Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Feeling my face heat, I turn around and find my dog sitting at Levi’s side with his hand on the top of her head. “Go on in, girl,” he commands with a pat to her head, and Muffin looks up at him, then looks at me, but what she doesn’t do is move an inch.
“Come on, Muffin,” I urge, giving her leash a gentle tug as my face grows hotter.
“I think Muffin wants to stay with Levi.” Mac laughs, and I glare at her. “Just sayin’.” She smiles.
“Come on,” Levi rumbles, and I watch him lead Muffin to my apartment door, where Mac steps back to let him inside. Feeling the leash in my hand pull, I know I don’t have a choice but to follow behind them.
“Oh, hey, Levi,” Libby calls from the couch as I release Muffin so she can get to Libby. “We’re getting ready to watch a movie. Do you want to join us?” she asks, and I peek up to find him already halfway out the door.
“Sorry, it’s been a long day.” He pauses to look over his shoulder. “Maybe next time,” he says, then his eyes find mine and I hold my breath. “Night, Fawn. See you soon.” The promise in those words and the look in his eyes has goose bumps breaking out across my skin.
“Night, Levi.” I watch him close the door behind him as he leaves.
Shrugging off my windbreaker, I avoid looking at either one of my sisters as I hang it in the closet along with Muffin’s leash.
“So Levi went with you to walk Muff—”
“Don’t.” I hold up my hand, cutting Mac off, because I know what’s coming. I don’t want to answer a million questions, and I don’t want to listen to her and Libby tease me about Levi, especially when I’m feeling so conflicted.
“I was just going to say that was nice of him,” she grumbles, walking to the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Sorry, I’m just tired.” I sigh, rubbing my face. I’m actually not tired anymore, even though I should be, since it’s almost three in the morning. Instead I feel wired, like I’ve just drunk three cups of coffee and taken a trip on a roller coaster.
“Come watch a movie with us,” Libby pleads, and I look to the couch, where she and Muffin are curled up under one of my blankets.
“I think I’m just going to go to bed.”
“We won’t talk about Levi anymore if you watch a movie with us,” Mac pouts, taking a seat on the couch and pulling a separate blanket from the back.
“Fine,” I give in, feeling guilty for being so short with her moments ago. Kicking off my Toms, I go to the couch and take a seat next to Mac. As soon as I sit, she drapes part of her blanket over my lap, then picks up the remote. “What are we watching?”
“Nightmare on Elm Street.” Libby smiles while Muffin stands, only to lie down across Mac’s lap so she can rest her head on my thighs.
“God, I haven’t seen this in forever,” I say, absently running my fingers through Muffin’s thick fur.
“Me neither. I wonder if it will be as scary now as it was when we were kids.”
“I doubt it. Most movies I thought were scary back then aren’t as scary now,” I say as the movie starts to play. Not even thirty minutes later, I yawn for the fourth time in a row and look over at Mac and Libby, finding them both asleep. I think about waking them and helping them set up the pullout, but they honestly look comfortable enough. Flipping off the television, I climb carefully off the couch and head to my bedroom as Muffin follows me. Shutting my bedroom door, I turn out the light, take off my sweats, and climb into bed, feeling Muffin jump up a second later. She groans as she flops down next to me. Lying there in the dark, it takes forever to find sleep as my mind spins with thoughts of Levi.
Chapter 4
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY—I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO
FAWN
“Time to pack up, guys,” I call from the front of the class, seeing that it’s two minutes until the bell will ring. “Remember, your permission slips need to be turned in tomorrow, so make sure you have your parents sign them tonight if you haven’t already,” I shout over the sudden eruption of talking, books slamming, and coats being put on. “Also, don’t forget that your book reports are due tomorrow, so bring your books with you to class,” I say, watching my students look restlessly from the clock to me, ready to escape as soon as the clock strikes three fifteen. I can’t blame them—I love what I do, but after being surrounded by four walls all day long, I’m just as antsy to get outside. Hearing the bell ring, I smile. “’Bye, guys.”