Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“You manhandled me. And I hated it.” I frown, averting my gaze to the side.
“You loved it.”
“That’s what your inflated ego said to ease your conscience of the burden of truth.”
“And what was the truth?”
I force myself to look at him. “You were a control freak. And clearly you never grew out of it.”
He flinches.
Colten’s mom called his dad a control freak. I know Colten doesn’t want anyone comparing him to his dad, but it’s the truth. It doesn’t mean Colten will hang himself while his wife and oldest son pick up Friday night pizza. It’s just an unavoidable mix of genetics and years of learned behavior.
“You’ll need a couple stitches. Or glue. They glue shit now, right?”
I grab his wrist as he blots my temple. “Give this to me.” Facing the mirror, I frown. “This is why you don’t chase people downstairs.”
“You’re not seriously blaming this on me?” He lifts his right eyebrow.
“I was trying to get away from you.” I press the wet towels to my temple and open the door with my other hand.
“Why are you always trying to run away from me?”
I turn back toward him with such speed that he nearly bumps into me. “You’re too old to be asking why the grass is green and the sky is blue.”
Rubbing his stupid lips together, he hides his grin. They’re stupid lips because I always stare at them. They were my first kiss. I still feel robbed.
“Look at you. You’re a goddamn medical doctor, Josie. That’s a shit-ton of school. So much hard work and determination. However, here you are … assistant chief medical examiner in the third largest city in the US. Even if your job is creepy as fuck, it’s a huge feat. Not very many people can do what you do. But a lot of people can get a bachelor’s degree to be an accountant or some certificate to sell real estate. A lot of women get pregnant and forego their professional aspirations to stay home and a raise a family.” He shakes his head slowly, face a little more somber. “You weren’t that girl.”
I never said I wanted to be that person. I hated him then and a part of me still hates him now for assuming he knows everything about me. Colten meant something to me, but he wasn’t a drug that took away my ability to make sensible decisions. He’s still so fucking full of himself.
“Oh my god.” My head rears back. “Please tell me you’re not trying to take credit for who I am and what I’ve become.”
“Well …” he says slowly.
“You…” I jab my finger into his chest “…are still an asshole. I became a doctor, and you stayed an asshole.”
He inhales my words like they give him some sort of high. It doesn’t matter if it’s a compliment or not. The bastard gets off on pushing my buttons. “I’ll drive you to urgent care.”
“You won’t.” I pivot and stomp my feet toward the parking lot.
“You’re going to hold that to your head and drive?”
“Yes. And I might even chew a piece of gum at the same time.”
He chuckles. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Watts.”
Even when I’m showing strength and independence, he has a way of making it seem like I’m stubborn, which feels like a weakness. I can’t explain it. And nobody else has ever noticed it. Everyone thinks Colten Mosley is a classic nice guy which means my reaction to his constant goading seems extreme.
I’m the bitch.
I’m overreacting.
I don’t know how to take a joke.
Not true.
Not true.
Definitely not true.
I get along well with others.
I’ve always excelled at group activities.
And most people find my sense of humor endearing. I can laugh at myself.
Except … when Colten pokes and prods at me. He toys with me like I’m a cat batting my paw at a dangling ball of yarn that only he and I can see.
“Colten’s going to miss you, Josie. He’s making a sacrifice so you can pursue your dreams and he can find his way. It’s noble. Friends do that for each other. You’ll be better … stronger for it someday.”
My mom had all the great mom lines and philosophies.
Boys are mean to you when they like you.
Girls are catty because they are jealous of you.
You’ll look back and be so grateful that you didn’t try to fit in with the cliques.
You’re smarter than them, and that’s intimidating.
You might be the only girl in your class who hunts, but that just means you’d be the only one to survive if you’re ever stranded on a desert island.
That one was always my favorite.
How many people actually get stranded on desert islands? I grew up in the Midwest. Was that really a danger?
I drive to urgent care, grab groceries after that, and get in a workout just to prove that I’m not anyone’s damsel in distress.