Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
If my words affect him, it’s hard to tell. His features are frozen, no emotions play on his face, but the thing is, I know Aiden. He needs to process.
“If that’s what you want.”
It’s all he says, and I nod.
Right now, he’s processing what I just said. Or what I didn’t say. But soon his silence won’t be enough for him. My insistence that I don’t want to talk about it won’t be enough. He’ll want to know the truth, my truth. And God help me when he does.
41
AIDEN
For the first time in months, scratch that—years—I wake, and I’m not instantly attacked with things I need to do.
It’s a soft hum in my brain that I need to get up and start my list, but instead of jumping up and rushing into things, I look over at the clock. It’s nine in the morning.
No. Not nine, it’s nine twenty.
I almost want to laugh. How the fuck did I manage to sleep this late?
I give in to the urge and laugh because I don’t know the last time this happened.
The last time I woke this late, let alone did so on a time that wasn’t an odd number. It’s coded into my brain, and despite everything, my body just knows.
Except for today.
Last night, I forgot to turn my phone back on. I turned it off when Cass and I were talking, but the compulsion to turn it back on was lost somewhere between our intense discussion and worshipping her body.
Apparently, even my mind can agree that being with Cassidy is better than lists and rituals.
“What’s got you laughing over there?” she says from beside me, and I turn toward her.
She looks cute when she’s half asleep. Her hand thrown over her head, hair fanning across the pillow.
“Nothing. Go back to sleep.”
“Can’t now,” she says, lifting to a seated position. “Once I’m up, I’m up.” Her head swivels around, eyes half closed. “What time is it?”
“Past nine.”
“Holy shit. We slept until nine? You slept until nine?” she corrects, because Lord knows, Cass doesn’t have my fixation with waking at a specific time.
She, of course, abides by my schedule, but when she’s not micromanaging me, she definitely doesn’t live a rigid life.
She never did.
And it feels comforting that she too hasn’t changed all that much from the girl who once was my best friend.
Now she’s more, and I like it that way.
“Hence why I laughed,” I say, shrugging one shoulder.
She pulls her hand away from her face, and I’m met with wide eyes and a puzzled look.
“Are you okay?” She reaches out and touches my forehead. “Are you sick?”
I chuckle, playfully slapping her hand, before grabbing and bringing her dainty hand to my lips, placing a kiss there. “No, Cass. Just happy.”
With that, she rewards me with an earth-shattering smile. One that I swear lights up the room.
“What do you have planned today?” I ask, wanting to know all her plans.
“Whatever you need me to do, but other than that, nothing. I’m free,” she says, smiling.
Luckily, we have no game today. There’s no practice either. Coach has a lot on his plate with all the drama that went down. But I do have an idea. There’s only one place I want to go, and I want her to come with me.
“I want to take you somewhere.”
She lifts a brow. “Cryptic much?”
“You know me.” I wink, stifling a laugh.
This girl lights me up. Makes me want to smile nonstop.
“Well, I need some information. What do I need to wear? When are we going? That kind of stuff.” She lifts both hands, moving them like a scale.
“Casual.” I purse my lips, trying to think about what a girl would wear. “Warm, though. Bring a sweater. Even if the weather outside is nice.”
She licks her lips. “Interesting.”
I jump forward, tackling her softly back to the bed. Her screech turns to giggling, and I realize it’s a sound I never want to go away. I place a kiss on her lips. “Let’s grab a bite to eat and then head out. An hour works?”
She smiles up at me, her bright eyes shining in the sunlight. “Works for me. I’m low maintenance.”
“One of the things I love about you.” As soon as I say the words, her eyes go wide, but she quickly recovers and jumps out of bed.
“I’ll make it fast,” she says, voice a bit shaky.
Fuck.
What a dumbass thing to say. It’s too damn soon to be offering proclamations of love. The truth is, I do love Pip. Always have.
But I’m not sure I’m in love with Cassidy, but I’m definitely heading in that direction.
I can tell this thing between us is special, and who knows what that will lead to? Maybe love. But I’m not ready to put a name on it yet, it’s still too new.