Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Okay, got it. I'll find her.”
“Call me when you do.”
“What's her name again?”
“Nora.”
Normally, I’d be pissed at putting back my bottle into the fridge and grabbing my keys instead. I’m only wearing gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt, but who cares? I just have to pick her up and drop her at Keith’s. I’m a bit immune to the cold anyway, so I just slip on a pair of shoes and head out.
I’m still thinking about the cold amber liquid in my mouth as I scan the empty blacktop road. Keith was right when he said it was generally safe out here. Crime is almost nonexistent. The only action police officers had seen in the past three months was when a young kid thought it would be funny to prank Mr. Levinston and steal his lawnmower.
Most residents leave their doors unlocked even at night, but I won’t go that far. I sleep better knowing that if there’s some shady motherfucker out there who wants to steal from me or whatever, he’s gonna have to work for it.
The clock on my dashboard reads 1:00 AM. I’m probably in bed right now if I don’t need to play knight in shining armor. But whatever.
Save for the usual nocturnal noises, the only other sounds are the hum of my truck engine and the tires against the asphalt.
Wait.
There. I think I see her.
Noticing a faint glimmer up ahead, I slow down. My headlights illuminate a figure wearing cutoff shorts and bending over the car hood on the side of the road. I ignore what she’s wearing because one, she’s Keith’s sister. Two, I just want to get back home. And three, I don’t wanna be that creep who ogles anything and everything that moves.
My foot eases off the gas, bringing my truck to a stop. She probably hears the rumble of the engine because she swivels her head to me. Her hazard lights brighten her surroundings, and my heart slams against my ribcage.
Time stands still, and the ground disappears from underneath me.
Her eyes are wide with fear, eyebrows rising to her hairline, her hand clutching a flashlight.
But…
Nora is no longer the cherubic-faced kid I know. She’s grown. Fully grown. And I’m becoming well aware of just how much.
“Nora?”
Her hair, the color of burnished copper, cascades down her back, a few tendrils framing her face and dancing in the night breeze. I can’t really tell what color her eyes are, but they’re staring at me like she’s trying to decide whether I’m a danger to her or not.
Well, that puts a damper on things. Because I remember, like a bucket of ice-cold water poured on me, that she’s Keith’s sister.
Fuck.
“Nora?”
She takes a step back and waves the flashlight like it’s a weapon. “W-who are you?”
Her breaths burst in and out, and she licks her lips and darts her eyes around, maybe looking for an escape. I’m supposed to tell her she’s safe, that I’m her brother’s friend.
But for some unknown reason, she doesn’t just rob me of breath but of speech. Noah Nash. 37 years old. Speechless because of this slip of a girl.
Her brother’s gonna kill me.
And I’m not even sure I give a damn.
2
NORA
I think I’m about to have a heart attack or a stroke. Is 22 years old too young for either of them? Not sure.
But my chest hurts, and it feels like a massive boulder has settled on my stomach. I watch a guy in a truck slow down and stop in front of me, and my fear turns to panic.
Something is choking me, making my breath come in short, shallow gasps. A vise on my throat. Cold sweat trickling down my spine. The world spins, and my vision starts graying on the edges.
Oh God.
The guy—I think he’s a guy—says something but stays in his truck. Good. That’s good. I can still run. I don’t know how far I’ll make it, but I sure as hell won’t go down without a fight.
I don’t hear what he just said, but I choke out, “W-who are you?”
It’s a miracle I’m able to form words because everything starts to get blurry. Am I gonna die? Is he gonna kill me? Will this be my end? I haven’t even lived. Oh, Lord. I haven’t even fully experienced life. Don’t know what a kiss feels like. Don’t know how it is to fall in love. Don’t know—
“Nora.”
I blink and he’s right in front of me. How did he get here so fast? I can’t see him clearly, but I know he’s huge. Like huge huge. Bigger than my brother and my brother is 6’2 and built like a door.
I can’t outrun this guy. I can’t even fight him. And if I die right here and right now, what will happen to Keith? Will he blame himself? Probably. It will break him for sure. I mean, he can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I love that guy and he loves me.