousy tightening my chest. It shouldn’t have bothered me that Leah thought she had a claim on Zepp, but it did. I’d never show her that, though. “Zepp’s all yours. Whatever you’ve heard is bullshit.”
Her nose wrinkled like she’d sniffed dog shit. “That scumrat? Eww.” The girls beside her giggled, and it pissed me off. She was all over him only last week. “I’m talking about Max Harford. You know, the quarterback for Barrington.”