Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“I’m arming the security system now. Do not try to leave without me,” Zeke warns his voice rough, and I immediately wonder if she has been trying to dodge him.
“Don’t worry, I’ll behave.” She gives him a wide smile, and I wonder what the hell is going on between them? I get the sense there is a story, and I want to hear it.
Zeke disappears out of the room, and since we’re alone now, I feel safe asking her my next question. “What was that about?”
“I’ll explain later. First, let’s have a drink.” Mia huffs, pulling me through the apartment and into the kitchen.
I take a seat at the large marble top bar and watch Mia get out two glasses and a bottle of red wine. She pops the cork and pours us each a healthy glass.
“Does Zeke buy the booze for you?” Neither one of us is old enough to drink, but we have shared a glass of wine before, one time, I stole a bottle of wine from my mother.
“Maybe.” She takes a sip and shrugs her shoulders. She’s being evasive, sharing minimal things. It’s not really like her to hide anything but since her mother died, and she inherited a new father, I’ve pushed less at making her tell me things. Change isn’t easy for her.
“Tell me more about football-tutor guy,” She quips.
“I don’t think he really likes me,” I explain, taking a sip of my own wine. I let the sweet and tangy liquid swirl around in my mouth before swallowing it.
“But you like him?”
“He just wants to get in my pants, and he only wants that because I’m the only girl to ever deny him. I’m a challenge. He’s not used to rejection, and now he has to prove something to himself, and most likely, everyone else.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you like him?”
Do I like him? Hmm, the answer should be no, but I’m tempted by him. Tempted to take a walk on the wild side.
“I could like him, but I won’t let it come to that.”
Mia rolls her eyes. “Your last boyfriend was junior year of high school, and you guys barely went to third base.”
“Daniel was a nice boy, don’t go hating on him.”
Daniel really was a nice guy and cute in a dorky kind of way. He wasn’t perfect and definitely wasn’t popular, but he never pressured me for sex, and always found a way to make me smile, but I knew what it was that drew me to him. He was safe, and safe is what kept you from heartache and cheating and letting your insecurities show.
“Nice if you like loafers and eating Wheaties for breakfast. He acted like he was fifty and close to retirement.”
I pin her with a glare. “Rude. Daniel gave me my first kiss.”
“And that is why you should give Cage a ride. A long hard one.”
“Whose team are you on? Mine or his?”
Mia grins. “The winning team, of course.” She takes another sip of wine. “What’s the saying? Better to have loved and gotten your heart broken than to never have loved at all?”
“Something like that, but I think I’ll pass. I don’t want my heart broken. I’ve seen enough heartbreak to last me a lifetime.” And I have. I’d watched my mom countless nights as she cried herself to sleep. As she worked two jobs to care for two children, she had with two men that didn’t love her, or the kids they had helped her create.
“Ugh, you’re grumpy today. I think you should ease up a little, enjoy college, take chances. Do you want to look back in five years and wonder if you made the right choice, if you should’ve done this or that? You don’t want to live with regret.”
“Mhh, maybe you need to take your own advice? I’ve seen how you look at your bodyguard. Roommate. You have a thing for him, don’t you?”
Mia takes another sip of her wine, looking away and at something behind me. “Oh, Blair, that’s a story for another day.”
I knew coming here would be a great escape, but I never thought it could feel so fantastic. Mia’s place is amazing, like a small bubble, separate from the outside world.
We are sitting on her large balcony, overlooking Blackthorn. The weather is beautiful, the bright sun is shining down on my pale skin.
I’m even wearing one of Mia’s designer dresses. She insisted on me putting it on this morning. I protested at first, but now, I never want to take it off. The fabric is the softest material I’ve ever felt, and it feels like cashmere on my skin, it literally fits like it was made for me.
“I have an idea!” Mia suddenly yelps beside me, dropping her cell phone into her lap. “Let’s go to the game.”