Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Damn, I won’t be held responsible for what I’ll do if I find someone in my room.
Grabbing our bags, we quickly get out and hurry into the house that’s crowded with partygoers. I rush upstairs, and when I open my door and find the room empty, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank God.”
“Now you can relax,” Ryan says as he places his hands on my shoulders, rubbing them as he pushes me into the room. “Let me see what your bedroom looks like.”
He steps around me and walks toward my dresser.
Crap, not the dresser!
My diary is sprawled open on the piece I wrote about how dreamy he is.
I dart forward and grab the book, squashing it against my chest.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a mischievous grin. “Hmm…what are you hiding there?”
I try to play it off as nothing. “Just a book.”
“Oh.” With one hand casually in his pocket, he walks closer. “Just a book? Why are you clinging to it if it’s just a book?”
“It’s my diary,” I admit. “You’re not seeing it, Ryan.”
His eyes lock on mine, and I feel the intensity of his stare deep in my heart.
“So if I want to know all your secrets, then that’s the book I should read.”
“Read it and die,” I warn him.
I shut the book, and walking to my closet, I shove it beneath my underwear before closing the door so he can’t see my haphazardly packed clothes.
Ryan glances around the room while walking to the window. He stands there in silence for a good few seconds before glancing in my direction.
“You have a nice room,” he murmurs. “It feels like you.”
I shrug as I glance around my private space.
It might be my room, but it’s never felt like home.
Suddenly, he asks, “When’s your birthday?”
A frown forms on my forehead. “Huh? Why?”
“Just curious.” He turns his body to face me and leans his shoulder against the wall.
“I don’t know when it is, but I celebrate it on the day I was found at the waterfall.”
“Next week,” he says, catching me completely off guard.
“How did you know?”
His eyes widen slightly. “You told me.”
I don’t remember telling him, but I shrug it off. “When’s your birthday?”
A hot-as-hell smile curves his lips. “December nineteenth.”
“So you’re only a month older than me.”
He stares at me for a moment it feels like he knows something I don’t.
Maybe he doesn’t like birthdays.
Changing the subject, I ask, “Want to get something to eat and drink?”
“Sure.” He pushes away from the wall, and when we leave my room and head down the stairs, he throws his arm around my shoulders. “What are you feeding me today?”
“Hot dogs?”
“Sounds good.”
A drunk girl staggers into our way, and we have to sidestep her.
“Damn, she didn’t waste any time getting trashed,” I mutter.
“Molly’s parents allow alcohol at the party?” Ryan asks.
“No, but it doesn’t stop people from bringing their own.”
Walking into the kitchen, I quickly make the hot dogs and place them all on one plate.
I hand our food to Ryan. “Guard it with your life.”
He lets out a chuckle as he picks up a hot dog and takes a big bite.
Heading outside, we find a spot on the lawn where we sit down and watch as some people swim while others dance.
The music is turned up louder as more people arrive, and I wonder how long it will take before the neighbors call the cops.
Mayor Calder will lose his shit if the cops are called on us.
I take another bite of my hotdog and watch as Molly argues with Robert about the volume of the music before she turns it down a little.
One minute, I’m swallowing my last bite of my food, and the next, everything blurs.
“A pillow? Really?” I hear someone asking, his tone sounding incredulous.
“Yep, without it, I won’t get any sleep,” a girl answers.
“Did I say to bring one?”
It has to be Ryan. Only he sounds older.
“No, but it counts as an essential item in my books.”
“This is an essential item.” I can’t make out the man’s face as he gestures in the opposite direction of a waterfall. “By the way, if you need to go, head out there.”
“There’s toilets?” the girl asks.
A burst of laughter escapes him, then he shakes his head. “You dig a hole.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“The expression on your face is priceless,” he admits while I try hard to make out his features. “Let’s help them get the fire going.”
“Jane?” I hear Ryan’s voice, worry tensing his tone.
Slowly, my sight returns, and I’m met with Ryan’s concerned eyes flicking over my face.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I suck in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Yeah.”
Ryan climbs to his feet, and taking my hand, he pulls me up until I’m standing in front of him.
He tilts his head to catch my eyes. “You sure you’re okay?”