Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I shake my head, because I don’t know, but I want to know, so I stare at him, eyes wide, waiting for him to finish his story.
“You said Slater Knight, I will not get on that death machine with you. You’re going to have to come up with something else, and fast, or this date isn’t going to happen.”
His mouth twitches a little as he remembers, and that makes my heart ache.
“You had your hands on your hips, ready to take me down if I argued with you.”
I stare at him, and then smile just a little. “Well, they are like throwing yourself into a bus. There is nothing protecting you. Nothing to keep you safe...”
“Me.”
I shake my head. “Huh?”
“I’m the one who keeps you safe.”
Dammit.
I look away.
“Heard what you and Scarlett were talkin’ about. You goin’ to a doctor?”
I shrug. “I think I should.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Think so, too.”
“Do you...do you think I’ll remember?”
He meets my eyes. “Fuckin’ hope so, darlin’.”
Darlin’.
The moment he says those words, a fuzzy picture skitters through my mind, so quickly it’s almost incomprehendable, but it’s there. I can’t see anything. Hell, I don’t even know what the memory is, but someone says those words to me. That someone being Slater, I’m sure of it. I shake my head and rub at my eyes, frustrated I can’t see it clearly, it’s almost like a fuzzy movie on repeat, and you’re squinting trying to make out the pictures.
“You okay?” he asks me.
“Ah, yeah. I...yeah.”
I stand up, overwhelmed. “I’m not feeling well, I’m going to go. It was nice talking to you, Slater.”
A flash of disappointment flitters across his face, and I’m not sure what did it, but it makes my heart hurt even more.
I shouldn’t be here, making things worse for him.
He’s already suffering enough. Already broken. Already wishing he could have me back. His life back. Anything back.
“Ellie,” he says, when I start walking off.
I turn and stare at him.
“I’ll never stop trying.”
And that just breaks my heart even more.
~*~*~*~
THEN – SLATER
“That them?” I ask, shoving a finger in the direction of a group of girls.
Ellie and I are sitting in my truck, out front of the school.
“Stop pointing!” she cries, slapping my hand down. “It’s bad enough they’re going to see me getting dropped off by Damon’s older brother, let alone if they see you pointing at them.”
I ignore her little rant and swing the truck door open, listening to her gasp as I throw my booted feet out, hit the pavement and start striding towards the girls. This wasn’t part of the plan, well, it was, Ellie just didn’t know about it. I’m not going to have some bitchy mean girl walkin’ around hitting other people and bad mouthing my family.
The girls turn as I get closer, and their eyes widen.
They know who I am.
I know who they are.
I stop when I reach their group, and look the main girl in the eye. I think her name is Dex, which, is a man’s name, if you ask me. Her eyes meet mine, and I’ll admit, if I was thinking with my dick, she’d be hot. Curvy body, blond hair, big tits, perky ass. She’s popular for a reason, and she knows what that reason is. Her personality, however, is equal to a wet sponge and I don’t have time for stuck up bitches.
Especially those that lay their hands on other people.
Before she even has a chance to speak, I start.
Now, I’m not one to be nasty to any human, not a girl, not a man, I was taught a whole lot more respect than that, but I won’t tolerate bullying, either. And there is a way to deal with it, there is always a way to deal with it, and that’s what I’m about to do.
“I’ll only say this once, Dex, so listen up. I’m not goin’ to abuse you, or carry on in front of your friends. You and I both know why you are the way you are, but I will tell you one thing, and listen closely because I do not bluff. If you ever, and I mean ever, lay your hand on my girl again, hell, if you ever so much as even look in her direction again, you’ll hear from me. And I promise you, Dex, you will not like what I have to say. I’ll ask nicely this once, so put your pride and attitude aside, and take heed. Listen, because I know you’re not as entirely stupid as you make out you are. If I hear you’ve gone near her, I’ll be back.”
Her mouth drops open, just a little, and her eyes widen.
I was once the most popular guy in school, I was Dex, only the male version. And I learned a few very fuckin’ hard lessons. I also learned to have respect for other people. She knows exactly who I am, and she knows who I was in this school. I don’t imagine she’ll argue with me. Or go near Ellie.