Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
I shout over the loud music as I step closer. “I'm leaving.”
He blinks down at me, leaning to the side until he falls over to put his face near mine.
“What?”
“I'm fucking leaving,” I bite out.
“Why? The party’s barely started? I don’t need to remind you that you have certain obligations. People expect to see you and fucking Drew, who seems to have already left.”
I want to tell him the expectations can fuck off, but I get this strange feeling that there is something more important going on here. With a long sigh, I ease him into a sitting position by the shoulder until he's sitting again.
“Okay, spill. What's wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. It’s a fucking party, and you’re my friend. We’re supposed to be spending time together.”
I snatch the bottle out of his hand, causing him to shift sideways again, but this time he catches himself on the edge of the countertop.
“All I’m hearing is lies.”
“It’s not a lie,” Lee sneers.
“Sure it’s not. You might be able to fool yourself, but you can’t fool me, jackass. I know you drink, but not like this.” I raise the bottle, then take a long gulp and chug back the rest. The alcohol burns a path of anger and despair down my throat.
“The only jackass I see is you. And nothing is wrong. Everything is perfectly fine.”
“Really?” I blink at him, wondering if he really expects me to believe that.
He shrugs. “Oh, before I forget to tell you, you need to prepare yourself for an engagement party.”
Startled by his response, I nearly choke on air. “Engagement party? What the hell?” I sputter.
That playboy smile and give no shits attitude he always wears slips from his face, and his eyes take on a murderous glare.
“You heard right. Good ole Mom and Dad found someone who’s willing to marry my ass. So I guess congratulations are in order? I’m officially fucking engaged.” He leans back to lie flat on the counter and snags another bottle from the other end.
I'm still trying to make my brain process what he told me. “Wait, you mean your parents arranged a marriage for you? And not only threatened it but have followed through?”
He nods and twists the plastic off the top of the bottle with his teeth.
I snatch it from him before he fucking hurts himself and pull the cork out by the small wood disk on the top. Then, even though I shouldn't, I hand it back to him. He’s going through shit, and if he needs one night to drink his sorrows away I’m going to give him that.
He hmms as he takes a long pull, and most sloshes onto the counter since he's still mostly lying flat, only lifting his head enough to sip the dark liquor.
“Look, I don’t know what I can do to help, but I’m here. Whatever you need.”
Lee nods, but there’s a faraway look in his eyes that I don’t like, telling me he doesn’t really hear anything I’m saying.
“Don’t worry your little head about me. I’ve already come up with a resolution for my parents' perfectly-constructed plan. They’ll never see it coming either.” His smile sends shivers down my spine. It’s that of a cross between a psychopath and a child who just won a year's worth of candy. In other words, it’s downright terrifying.
“Don’t fuck up your entire life for a little revenge, Lee.”
God, I’m such a hypocrite.
“Oh, I’m not. Now enough about me. Where did that little maid of yours go?” Lee asks, through small sips.
I grit my teeth and clench my fists, forcing my thoughts back to my friend so I don't think about the test sitting in my pocket and weighing me down. “Bel and Drew took her home.”
He smiles, “Don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t deny her being yours.”
I shake my head, and for once, I let the truth spill out. “Whatever is going on between me and her is complicated at best.”
“Complicated is better than denial. You deserve to find happiness. I mean, look at Drew, if someone can love his psychotic ass, any of us have a chance.”
“Yeah, sometimes I have to wonder what Bel sees in him,” I joke.
Drew’s changed. Don’t get me wrong; he’s still fucked up, and I’m not sure if he has any morals at all, but when it comes to my sister Bel, he cherishes her. Puts her first, loves her unconditionally, and I couldn’t ask for someone better for her. Okay, maybe I could. Someone a smidge less annoying.
“I bet it’s his cock. Have you seen it?” Lee grins, and I smile back at him.
“Please do not talk about Drew’s cock or Bel in the same sentence ever again.”
“You mean to tell me you don’t think about your sister and best friend banging every day?”
While I’m mature, and can obviously understand that Bel and Drew are going to bang like rabbits, it doesn’t mean I want it tossed in my face.