Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
“Yes. I’ll tell her what happened with Kyle, if my father hasn’t already.” I shrug even though he can’t see me. “We aren’t besties or anything, but she’s still my mother. I want her to know her daughter was…”
I trail off, checking the rearview mirror to see if Baker is paying attention. Of course he is. That’s what he does. Blends into the walls and furniture so you’ll talk freely. He’s a collector of secrets, even the ones he doesn’t want.
“I just don’t want her hearing anything on CNN she hasn’t already heard from me,” I conclude.
“Makes sense.” Though only a few seconds, I hear his hesitation. “Look, about yesterday. I shouldn’t have ambushed you with Halima and her story. This is a huge decision, and I never want you to think I’d manipulate you into anything.”
“Trevor, I don’t.” I drop my voice to a whisper, an intimate breath between us across the airwaves. “I needed that. You have a way of inspiring me, and I like it. And thank you for last night, by the way.”
“Oh, you mean cheap Chinese food and the documentary on the fight for women’s rights in Kenya? The one you fell asleep watching?”
“I had a long day!”
“I fell asleep, too.” His chuckle wraps around me, warming me more than the leather seat at my back. “It’s okay.”
“What I was actually thanking you for was not pressuring me to talk about…things last night.”
I know that if I’m going public with this, I’ll have to get used to resurrecting the details of that night, but I’m not ready to do that with Trevor. There is some small part of me that’s afraid he ultimately won’t believe me. My own father didn’t. On some level, I don’t expect more from my father. He’s a ruthless, self-centered bastard. Always has been. Trevor has raised my expectations beyond what they’ve been with anyone else. The advantage of not expecting is never being disappointed. Over the last few weeks, Trevor has shown me what it feels like to expect.
“You’ll talk to me about it when you’re ready.” Trevor’s voice softens like there could be someone listening. “Can I see you tonight?”
“We’ve seen each other every night.” A smile lifts the corners of my mouth and heart. “Aren’t you tired of me yet?”
“No.”
Just that. I’m not tired of him yet, either. As a matter of fact, I’m hungrier every day. Not just for him in my bed, but just…him. Being around him. Laughing with him. Learning things from him.
“I’d love to see you tonight, too, Bishop.”
“You want to try going out again?”
“What if this is our third strike?”
“I’m not out, that’s for sure, strikes or not.” I can imagine the grin on his face that I hear in his voice, and it makes me grin in return.
“Maybe you should.” My grin starts fading, and I wonder if he hears that in my voice, too. “Get out, I mean.”
“What are you talking about, Sofie?”
I’ve weighted the conversation with my words, but it needs to be said. And as selfish as I am, as I have been, and as much as I want to keep doing what we’re doing—do more—I have to say it.
“Things could get really ugly, Bishop. We could stop now before—”
“Is that who you think I am?” Irritation tightens his voice. “We haven’t known each other long, Sof, but I thought you knew me better than that. I’m not abandoning you because things might get tough.”
“And messy.” I gulp back my fear. “There are things you don’t know about me.”
“And there are things that I do. I know you’re brave, and despite your father’s efforts, compassionate.”
“That’s not funny,” I say, a giggle slipping from my lips.
“I know that you’re beautiful.” His voice dips, the sensual pull from the other line tugging on my senses, luring me into him even over the phone. “And that I can’t be in the same room without touching you. I know I want to kiss you all the time and that I can’t stop thinking about you.”
What do I say to that? Do I confess that I feel the same? Only my thoughts go far past kissing. My thoughts go so far that I wake up sweating and twisting in the sheets for him, reaching for my vibrator, but I don’t even try because I know it won’t be thick enough, long enough. I know it won’t go deep enough. I know it won’t be him.
“Sofie?”
“I’m here.” I clear my throat, sitting up straight and smiling at Baker, standing in the door to help me down. “I…um…I’m at my mom’s.”
“Okay.” Humor and desire linger in his voice. “I vote that we stay in tonight so I can kiss you.”
“Is that as far as we’re gonna go?” I step out of the car, flashing Baker a quick smile as I walk into my parents’ Park Avenue home. “Don’t get my hopes up, Bishop.”