Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
I snort as I nod. “I’m trying.”
“No, you’re doing your best, and you have some intense cheerleaders.”
I can’t help but get a little giddy inside, thinking of one special one.
“But listen, I get how you feel, and I understand. Reach out anytime.”
“I appreciate that.”
“All right. I’m out of here—”
“Coach,” I say, stopping him before he leaves.
“Yeah?”
My heart jackhammers in my chest as I meet his gaze. “I need to be honest with you.”
His brows meet, and he seems taken aback by my announcement. “How so?”
“I’ve been dating Callie for almost a month now.”
He sighs as he shakes his head. “Dude, I know that.”
“You do?” I ask, surprised.
“Oh yeah. You two are smitten with each other. It’s disgusting,” he laughs, and I smile. “I knew something would pop off between you two when you first came to the team. It’s crazy, but the energy you and Callie feed into is really, really refreshing. I wish you could see you two from the outside looking in.”
I swallow. “Just looking at her, I’m in awe.”
“Gross,” he teases, and I laugh. “Just don’t hurt her, okay? She’s a good girl, and she’s been through some shit. I’m sure you know that.”
“I do.”
“And I’ll say the same to her, but thanks for confirming what I already knew,” he says with a wink, and I nod as he waves. “See ya. Have a good break.”
“You too,” I call as he heads out. I don’t move for a moment, going over our interaction, and I can’t help but laugh. I wonder if Callie knows we aren’t good at hiding what we have going on. Either way, I’m glad he took it that well. But most of all, I’m thankful for his advice. I never would have expected him to have my same issues, but his outlook is inspiring. I want so desperately to apply his words to my outlook and maybe see things the way he does. To stop listening to my inner self and know I’m more than that. I know everyone is different, and they handle situations differently, but I want what Coach seems to have.
Peace.
twenty-eight
Evan
I run my finger along Callie’s back, kissing her shoulder as she sleeps. She stayed over since I was gonna stay with her, but Cameron didn’t leave for break yet. She has another test she has to take today. Callie and I are done with our classes, and we plan to leave tomorrow, which stresses me out a bit. I was surprised by how Coach took our relationship, and even Callie laughed it off when I told her he knew, but I don’t think things will go well with Nico. As much as I want to believe he’ll get his head out of his ass and see how great we are together, I know I have a much better chance of being Emery Brooks’s next murder case.
I don’t take offense to how he treated me. I think mostly it’s because of Callie, but with his diagnosis, I also know he doesn’t do well in social interactions. He’s always been awkward as hell, but that was the first time I’ve seen him be a total dickbag. It was shocking, to say the least, but once I thought about it, the more I know he did it out of fear of the unknown. It’s obvious how much he loves Callie, Aviva, and Vance, so I get it, but I am owed an apology that I’m pretty sure I’ll never get. Not only do I think he doesn’t believe he was wrong, but it couldn’t happen without Callie, or even Owen, getting wind of it.
I’ve somehow surrounded myself with very protective people. Owen would kill for me, and I’m pretty sure, even in our short relationship, Callie would stuff the body in a bag. That’s just the way she is, ferociously protective of the ones she loves. One of the kids at the center hit Kyle, her baby, and I thought she was going to get the kid kicked out of the program. It wasn’t the first time the kid had done it, but he was throwing a tantrum, and sometimes things fly when kids get to that point, especially our kids in the center. A chair flew into Kyle’s head. There was no warning for the outburst. I was singing to the kids, this kid freaked, and the next thing I knew, Kyle was on the floor, needing stitches. It was terrifying, but Callie was scarier.
I think it makes me like her more. Added to all the other amazing and unique things about her, I find myself in complete admiration of her. She hasn’t had to go in to work out for the last two days, but she has. By herself, behaving as if she is in competition. She didn’t talk to me, didn’t look at me, or even acknowledge me. I did my online exam, and she worked; it was a good night. Then we came here, I turned into Pooh Bear once more, and then we watched a movie before falling asleep.