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)
I grimace. “I don’t want to, but I will because I don’t know how to ride a horse, and Prince Charmings all ride horses.”
“I’m sure you’d learn,” Sadie reassures me.
I flash her a big grin. “I sure as hell would.” For a moment, I forget where we are and bend down to kiss her. At the last minute, we both remember where we are. She ducks out from under me, and I bring my fist to my mouth and pretend to cough.
When I gather myself, I see Van watching us with narrowed eyes. I flip him off.
Sadie sighs. “Why can’t you two get along? You’re more alike than you know. You could be friends.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Friends have mutual interests. Van likes books and sports. I like working with my hands without someone blowing a whistle in my ear.”
“I bet you have more in common than you think. You should spend some time together.” Her face wears that sweet, pleading look that makes my knees—and resolve—watery.
“Fine,” I mutter.
She smiles brilliantly. “Thank you.”
“I know Van doesn’t fall for that look.”
“Because he’s my brother,” she replies drolly. “Or did you want me to treat you the same?”
“No, no.” I wave my hands. “I’m good.”
She snickers and then swishes her near empty glass. I pluck it from her hand. “Anything else you want from the grub table?”
“Maybe a mini cupcake or two?”
“On it.” As I approach the food table, I spy Rose near the punch fountain. Her hand dips inside her bag, but I don’t see what she pulls out because her body blocks me. A high-pitched yelp fills the air.
“Take your hands off me, asshole,” she screeches at Van, who has her wrist in a death grip. A large number of heads swivel in their direction. Great, just what Sadie does not want. I hurry over and get in between the two of them.
“Let go, Van.”
“She’s trying to spike the punch bowl,” he growls.
“This party is lame as hell. I was trying to give it some sparkle,” Rose says, trying to tug away.
“Let her go, Van. It’s no big deal. Sadie doesn’t want us making a scene.”
“Did Sadie say that or are you assuming?”
I hesitate because she didn’t exactly tell me to stop Rose from spiking the punch bowl, but I know that’s what she would’ve wanted.
“Exactly. Come on,” he starts to drag Rose toward the house. More people are looking at us. I cross the distance in three short strides and pull Rose from Van’s grasp.
“Enough.”
Rose stumbles and somehow pulls Van toward her. We all careen backwards. I feel my head hitting the table. First there’s a trickle followed by a flood as the punch fountain crashes onto my face. Van pushes Rose out of the way and lands on my gut with a hard thud. The breath whooshes out of me, and my vision blurs. Instinctively, my fist comes up. I make contact with something—his chin, the table, the metal of the fountain? I don’t know. Something strikes me in the chest. I respond with another punch and another. Distantly I hear screams. Someone might be crying. The weight is suddenly lifted off of me and then I’m hauled to my unsteady feet. I sway, gasping for air, blinking pink juice away. Beside me, Van is in the same state, drenched with liquid and some weird white stuff that I vaguely register as frosting.
In front of both of us, Sadie is full of tears. Behind her are the parental units and beyond them are fifty of our classmates, all staring big-eyed.
“I think we fucked up,” I say.
“You think?” Van replies.
I rub my aching chest. “Did you have to do a solar plexus move on me? I think my ribs are broken.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t pulled me on top of you, it wouldn’t have happened. That was an accident, unlike your two fists to my nose. I think you broke it.”
“I wish he’d broken your jaw,” Sadie spits out. “And you.” She points an angry finger at my face. Maybe it’s two fingers. I can’t really tell. “You broke your promise.”
And that punch is the one that hurts the most.
CHAPTER 24
SADIE
I don’t miss the shocked expression on my mom’s face as I rush by her muttering an apology knowing this is partially my fault. Nothing can go right anymore. Maybe I should take that as a sign from the universe.
“Sadie.” My mom calls after me, but I keep going, heading into the house, the need to get away from everyone overwhelming me. I don’t want everyone to witness me ugly cry. “Sadie!” she shouts again. I pause on the stairs, knowing she will only follow me up if I don’t answer her. I turn around to face her. “Honey, that was not your fault.”
“It kinda was. I’m not helping with getting the two of them to like each other. If anything, I’m making it worse.” I sniffle.