Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I once enjoyed the relationship between our two families until that fateful day when she was about fifteen and went from the little innocent in ponytails and braces whom I enjoyed teasing to something else entirely overnight. I saw the interest in her actions and ran hard and fast in the opposite direction.
Back then, she was too young, and when she wasn’t, I had a girlfriend who turned out to be a snake, but that’s a tale for another time. In the years since then, she’s grown older, and so have I, but I always knew the interest was there. It was hard to miss even as she got older because she wears her emotions in her eyes, at least with me.
I also know how dangerous she could be and have made it a point to steer clear of her as much as I possibly could. It was her twenty-first birthday when things really came full circle. I’ll never forget the way she looked that night, all grown up in her fancy evening gown as half the city came to celebrate her.
I remember the way she’d searched me out in the crowd, the look of longing in her eyes when they landed on mine. I knew she was remembering the conversation we’d had years earlier when she was brave enough at eighteen to tell me about her interest and the fact that I had turned her down as gently as I could.
She was still too young then, but it was the way she called me out on my disinterest that sealed the deal for me. She’s always been bold and straightforward, something I appreciate in anyone I deal with. But when she claimed to know that I was as interested as she was, I knew I had to cut all ties before things got out of hand.
I’d said some harsh things to her that night in my effort to get her to see reason. Her spoilt ass is so accustomed to getting what she wants that there was no other way to handle the situation back then. I’ve always regretted it, but there was nothing for it; what’s done is done.
Since that night, we’ve both treated each other like nemesis. For me, it was a protective measure; for her, it was anger and hurt. A hurt that I had caused, even though I hated doing it. Now we’ve both grown, and there’s nothing standing in the way, nothing except my fear of losing myself in her.
I’m no hypocrite. I know for a fact that she could be the one. That I could see myself going the distance with her. I’ve seen her face enough in my dreams to know what the hell that means. But I’m not willing to risk it because this time, if things don’t work out, it will destroy me.
JESSICA
“Pfft!” I was still stomping mad when I made my way back up the stairs after my workout and shower, only to walk into a wall of busybodies who swarmed like vultures as soon as I stepped foot into the room.
“So, you didn’t need Toby before; what changed?”
Annabelle smirked as she dug into a tub of caramel peach ice cream with her whole face. My sister: the only woman who still has pregnancy cravings months after giving birth. “Don’t start.” The rest of them were looking at me as if I were a new species that had just dropped into their midst.
I especially did not like the inquiring look on my Dad’s face, but I chose to ignore it. My ignorant brothers were doing that thing with their eyes where you know that they’re talking to each other in the head. I understand the twins’ ability to do that, but baby brother shares the same anomaly with them, which is beyond weird.
“Do you feel better, love?”
“Yes, Grandpa, thanks for asking.”
“Now, the lady before; you say she doesn’t think you’re good enough for the goombah that cheated?”
“It’s not important, Gramps; she's not important.” I walked over and kissed his cheek because his feathers were ruffled.
“Yes, but how come no one knew you were being mistreated by this minga?” Ah geez.
“Uncle Rocco, it’s nothing, I promise.” Hey, maybe I should let them run with this train of thought and keep their minds off the other thing. That would be nice, except for the fact that if I did that, she might end up at the wrong end of a pier with this bunch.
The three old men exchanged looks, which in this family could mean anything, but I was more worried about the hot head, aka Dad, who was uncharacteristically quiet. “Dad?”
“What?”
“What’re you thinking?”
“About what?”
I counted heads again to make sure everyone was there, including my brothers, and breathed a sigh of relief when they were all accounted for. It might seem like an overreaction, but my family is not known for their rationality. Every little thing sets them off, and no one gives a thought to the chaos that always ensues when they get their shit in a twist.