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)
“Where did you disappear to last night?” There’s a beat of silence. “I texted a bunch of times and you didn’t answer.”
So much for an apology. I really should have known better. He probably doesn’t even remember trying to maul me in his parents’ bedroom. Disgust burns at the bottom of my belly and anger explodes inside me.
“I went home,” I say in a clipped tone. Like I owe him any explanations after what he did.
He arches a brow when I don’t elaborate. “How?”
“I walked.”
“All the way home? That’s at least ten miles.”
“I got a ride,” I grudgingly admit.
His demeanor changes as his eyes narrow. “From whom?”
“Does it really matter?” My voice sharpens as I cross my arms tightly over my chest. “Shouldn’t you be relieved that I arrived home safely?”
When he explodes into movement, swiftly swallowing up the distance between us, I straighten, ready to run. I refuse to put myself in a position to be taken advantage of again by this guy.
Never.
Again.
“Yeah, it does. I want to know who gave my girlfriend a ride home.”
That’s not a title I plan on keeping for long.
“Austin.” The name pops out before I can stuff it back inside. It would have been better if I’d pulled a random girl’s name out of my ass. Then, we could have avoided the explosion that is sure to follow.
The muscle in his jaw tics as he grits his teeth and battles back his temper. “How many times do I need to tell you that I don’t want you anywhere near him?” he growls, sounding like a rabid dog.
I draw in a deep breath before slowly releasing it back into the atmosphere. I need to pull the plug on this before I lose my nerve.
“This isn’t working anymore. I want to break up.”
For a long moment, he stares as if he didn’t hear me correctly. With every beat of silence that slips by, my heartbeat thunders against my ribcage.
I tense, waiting for his reaction.
What I don’t expect is the laughter that bursts from his lips as if I’ve just told him a hilarious joke.
He shakes his head as he continues to chuckle. “You don’t get to break up with me.”
I stare silently, unsure how to respond to that statement.
With a wave around the tiny living room, he says, “For fuck’s sake, you live like a cockroach in a shithole.” All amusement vanishes as his eyes sharpen until I can feel them clawing at my flesh, trying to rip me apart with his spiteful words. “Do you have any idea how lucky you are that I lowered my standards to date someone who can’t even afford to pay for their own tuition and shops at secondhand stores?”
The beat of my heart turns agonizing. Any moment, it’ll burst free from my chest. It’s tempting to lift my hand and rub the area.
“If that’s how you truly feel, then this shouldn’t be a big deal. Kind of sounds like I’m doing you a favor.”
Fury flashes in his eyes, and I scramble back a step.
Instead of responding to the comment, he growls, “Here’s what you need to do—pull your head out of your damn ass, because I’m getting real tired of your bullshit.”
My mouth falls open when he swings away and storms out the front door before slamming it shut so hard that it rattles on its hinges.
As the eerie silence settles around me, I stare in shock, unsure where that leaves us.
DELILAH
As I grab my backpack, there’s a honk from the driveway. My muscles freeze as my belly drops. After our conversation Saturday morning, I’d assumed that Jasper wouldn’t be picking me up for school on Monday.
I mean, we’re not together…right?
“Honey,” Mom calls from the kitchen, “Jasper’s waiting for you. Better hurry.”
It blows my mind that he’s parked outside after the shitty things he said to me. It’s tempting to whip out my phone and fire off a text, telling him that there’s no way I’m getting into the car with him.
“Delilah?” Mom calls again.
“I know.” My head continues to spin as I leave the bedroom.
Doesn’t he think I was serious?
I told him I wanted to break up and he laughed before hurtling insults at me. If he needs to be set straight, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
“See you at school,” Mom calls from the kitchen as I head for the door.
“Yup.”
Once on the front stoop, I pause, and my gaze fastens on Jasper. Even though he’s wearing mirrored sunglasses that shade his eyes from view, I feel the second his attention settles on me. That’s all it takes for a chill to slither across my flesh.
Fifteen minutes.
I just have to put up with him for fifteen minutes.
And then I’ll be free.
As soon as I slide onto the seat, the words shoot out of my mouth. “I haven’t changed my mind. It’s over.”