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)
Noah’s gaze quickly flicks toward Tarni, and his steps falter, but Tarni doesn’t pick up on his hesitation the way I do. I always notice everything he does. I know him better than I know myself, and though he’s not going to hold it against me for bringing her with me, he’s definitely not jumping for joy.
Despite his silent objections to our tag-along, I jump off the swing and make my way toward him. Tarni follows but is stuck a few paces behind, unable to catch up to my quick strides.
I meet Noah in the middle of the park, and he immediately throws his arm over my shoulder, pulling me right into his side, but if we were alone, he would have slid his other arm around me in a tight hug and dropped the sweetest kiss to my lips. “What’s she doing here?” he mutters under his breath.
“What was I supposed to do? I promised that we’d hang out today,” I tell him. “Besides, how many times do I need to tell you that she’s really not that bad? Are you ever going to give her a chance, or do I have to put up with this for the rest of my life?”
“Hell no. I’m not wasting my time giving her a chance. You already know how I feel about that,” he grumbles, dragging me toward the field as Tarni falls in step beside us. Noah lowers his tone. “Besides, why would I do that when I have everything I need right here?”
I roll my eyes. “I think that was the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said.”
Noah grins wide, and as that boyish charm lights up his whole face, my knees go weak. “Oh yeah?” he challenges. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Oh, God.
Noah leans in, his lips hovering by my ear as a familiar figure appears at the other end of the field. “HEADS UP!” Linc roars just in time for us to see the football hurtling right toward my face.
“FUCK,” Noah grunts, shoving me out of the way as I scream, certain I’m about to have my face rearranged by a ball. I tumble aside and trip over Tarni’s feet, falling right to the ground as Noah’s arms strike out like lightning and catch the ball with ease. He tosses it aside and quickly scrambles to scoop me up and set me back on my feet, shoving Tarni away in the process.
I cringe as I look down at my scraped knees, willing myself not to cry. I hate crying at the best of times, but I won’t do it in front of Noah. He can’t handle my tears.
“Shit, Zozo. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, shaking it off. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” he spits, turning his anger on his little brother as Tarni attempts to get close to see the damage. “What the fuck, Linc? You hurt her.”
“I didn’t mean to,” Linc responds, jogging toward us and offering me a sheepish smile. He’s not very good with apologies, but I know he’s sorry.
“What are you even doing here?” Noah demands as Tarni’s phone rings and she steps away to answer it, leaving me to deal with the brothers. “I told you to stay home. I was just coming to hang out with Zoey.”
“You always hang out with Zoey. You never have time for me anymore,” Linc whines, instantly making me feel like crap. Noah and I have been spending a lot of time together. We always do. “I just wanted to toss the ball around with you for a while. Besides, we all know that Zoey is going to get bored and end up sitting down, and then you’re gonna wish you had me here.”
“Linc,” Noah groans.
“Why do you have to be such an ass all the time?” Linc grunts, his gaze falling to the ground.
“Get lost, Linc,” Noah grits through a clenched jaw. “You’re so fucking annoying. Go home.”
Linc clenches his jaw, glaring at his big brother, and when they do this, they always look so similar. I can tell that when Linc is older and they’re both grown, people will mistake them for twins.
Linc’s bottom lip pouts out just a fraction, but he won’t break in front of Noah. He’s so stubborn. He wants Noah to see him like one of the big kids, but he’ll always be his little brother. I don’t know, maybe things will change in a few years when Linc can hold his own against him, but until then, it’s always going to be a power struggle.
“You’re a shitty brother,” Linc grumbles, devastation flashing in his eyes, and with that, he turns on his heel and stalks away.
“Linc,” I call after him, but he doesn’t stop. I love Linc as much as my little sister, but now that things have shifted between me and Noah, it changes the dynamics between us all. Noah and I aren’t just playing ball anymore, he’s flirting, accidentally touching my hand, and pretending to tumble right into me just so he can put his hands around my waist, and just when I think he’ll let me go, he’ll kiss me. It’s not exactly something Noah wants to do around his little brother, but Linc doesn’t understand that yet.