Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“That’s two nights in a row you’ve snuck over there. You know your luck won’t last, right? Tresscott will catch on soon…”
“I needed to see her,” I answer. “All this was a lot for her, you know? I like checking in to make sure she’s still doing okay after everything that went down at the dance. I know she can handle it, but I want her to know I’m choosing her first. Making her my priority.”
“Sure.” He’s serious for a moment, nodding. Then a goading smirk creases his cheeks. “And after you make sure she’s okay…”
“No, it’s not like that. We’re going to take it slow. I still have a lot to do to prove myself to her.”
“Good for you, man. Really.”
There was a while there with RJ and me, when I thought our relationship might be unsalvageable. I’d done all this work to build a bond with him as brothers, only to have him see me through the filter of one of the worst days of my life. I worried I’d never get that trust back. But credit to him, RJ didn’t give up on me. Even when I’m sure it would have been easier to appease Sloane and write me off, he had my back. I’ll never forget that. And long as our misfit parents try to make this big happy family thing work, I’ll always have his.
“Still can’t believe Lucas was the one,” RJ says glumly.
He was close with the kid, and I know this is eating at him. Not as much as it’s eating at Casey, but RJ is definitely still shaken about it.
“What do you think that message from Gabe meant?” I ask suddenly. Now that I’ve got Lucas on the brain. “When he told Lucas to tell me he knows the truth?”
“Maybe he meant the truth about who was driving the car?”
“Maybe. But it felt more like an accusation, you know? Something related to me, personally.”
“Yeah, it did. But honestly, I have no clue. And it doesn’t look like Lucas is going to be filling us in any time soon.”
“I hate mysteries.” I heave a sigh, going thoughtful for a beat. “You know what I could go for?”
RJ glances over while flipping channels.
“Bloody Mary and pancakes.”
He brightens. “Think they’ll deliver?”
The door suddenly bursts open with a loud groan, so deafening the whole floor’s got to be awake now.
A heavy bag thuds to ground.
Then a stunned silence follows as RJ and I turn to stare at the newcomer in the doorway.
I blink several times, needing to remind myself I haven’t been drinking.
Gabe narrows those familiar dark eyes, scanning the room that used to be half his. He lingers over RJ’s stuff before turning his attention to me.
A hint of a frown twists my best friend’s mouth as he says, “What did I miss?”