Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 88305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
At all.
29
Naomi
I’m still thinking about the weird encounter with those two men during my morning classes.
It’s impossible not to, considering all the facts that line up.
They knew Mom’s old name.
They’re Japanese.
They drive a black van.
Oh, and one of them was so pleased to meet me that he called me a different name altogether.
I hope I’m just being paranoid and that whatever Mom will tell me doesn’t have anything to do with them.
The moment I dismiss any thoughts of them, they rush back in. Especially Ren.
There’s something about Ren.
But what?
“Nao! Are you listening?” Lucy waves a hand in front of my face.
“Oh, sorry.” I grimace as I shove my books into my bag after the professor leaves. I’m ready to get to lunch and lose myself in Sebastian. “What did you say?”
Lucy rolls her eyes. “I was asking if you were too busy boning to answer my text.”
“Luce!” I cast a glance at our surroundings before I murmur, “Who even says boning anymore?”
“I do. Besides, everyone knows you and Sebastian are…a thing.”
“We’re not a thing.”
“What are you then?”
I weigh my words as we step out of the lecture hall. Really, what are we? Mom called him my boyfriend and Lucy implied we’re a thing. Is that what we are? A couple?
We might not have started under traditional circumstances, but we started. We’re…there. Or here, or whatever.
Our relationship is no longer only sexual. Maybe it has never been only sexual from the beginning.
“We’re just us,” I tell Lucy with a grin.
“Nao…” she trails off, then clears her throat. “Maybe you shouldn’t get too comfortable in Sebastian’s company.”
“Why?”
“Well…he’s a Weaver and the quarterback, and all of that comes with attention.”
“I’m fine.” So far.
“Are you sure? Because he’s popular and has that whole limelight thing you hate so much.”
“Oh, come on, Luce. Spare me the hypocrisy. I hate Reina and her mean girls, but I didn’t ask you to not be comfortable in their company. I never whined about how you spend most of your time at her house, playing dress-up and worshipping the goddess of beauty to keep you forever young. I respected your choice, so please respect mine.”
“You’re right.” She gulps. “I was out of line. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to be bitchy.”
“I’m just worried about you, Nao. I’ve never seen you this lost in a man before. I thought it was just a crush, but it’s turning into something a lot deeper than that.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just a crush.” With depraved sex. But I spare Lucy the details.
My phone vibrates and I smile when I see his name.
Sebastian: I’m running late because of Coach. Wait for me before you start eating.
Sebastian: I have something of yours.
He attaches a picture of his veiny hand holding a bottle of apple juice.
I grin like an idiot as I type.
Naomi: I had juice this morning.
Sebastian: Not my special type. Prepare that mouth for me.
Naomi: Stop it.
Sebastian: I was talking about the juice. Where did your mind go, baby?
My cheeks catch fire as I shove the phone back in my pocket and listen to Lucy talking about our upcoming exams. There’s still a big game for the Black Devils this Friday, so we’ll lose an entire evening—and the days leading up to it.
Scoffs and groans echo in the air as Lucy and I approach the table where the cheer squad and the football players sit.
My guess is that it’s more about me rather than my best friend, who awkwardly sits down.
I join her, too, pretending to be oblivious to the animosity as I swing my bag to my side.
They wouldn’t be this obvious about it if Sebastian was sitting me on his lap. Lucy said whenever anyone attacks me, he’ll level them with a look from behind my back and it’s enough to shut them up.
Well, at least, most of them. Brianna, Reina, and Owen are rogue.
Prescott, too, though he’s not as talkative as the rest of them.
Now that Sebastian is caught up with his coach, I’m all alone on the battlefield. It’s not that I need his protection, considering I was doing just fine before he came along, but it feels good to not be in a constant state of war with the world.
Brianna is still as nasty as ever, but everyone else isn’t. It’s as if they’re finally acceptant of me, and as a result, I haven’t been as venomous or as sarcastic as I was in the past.
Besides, I’m in a good mood today and no one will ruin it.
“Um, excuse me?” Brianna taps her glittery nails on the table in front of me.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Bee?” I mock.
“It’s Bree!” she screeches, her veins tightening in her red neck, seeming to be on the verge of popping. “And your ass is not welcome here, you skank.”
I stare around the table, pretending to search for something. “I don’t see your name anywhere here, so I can sit my ass anywhere I like.”