Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
We come together, shuddering and clenching, so wrapped around one another, I feel like I'm still dreaming.
He holds me as the sun rises, and then kisses me before he slips from bed to get ready for practice. I have to borrow clothes since he destroyed mine. He isn't the least bit sorry about it. To be honest, I'm not either. My dress did what it was intended to do.
My mom and Dennis took my car back to my place last night. She texted me to tell me that they were just going to leave it in the driveway, and that she hoped I felt better.
If she noticed that I wasn't home, she didn't mention it.
I'm guessing that means she didn't notice.
"I'll be over after practice," Dawson murmurs, kissing me so thoroughly my toes curl. "I'll cook for you tonight."
"I can cook, you know."
"I know." He taps me on the nose, smirking. "But I like taking care of you. I've been waiting forever to spoil you, sweetness. Let me."
My eyes go soft. "Okay."
He kisses me again, and then I slip from his truck, hurrying toward the house before I decide to crawl across the console onto his lap. When I look back, he's staring at me with this look on his face that's half hunger, half adoration, and I wonder how I never saw it before.
How did I ever think he hated me?
Sometimes, I'm an idiot.
I'm not even dressed for the day before Emelia calls an emergency meeting of the Sisterhood. I use it as an excuse to call out, completely unprepared to face my class after fucking their idol this morning. And last night. And, in all likelihood, probably again tonight.
By the time I arrive at our favorite hole-in-the-wall diner, everyone else is already there. If they suspect anything, they don't say it as we focus on Emelia's emergency.
She's in love with her new client, Royce Elliot, to absolutely no one's surprise. She may have a hang-up about dating athletes, but honestly? Her entire social circle consists of athletes and athlete-adjacent people like the three of us. Falling for one was inevitable.
"What are you so afraid of?" Nova finally asks her.
"What if it doesn't work out?" she asks, peeking through a slit in her fingers. "What if he decides it was fun while it lasted, but that's all he wants? I'm not built for that."
"You're in love with him," Nova tells her point-blank.
She doesn't say anything for the longest, which is basically a full admission where Emelia is concerned.
I let out a muted squeal, reaching out to pry her hands away from her face.
"I'm so screwed," she whimpers. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"Last weekend would like to disagree," Nova says, grinning.
Emelia flicks a piece of ice at her, earning a giggle.
"What are you going to do?" Seraphina asks, cocking her head to the side.
Emelia just shrugs, staring down at the water ring on the chipped table. "I guess…tell him? I mean, I have to tell him, right?"
"Duh!" I cry.
"Fine. I'll tell him." She narrows her eyes at the three of us. "But if he breaks my heart, I'm blaming the three of you."
"And if he doesn't, we're playing rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to be the Maid of Honor at your wedding."
"Goddamn kid's games," she groans, earning laughter from all three of us.
Mine dries up quickly, my mind drifting back to what Dawson said last night about putting a ring on my finger…and about the fact that he meant it.
"Alright!" Emelia cries a few minutes later, nudging me with her foot under the table. "What is going on with you?"
"What? Who? What?"
"Oh, that's not suspicious at all," Nova snorts into her water.
I scowl at her. "There's nothing going on."
"You little liar!" Seraphina jabs me in the upper arm.
"I'm not lying."
"Yeah? Then why are you as red as Nova's nails right now?"
Dammit. Busted.
"Fine," I groan, squeezing my eyes closed. "Maybe I'm having an existential crisis."
"It's ten in the morning, Ava," Nova says, laughing. "You cannot have one of those before noon."
I crack an eye open, looking at her. "I slept with Dawson."
If a pin dropped right now, a deaf monk in Tibet could hear it. That's how silent the table is. All three of them are staring at me like I just announced that I'm from Mars.
"Stop looking at me like that!" I cry, slouching down on the bench.
"Sorry," Emelia says first. "We're just…"
"Too stunned to speak," Nova says.
"Our flabbers are ghasted," Seraphina adds.
"Proud of you," Emelia growls firmly, glaring at our friends.
"That too." Seraphina grins, completely unrepentant.
"I guess this means he doesn't hate you?" Nova asks.
I launch my straw at her head.
"What happened?" Emelia asks.
"He texted me about dinner and got on my nerves, so I said that I was bringing my hot neighbor."
"What hot neighbor?" Seraphina blinks at me. "You don't have a hot neighbor."