Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“What’s going on with you?” She deftly changes the subject, as she considers me to be more important than herself.
“Having a lazy day,” I tell her. “With the play-offs clinched, I don’t have much motivation to do anything.”
“Slacker,” she says affectionately. “And I’ll assume that the answer to my repeated question if you’re seeing anyone is still the same?”
“Still the same,” I tell her.
Unless you want to count the strippers I watch at a local titty bar when I have a night off.
“Van, you’re missing out on so much,” she chides.
“I could say the same about you,” I return softly. “We both had our reasons for hiding away.”
“I know,” she says on a sigh. “I just want you to be happy. Maybe you should follow my lead and venture forth.”
“I am happy,” I lie to her. I don’t know that I’ve been truly happy a day in my life.
Well, that’s not quite accurate . I was grateful, and it was as close to happy as I could get when Etta came and told me I was going to live with her forever and ever. As an eight-year-old kid who had been traumatized by his own parents, it was the best gift I’ve ever been given.
“Have you gone to see him?” she asks hesitantly, but with the clear distaste in her voice that only comes out when she talks about him.
“No,” I tell her softly. “And you’d know if I did because you’d be the first person I would tell.”
“You don’t have to,” she says with swift finality.
“I know. I’m still considering it.”
“You know I’m a good person, Van,” she says with a sigh. “But God help my soul, I hope he dies before you get up the courage.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Etta has been my protector and champion forever. Still going strong at it.
“Listen,” I say as I push up from the bed. “If I decide to go, I’ll tell you ahead of time. That will give you an opportunity to talk me out of it, okay?”
She gives a small laugh. “Okay. Rotten kid.”
Stepping into my closet, I bend over and pick up my gym shoes. “I’ve got to get going. I’ve decided to not be a slug and go work out.”
“Maybe you’ll meet a pretty girl there,” she says slyly.
“Goodbye, Etta,” I drawl.
“I love you, kiddo,” she says with deep affection.
“I love you more,” I tell her back truthfully. The only woman I’m sure I’ll ever love.
When we disconnect, I put my shoes on and grab my wallet and keys off my dresser. I pocket my cell phone and open my bedroom door. When I step into the hallway, I’m almost mowed over by Simone as she drags her largest suitcase toward Lucas’s room, which is just past mine on the opposite side.
“Sorry,” she mumbles as she comes to a stop, and I step back into my closed door to give her room.
I just stare down at her, waiting for her to pass. She doesn’t and stares right back at me.
“Lucas said you’re grumpy,” she says with a curious tilt of her head.
“Yup,” I agree.
“Hmmm,” she says, as if she’s appraising my entire personality. “I’m going to go with brooding. It’s a better fit for the hotness you exude.”
“Hotness?” I ask with a cocked eyebrow.
“Oh come on,” she says dramatically, and waves her hand up and down at me. Her eyes roam over my body. “Just look at all you got going on. All big and muscley. And those deep, sensitive eyes filled with mystery. Total hotness and totally broody.”
“Whatever you say,” I mutter as I try to step past her. She moves and places herself in my path.
“I’m cooking dinner tonight for you and Lucas,” she practically chirps with a bright smile. And fine, I’ll admit it, those two dimples that pucker when she does so add a new level of hotness to her own package.
But they don’t sway me. “I’ll pass. I’ll grab something while I’m out.”
She stares at me a moment, and I can see the calculation in her eyes. She’s absolutely up to something, and for the life of me I can’t figure out what it could be as far as I’m concerned. Maybe she’s just fucking crazy like originally assumed.
Finally she nods her head regally and moves to the side to give me room. I lower my gaze and move past her, bristling when she murmurs, “Definitely hot and broody. I like it.”
Chapter 2
Simone
It must be said that I really like torturing Van. I’m not sure why, and perhaps that makes me just pure evil.
But I can’t help it. I’m insanely attracted to him, and in a way I’ve never been attracted to another man before.
Maybe it’s because he’s a man, and I’ve only dated boys. My relationships have all been sweet high school crushes or noncommitment-type college flings with guys my age.