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)
It’s just…wrong.
No matter what her excuse, my stance won’t change.
I stare at the door that’s been left slightly ajar. It’s like my feet are frozen in place as the sound of my heartbeat thumps in my ears until it’s as loud as the roar of the ocean. When everything remains silent, I force myself to press against the thick wood and push it open. The creaking of the hinges has me jumping before I cautiously peek inside.
Air rushes from my lungs and my body deflates when I find the space empty. I didn’t realize how anxious I’d become until this moment.
Normally, I’m happy to run into Mom at school.
Unfortunately, what I caught a glimpse of last week is still there, buzzing around in the back of my head. It’s going to take a while for me to forget about it.
If that’s even possible.
My muscles loosen now that I know I’m not walking into an embarrassing situation. I step inside the room before glancing at the digital clock on the wall. There’s less than twenty minutes for me to get all this done. Standing at the machine, I set the number of copies that are needed before feeding the first page. A loud humming noise fills the space before duplicates are spit into the tray. After a neat stack forms, I start the second sheet. I’ve done this so many times that I could probably do it with my eyes closed.
It doesn’t take long for my mind to wander and my thoughts to drift to Austin. My belly trembles as I replay our conversation from Friday night in my head. As much as I hate it, I’m back to keeping my distance. I promised Jasper I wouldn’t tell anyone we’d secretly broken up.
I’ve never been one to go back on my word.
And I won’t start now.
Even if it’s to him.
But I feel terrible. Anytime our gazes collide across a crowded room, I see the confusion flickering in Austin’s green-flecked eyes. He doesn’t understand why I’ve pulled back.
Five more days and I’ll be able to tell him everything.
Hopefully then…I don’t know.
Maybe we can go out?
Spend more time together?
I’m unsure what the future holds for us, but I’m excited to find out.
I’m halfway through the stack of copies when the fine hair at the nape of my neck prickles with awareness and I swing around, only to find the very person dominating my thoughts leaning against the doorjamb, silently watching me.
“Hi.” My voice comes out sounding breathy, even to my own ears. It’s tempting to press my palm against my lower abdomen to quell the nerves that flutter around like a horde of butterflies.
“Hey.” Almost casually, he pushes away from the doorframe and stalks closer. That’s exactly what it feels like…being stalked.
His movements are lazy and graceful, as if he has all the time in the world. The moment he steps inside the space, it shrinks around him, making the room feel more cramped than usual.
That’s all it takes for my heartbeat to pick up speed and pound a steady tempo that vibrates throughout my body. When he’s no more than a few feet away, I take a hasty step in retreat until my spine hits the wall. The intensity lurking in his eyes makes me feel as if I’m prey trying to evade a predator.
The difference is that I don’t want to escape him.
Instead, I want to drag him closer until the woodsy scent of his cologne teases my senses and makes my head spin. I want to feel his warm breath drifting over my lips.
When I flatten against the wall, his wide palms settle on each side of my head until I’m caged in and there’s nowhere for me to run. I crane my neck in order to hold his steady gaze. Within the green depths, I see all the questions vying for precedence.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
There’s no way I can answer that without lying.
Confusion flickers across his face as his voice softens. “I wasn’t expecting that after our conversation.”
He lowers his mouth just enough for his minty breath to waft over my lips. I have to bite back the whimper that tries to escape.
“Are you ever going to leave him?”
Yes!
My mind screams the answer. I hate that I have to lie just to have a future with him.
“You deserve better. You realize that, right?”
My mouth turns so cottony that swallowing becomes impossible.
“He doesn’t treat you the way you deserve.”
His lips ghost over mine without ever quite touching. It won’t take much more of this sweet torture for me to lose my mind.
Maybe…
Maybe I should tell him what’s going on so he understands that he’s the only one I’m thinking about.
When I angle my head, he draws away. “You have to know that I’m not going to touch another dude’s girl. Even if that guy happens to be Jasper.” He bites out the last part.