Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 17147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Theo: Both.
Ruby: School.
Theo: I’ll make you pay for that.
Ruby: I’m so afraid.
Theo: We’ll see.
Ruby: I look forward to seeing you.
Theo couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he waited for Ruby to make an appearance in school. He’d arrived early to get everything he needed from his locker. Now, he stood outside of the school with his buddies, but he was waiting for Ruby to arrive. Her car parking space was still clear. He checked the time and saw she still had ten minutes to arrive.
He’d wanted to go and see her over the weekend, but Mike convinced him to give her time.
All he’d allowed himself were a few texts.
“You’re acting so uncool right now. I think we should kick you off the team.”
“Screw you.”
“You know the cheerleaders are mega pissed at you.”
“Why?”
“You’ve got a thing for a different chick. An outsider and they don’t like it.”
Theo smiled as he watched Ruby pull into the parking spot. “Look at my face, dude. It doesn’t give a fuck.” He slapped Mike on the back and walked over to the girl on his mind. Opening the door for her, he bent down. “Morning, beautiful.”
“What are you doing?”
“You’re always so cynical. I thought that was supposed to happen in old age.”
“I’ve aged before my time.”
“How old are you?” he asked.
“I’m sixty.”
“You’re a hot piece of ass for sixty.”
She laughed. “Wow, you have a way with words.”
“You bring out the natural poet in me.”
She climbed out of the car, taking the door from him and closing it.
“Happy Monday,” he said.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m proving to you that Friday was no trick, and I happen to enjoy spending time with you.” He stroked a finger down her arm, and without giving her a chance to pull away, he locked their fingers together. “See, not afraid for people to see.”
“I’ve got to go to my locker.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he wouldn’t let her. She stopped fighting him with a giggle. “Look, I know you want me to just relax about all this, but it’s really hard to do. I’m not trying to be a bitch. I’ve just got to get used to this.”
“You will. I won’t give you a reason not to. Let’s go.”
Walking across the parking lot, he saw guys and girls watching them. He made sure they could all see him holding her hand, so they wouldn’t doubt who she belonged to.
When he glanced over at Mike, his best friend smirked at him. He also checked the cheerleaders, and yes, they looked pissed. He didn’t care.
Ruby was his, and he’d already wasted so much time in not asking her out. He wasn’t willing to let that time go again.
“You know people are staring?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t care.”
“No.”
“I do.”
“Don’t let them win. I want to date you. I don’t want to do this in secret.” They stopped off at her locker. “So, I’m going to date you.”
She paused with her fingers on the dial. “Do you mean date or become, like, a couple? A couple means a lot more dates.”
He smiled. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“That’s a step up from dating.”
“That’s the logical progression that two people who date, do. They become a couple. Boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“You’ve thought about this a lot.”
“I figured you’d argue what I wanted.”
“So we’re a couple now?”
“Yes. Boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“We don’t kiss.”
“We don’t have to. Boyfriend and girlfriend who are currently in the first day of their brand-new relationship.”
She twisted the dial, and he could see her brain working. When the lock didn’t give, he took over, slamming his fist three times against the door, and it popped open.
“See, boyfriend material.”
“I see.” She released her bag and kept on watching him.
“What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out what you want from me. I’ve never been a girlfriend, and this is a new development from stargazing.”
“First, I’ve never had a girlfriend either. We’re both new to all of this. Secondly, you’re the only person I’ve ever taken to see the stars and talked about them. Third, I like you. I’m a West. I’m taught to go after everything I want in life.”
“And you’ve decided you want me.”
“Yes. I also know, I’ll be good for you.”
“Why?”
“Look at me, baby. I’m awesome.”
This made her laugh, and he loved the sound.
“Okay, so what does that mean for me?”
“You can’t sneak off to the library anymore. Your ass has to sit beside me at the cafeteria.”
“No, come on. It’s so quiet in the library.”
“I could bring all the guys to the library. That would be fun.”
“No, no, no. We’ll work it out.” She grabbed a few books, slamming her locker closed. “Next one?”
“I get to walk you to class. Holding your hand for all the world to see. You’re going to also have to come to a few games. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you when to cheer. You can even bring a book if you’d like.”