Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“For fuck’s sake,” Austin grumbles. “The last thing I want to see is you maul my sister.”
Not bothered by the comment, Kingsley flashes a grin. “Then you should turn away, because it’s about to get rated R real quick around here.”
Summer slaps at his chest but doesn’t stop him from taking her mouth in a possessive kiss that sizzles in the air surrounding them.
Austin rolls his eyes before propelling me forward, away from the trio.
“We’re out. I’ll catch you later,” he tosses over his shoulder.
That’s all it takes for nerves to explode across my skin as we head to the parking lot.
DELILAH
Ifiddle with the hem of my skirt before smoothing my palms over the fabric, attempting to stretch it farther down my thighs. Every time I shift against the leather seat, it slides upward.
As we leave the rolling grounds of Hawthorne Prep behind, a breath of relief escapes from me. This place has become more of a prison. One I’m happy to escape from.
Admittedly, the day was easier to get through with Austin at school. I didn’t have to worry about being openly hunted by Jasper. My mind wasn’t consumed by thoughts of where he would turn up next and what he would do if he found me alone.
To be honest, I’d been so preoccupied with the dark-haired boy and whether he was going to lay hands on me that I barely gave my ex a passing thought. It’s demoralizing to realize just how quickly I can be reduced to a quivering mass of hormones.
When I continue to fidget, he reaches out and wraps his hand around my thigh. He hits the turn signal, swinging onto the long stretch of country road that leads to town. The way his palm sears my bare flesh is almost enough to make me forget about everything churning through my brain. In that moment, my world shrinks down until it encompasses just the two of us.
“You all right?” he asks.
I glance from his fingers draped possessively around my leg to his face. He flicks his gaze to me, searching my eyes before his stare returns to the road.
“I’m fine.”
Well…as fine as I can be, considering the circumstances. It’s not something I allow myself to dwell on, since there’s nothing I can do to change the situation. I just need to get through it. And that includes Austin. I need to find a way to survive him without falling any harder.
“Did you have any convos with Jasper today?”
I shake my head, thankful there weren’t any unexpected run-ins. “No.”
When I peek at him, I find his lips compressed into a tight line.
“You don’t believe me. You think we’re still together.”
In that moment, I realize just how far apart we are. It’s as if he’s standing on one side of the ocean and I’m on the other.
The night we spent talking in the car tumbles through my head, and I can’t help but wish it were possible to go back to a place where our relationship was less complicated.
“I’m not sure what to believe,” he says carefully, somber gaze latching onto mine. “Part of me wants to trust you’re being honest and had nothing to do with what happened. But there’s another part that’s afraid you two are playing me.” He shrugs. “That’s where I’m at.”
“Tell me what I have to do to prove that I’m not lying.” Desperation fills my voice.
His jaw locks and he takes his foot off the accelerator, dropping his speed as we cruise through the sleepy little town.
When he remains silent, I swivel toward him. “Austin?”
His profile looks as if it’s etched in stone.
Just as I open my mouth to plead, he gives his head a brisk shake.
Frustration wafts off him in heavy waves. “I’m not sure there’s anything you can do that will make me believe you. Too much has happened.”
My shoulders collapse as everything inside me wilts. Unsure what to say, I turn away and stare sightlessly out the passenger side window. The remainder of the ride is made in painstaking silence. By the time we pull up in front of my house, I just want to escape his presence.
I’m done playing games.
There’s no doubt in my mind that when this is over, someone will be hurt. And more than likely, it’ll be me. I don’t mean anything to Austin. He’s made that perfectly clear. And Jasper is incapable of caring about anyone other than himself. None of this would be transpiring if I’d realized that sooner and never gotten involved with him in the first place.
Unfortunately, what they say is true—hindsight is twenty-twenty.
When my fingers tighten around the handle, he reaches out and lays a hand over mine to stop me from leaving.
“We’re not done here.”
Angry with the way this conversation has played out, I snap. “I think we are.”