Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“No big deal? You better have cake at least. How old are you turning?”
“Eighteen.” Her brows lift all the way up her forehead at my response.
“Why the look?” I try not to fidget as she stares me over.
“Nothing. I thought maybe you and Curt might have something going on?”
“What?” I shout a bit too loudly. “Why would you think that? He’s been nice to me. It’s nothing more than that.”
There is no way someone of Curt’s caliber would ever be interested in me. We’re from two different worlds, and I could never belong to him. I’m sure people would judge him if he was with me. I mean, I was technically a hooker, and I might still be for all I know. I have no clue where I’ll end up tomorrow or the day after that.
“Nice?” She lets out a small laugh. “He was a bit of a dick when I met him. He didn’t want me marrying his brother, but he came around pretty quick.”
“Why didn’t he want you two to get married?” It’s clear the two of them are madly in love. What more could you want for your sibling?
“Well, in all fairness, my husband did kind of bribe my parents to marry me.” Now she’s the one shrugging like it’s no big deal. I guess we all know her father is a jerk at this point.
“I’m not shocked since your father tried to buy my virginity.” Phoebe’s mouth falls open, and I quickly realize I might have gone too far.
“Gosh, he’s gross. I’m so sorry.” Her whole face softens.
“Why are you sorry? I think it was your husband and brother-in-law that got me out of that mess.”
“Same.” Phoebe shakes her head. “Who knows what my father might have done with me if not for my Boone.” She lets out a dreamy sigh. “So you’re a virgin.” She smirks mischievously.
“I…ahh…” Heat rushes to my face. Why did I blurt that out?
“Angel.” I jerk my head around at the sound of Curt’s voice. I didn’t know it was possible to blush more, but my face is now on fire. He stares at me from across the room. “Are you a virgin?” he asks, and I nod my head yes. “Fuck.” Curt runs his hand down his face, and his frustration is clear.
“That explains why they want her back so badly,” Boone says from beside Curt.
“Wait. Someone is trying to take her?” Phoebe jumps up from her seat to stand beside me protectively. It’s sweet. She barely knows me, but none of them really do.
“No one is taking her,” Curt growls. The sound should be scary, but my body has a whole different kind of response. “I can’t take her home with me.” Curt turns to face his brother, and my heart sinks.
I drop my head, not wanting to stare at Curt while he and Boone talk, but now in hushed angry-sounding whispers.
“Hey, everything is going to be fine,” Phoebe tries to reassure me.
“He doesn’t want me to go back home with him.” I fight back tears.
“They want you safe.” She grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Angel,” Curt calls, and I bite the inside of my cheek so I don’t snap at him to stop calling me that. I like it entirely too much, and now he’s talking about leaving me behind. “Shit, you’re crying.” He walks across the room to me.
“Please don’t leave me here,” I blurt out when he stops right in front of me. Phoebe releases my hand and eases back a few steps.
“Angel.” I jump up from my seat and launch myself at him before he can tell me a list of reasons why I should stay here.
“Please,” I beg as I cling to him.
“I’m not leaving you anywhere. I was going to stay too. At least for tonight.” I lift my head from his chest.
“Why?”
“You have no idea.” His eyes search my face.
“Maybe we should give you a moment,” Phoebe says as she goes to her husband. He takes her hand and guides her out of the living room.
“Sit.” His hands wrap around my wrists, lifting them off his chest, and I release his shirt that I had a death grip on. “Sit,” he orders again, letting my wrists go. He takes a few steps back and sits across from me. I plop back down, not wanting the space between us. “You can’t jump on me. In fact, I need you to give me space.” He reaches up and undoes the top few buttons on his shirt then pulls at the collar.
“Okay,” I agree, my heart starting to ache.
“Don’t do that, angel. I want your touch more than I should.” He lets out a long sigh.
“Is this because I’m a virgin or something?” Why has everything changed since we got here?
“You’re not eighteen.”
“Ohhh. Right.” I lick my lips. Why do I suddenly want his touch even more? Is it because I know he can’t? “The Shapovals said seventeen was an adult in—”