Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
“Oh cool,” I say, a fond smile pulling at the corners of my lips as I help Dad with the groceries, still wondering why the hell we need so much when it’s just Aunt Maya.
Hazel strides in and drops her bony ass on one of the island stools, clearly not in the mood to lend a hand. “Did I hear you say that Aunt Maya was coming?” she asks, her gaze lingering on the groceries as if wondering what yummy snacks she can hide and steal.
“Sure did,” Mom says as a strange note appears in her tone. She swallows hard before sparing me a glance. “She said Noah was coming.”
My mouth drops at the same time the bag of carrots slips out of my hand, spilling out across the kitchen floor. “Ummmmm . . . what?” I say, my eyes wide as I gape at my mother, my heart racing a million miles an hour. Noah can’t be coming over here. Not after I just stole his car. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for my checkmate, but now he’s pulling a move like this? I thought I’d won this round, but it seems I wasn’t even in the running.
Crap. He’s going to be in my house again. Sitting across from me at the table. I’m going to have to pretend that his very presence isn’t making me want to fall to pieces, all while his car keys are burning a hole in my desk upstairs.
Shit.
What could possibly go wrong?
“Uh,” Dad says behind me, nervousness ringing in his tone. “Are you sure he’s actually coming?”
“Yes,” Mom says, eyeing Dad through a narrowed gaze. “Why do you look like you suddenly have the overwhelming urge to go get a rectal exam?”
My gaze sweeps to my father, and I narrow my stare the same way Mom does. She’s right. He doesn’t look entirely thrilled about the idea of Noah having dinner with us. “I . . . I. Ummm . . . ahhhhh.”
“Dad,” I prompt, crossing my arms over my chest, completely forgetting about the spilled carrots while noticing that Hazel is the only one who seems remotely excited about the idea of Noah coming over. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” he says, eyeing me with the same suspicion. “Why are you acting so shady about it?”
“No reason,” I throw back, immediately averting my gaze. Only my curiosity gets the best of me, and I look back up to find him nervous again.
Dad meets my stare, his gaze tightening as if he’s about to burst from the seams. “Okay,” he finally says. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“What?” I screech. “No way. I’ll definitely get in trouble for this one.”
He shrugs and gets back to packing away the groceries, knowing damn well the curiosity is eating at me. “Fine,” he says as though he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Have it your way.”
I groan, my resolve quickly crumbling and burning to ashes at my feet, desperate to know what could possibly have Dad so on edge. “Ughhhhh. Okay. I need to know. Tell me everything.”
Excitement shoots through his gaze, and he whips back around to face me, holding his pinky finger out at me. “Promise you won’t get cranky at me, and I’ll promise you won’t be in trouble.”
“Cranky?” I ask, looping my pinky finger around his and shaking on the deal as my tone lowers, my gaze narrowing on my father. “What did you do?”
“Well,” he starts, having the nerve to look a little sheepish. “On Friday night, after he stalked you home from the party across town, I sort of gave him the come near my daughter again and your life won’t be worth living speech.”
“What?” I demand, gaping at my father, all but stuttering over my words, unable to string a proper sentence together. “I . . . What? Are you insane?”
“I was just looking out for you, Zo. You’re my little girl, and he’s trouble, but for what it’s worth, he straight up told me no, but it was a respectful no. It was like he was saying, I see your protective-father obligations, but I know what’s best for your daughter.”
Mom sputters around the rim of her wine glass, choking on the liquid goodness while trying to act as though she’s not listening in on our conversation, but all I can do is continue to gape. I remember Dad standing out in the yard on Friday night talking to Noah. I was so focused on everything that happened; I didn’t give it a second thought. I figured they were just saying a quick hello, perhaps Dad was thanking him for making sure I had gotten home alright. But never in my wildest imagination did I think that my father would have warned him to stay away from me, let alone have Noah blatantly refuse.