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)
Her lips pressed together. I could just imagine she was trying to figure out something else to try to prove her point, but Chase came back into the room. He dropped books and a laptop onto the junked-up table and sat next to Monroe, scooting his chair closer to her.
I drummed my fingers over the table while he booted up the laptop. “Planning to study in your room?” I asked.
Chase’s hostel gaze met mine. “Moe’s been in my room plenty of times.”
I grabbed the roll of paper towels sitting in front of me and squeezed. Snarky son of a bitch. “And yet, you still haven’t gotten what you want.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Not all of us can, I guess.” I really, really wanted to slam his head against that freezer now.
“Ooookay.” Monroe pointed at me. “Stop.” Then shoved the laptop in front of Chase. “Focus. Type.”
I threw up both hands in surrender. “I’m just trying to have a conversation.”
She ignored me, snatching one of the books from the stack and flipping to a page. “We only have two more topics we have to put in. One is, what are the pros and cons of social media in a modern society versus thirty years ago?”
What kind of bullshit was this? I tossed the paper towels back to the table.
Chase cleared his throat like he had some grand revelation he was about to vomit out. “Well, I think one of the biggest downfalls of social media is the way it places value on people or the opinions of people who really don’t matter. Instead of placing that value on real, long-standing friendships that are far more important.” He looked at me like a proud little dipshit. “It promotes false relationships with no real foundation.”
Oh, I supposed that was meant to be some dig. “You realize society has always placed value on the opinions of people who don’t really matter?” I said. “That’s not some new phenomena that happened due to social media, you dumbass.”
Chase glared at me.
“Thanks for your input, babe.” Monroe gave me a stern look before turning her attention to Chase. “He does have a point, though.”
Of course I did. Dipshit typed something for a few minutes while Monroe looked through her notes. Every time he tried to make some comment that he thought made him sound smart, I debunked it. After half an hour, steam was swirling from the top of his head. He grabbed his backpack from the floor and hauled it into his lap, rummaging through it and pulling out a joint.
Monroe tapped her pen over the open book in front of her. “Your mom’s gonna kill you if you smoke that in here.”
“She’s working night shift tonight.” Chase lit the joint and took a puff. “So is Dad.”
That dickhead had every intention of trying to screw her. I knew he had. On a smirk, he blew a cloud of smoke into the air before offering it to Monroe. She shook her head.
“Hey, Moe, remember that time we went up on the billboard and got so stoned we slept up there?”
He stared me down like he wanted me to think something had happened between them.
“Yeah, your dad said I was a bad influence. Now look at you, smoking in the house.” She flashed a condescending smile.
That little asshole wanted to try and show me how special he was to Monroe? Fuck him. “Hey, Roe. Remember that time I fingered you so good and got you off on top of the billboard?” My jaw clenched, my stare aimed at Chase.
“Okay.” Monroe choked on a nervous cough. “You know, I think you can just write this section, Chase. I’ll write the next. It’ll be fine.” She pushed to her feet so fast the chair teetered on its back legs for a second. “Zepp,” she said through gritted teeth, spinning on her heels, then leaving the room.
I slowly rose, looming over him. “She may think this is all innocent. But I know it’s fucking bullshit.” I jabbed a finger at his forehead. “Don’t make me kill you, Matthews.” I shoved his head back before storming out of the room.
Monroe ignored me until we got home, where I begged her to forgive me by face planting between her thighs.
30
Monroe
I could think of a million better things to do on a Friday night than following Zepp through the crowded entrance of Dayton High’s football stadium. Hendrix and Bellamy flanked Jade, Hendrix walking way closer than necessary. Half of the people in the stadium wore school colors. If there was one thing the people of this town had in common, it was their love of football. I was the odd one out, apparently.
“I swear,” Zepp mumbled. “I’m gonna kill Wolf for making us come to this shit.”
“You know, I would not have taken Wolf for a football player.”