Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Wait. Someone locked you in? I thought it closed behind you and you got stuck or something.” Dunc’s thumb strokes my cheek gently.
“Scully was being a dick for some reason.” The dark expression he had on earlier comes back again. He drops his hand.
“He a bully?” I can’t see anyone picking on Dunc.
“A bully?” Dunc laughs. “He’s a dumbass with a death wish.”
“Guess you never have a problem with those,” I mutter under my breath.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say too quickly.
“Did your arm just start hurting or did something happen?”
“I accidently hit it when I was at lunch.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. Tomorrow I’ll be there.”
“I’ll pack a lunch. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll be there,” he pushes.
“It would probably be better if you’re not.”
“Too bad.”
“Hey, I don’t have to eat lunch with you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Why are you always an asshole?”
“Did you just growl?” His smirk returns.
“I didn’t growl.”
“Think you did. Your nose even squished up.” I wiggle my nose. “It’s cute.”
“Cute?” I roll my eyes.
“Your pain meds making you a grump now?”
“No, I just don’t want to have lunch with you.”
“Like I said. Too bad. I’m over this cat and mouse game.” He runs his hand down his face, letting out a frustrated sound.
“What game?” I didn’t know we were playing one.
“Me giving you space and then finding out you’re pissed I gave it to you.”
“I wasn’t pissed.” Stupid hospital drugs. I had admitted that.
“Hurt?” I glance away from him. “Hey.” He grips my chin to pull my face back toward him. “Talk to me. You’re killing me here.”
“I’m not really sure how I feel. Everything is all mixed up.”
“You enjoyed it when I kissed you?” He leans forward. Without thinking, I do the same, closing my eyes. His lips brush against mine. “I’m not mixed up at all. I know what I want.” Dunc’s lips lock with mine.
His hand slides into my hair as he deepens the kiss. His tongue slips into my mouth. The kiss is soft and sweet. It’s different from our first that was filled with a wild need. I like this one just as much as I did the other.
When he pulls back, he rests his forehead against mine.
“How can you be sweet sometimes and an asshole at others?”
“I’m not an asshole to you.”
“Really?” I let out a laugh.
“Pushy maybe, but not an asshole.” He kisses the tip of my nose. Sweet again. “I’m not backing down, and I don’t think you want me to.”
“I don’t,” I admit. “But I’m scared.”
“I swear I’ll never be an asshole to you.” I can’t stop the smile that takes over.
“It’s not that, it’s—” A knock sounds at the door.
“Dinner,” Cooper says but doesn’t try to open my door. Dunc gets up. I grab his hand to stop him from opening the door.
“Okay. I’ll be down in a second,” I call back to Cooper. “Can we keep this between us for now?”
“Not happening.”
“Please,” I beg, sliding my fingers between his. I don’t want him to find out about the crap at school. It’s embarrassing.
“Fine,” he reluctantly agrees, giving me a sliver of hope.
CHAPTER 15
DUNCAN
“What were you doing in Sadie’s room?” Uncle Coop asks me as we clean up the kitchen. Sadie was nearly falling asleep over the pork chops, so Fischl took her upstairs to bed. I wanted to be the one to tuck her in, but since I’m supposed to be keeping our thing between us, I helped clear the table. Van took off immediately, and Uncle Coop shooed Sebastian away, saying it was quality time for Coop and me. Obviously, quality time means interrogation time.
“What do you mean?” I play dumb.
“You were in her room before dinner. I saw you coming out of it.”
“Creeping about, old man?”
“Gotta stay up on what’s happening with you guys,” he says with an unrepentant shrug.
“We were supposed to meet for lunch, but I couldn’t make it, so I was apologizing.”
That explanation seems to satisfy him. He whistles tunelessly for a couple measures and hangs up the dish towel. “I don’t want to be the bad guy, but—”
“Then don’t,” I say tersely. I don’t want a lecture.
“Look, son—”
“I’m not your son.” I slap down the washrag.
“Thought we were over that,” Coop says. His own tone is short.
Anger bubbles inside me. Anger at my parents for dying when I was a baby. Anger at Van being Coop’s real son. Anger that Sadie is viewed as my cousin when I didn’t even know her two months ago. Anger that she was in a car accident, my biggest nightmare. Anger at myself for being afraid. Anger at this idea that my feelings for Sadie are something that need to be hidden, kept in the dark. My hands fist, and my throat closes. Just when I’m about to explode, Coop grabs the back of his neck and sighs.