Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Where is he now?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. He lost his job and disappeared after she left him.” A single tear slides down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb, hating to see her sad. “I miss him... the him before the accident. I miss sitting in his office and working with him.”
She’s mentioned before that she plans to major in marketing and advertising, and now that makes sense. She wants that piece of her dad back.
“That won’t be us,” I tell her, cupping her face. “We’re concrete, permanent, and nothing can change that.”
CHAPTER FOUR
BRAXTON
DECEMBER-SENIOR YEAR
“Merry Christmas!” Kaylee says, jumping into my arms and peppering kisses all over my face.
“Merry Christmas, Crazy,” I murmur, using the nickname I’ve dubbed for her as I walk us through her apartment. Being with Kaylee is as easy as breathing. She’s carefree, always happy, and never gets mad. But she’s also crazy as fuck. It’s like riding the most exhilarating roller coaster. You know you’re safe, but your heart still races with every dip and turn. It’s both exciting and scary.
I try to set her down, but she clings to me like a koala bear, so with a laugh, I sit on the couch with her legs wrapped around my waist.
“I got you something,” I tell her between kisses.
“Oh, a present?” Her eyes light up in excitement.
If you didn’t know her, you’d think she’s materialistic, but the truth is, I could give her a hand-written note, and she’d be just as excited. Kaylee just simply loves being thought about. I think it stems from her childhood. Her dad was—well, still is—a druggy alcoholic, who always puts his addiction before everyone and everything else.
Her mom was a victim, and once she was out of the shitty situation, she put herself first, needing to make herself happy again. She serial dated until she found herself a new husband, and they started a new family.
Meanwhile, Kaylee was ignored and left to her own devices. She told me once that her parents have forgotten countless holidays and birthdays, including her recent one when she turned eighteen. Layla and I threw her a huge party. So when she’s given attention, she soaks it up like sunrays on a cold day.
I pull a small box out of my pocket and hand it to her. Her forehead wrinkles in confusion, and when she opens it, displaying a small white gold ring with two infinity symbols interwoven, she looks up at me in shock.
“It’s a promise ring,” I tell her, taking it out of the cushion it’s nestled in. It’s not big or flashy, but I played my guitar for hours on the street corner by the coffee shop, singing the songs I’ve written that Camden usually sings to earn enough money to buy it.
“I want you to know that you’re the one for me. I love you and want to spend my life with you. I know it’s kind of small, but—”
“Stop,” she rasps, tears filling her eyes. “It’s perfect. I love it. I love you.” She lets me slide it on the finger that I hope will one day house an engagement and wedding ring and beams down at it like it’s a million-dollar ring.
“It’s probably cliché as fuck,” I say, “but it’s two infinity symbols, symbolizing you and me never ending.”
She smiles a watery smile and nods. “I love that.”
“One day, when the band takes off, I’ll replace this with something better, more expensive,” I vow.
“I don’t want anything else,” she says, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I want this ring forever.” She palms my face. “I want you forever.”
CHAPTER FIVE
BRAXTON
MARCH-SENIOR YEAR
Kaylee: Come pick me up. I have the best idea!
Me: Where are you?
Kaylee: I just got home from cheer camp. Come over!
“Gotta go,” I tell the guys, who are discussing a song Camden recently wrote. It’s spring break, and we’re hanging out at Camden’s house since he’s got a state-of-the-art studio in the basement of his house. Before his dad became the president of Blackwood Records, he was a huge musician—hell, his songs are still popular all these years later.
“Where are you going?” Declan asks.
“Girls are back from camp.”
That has Gage standing. “I’m out.”
“Damn, c’mon,” Camden whines. “We’ve almost got this song on lock.”
“Later,” I say as Gage and I climb the stairs.
I faintly hear Camden muttering that we’re pussy whipped, but I ignore it because he isn’t wrong. One day, if he actually gets the balls to tell Layla how he feels and they finally get together, he’ll get it. But until then, he’ll continue to watch Layla from afar while she dates David the douche.
Since Tori lives in the opposite direction of Kaylee, Gage and I bump fists, then go our separate ways. I jump on the train and get off at her stop a few minutes later, practically sprinting to her place. It’s been seven days since I’ve seen her, and I’m dying to kiss her, touch her, taste her.