Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
I get an annoying pinch in my chest. “Nah, nothing like that. I’ll hopefully have some fun with him, but that’s that. I’ll leave that settling-down shit to Tiernan. I think I’ll be more like you.” Conan hasn’t ever been in a serious relationship. Things are a lot safer that way. The difference being, as far as I know, Conan doesn’t even have sex. If he does, he keeps that shit on the super down-low.
“And like your father,” he says.
“No.” Because he fell in love, and when Mom died, he never recovered.
“It’s not as fun as you think…being alone. It wears on you, no matter the reason you’re doing it.”
I don’t move, maybe don’t even breathe. Conan has never spoken to me like this before. Is he talking about himself? I think so, but I also think he’s talking about my father, and maybe saying he doesn’t want me to be like them. “I know what I’m doing,” I say again.
“Okay. I’ll be in touch soon. We’re having a gun issue here, shipments keep getting fucked up, but I’ll let you know when I find anything out about your marks.”
“Thanks, Conan. I appreciate it.” I end the call, then fuck around on my phone for a few minutes. I feel like shit not being home in case Tiernan or Rory need me. I’ve spent my whole life being right there with Tiernan, always there to take care of whatever has to be done. Rory is our guy, but Tiernan is my cousin, and I’m always the one he goes to. Yeah, I’m only five fucking minutes away, but in this strange way I’m not familiar with, it feels like I’m abandoning T and even Rory for Ollie…and I’d make that decision again. Ollie needs me right now. They can take care of themselves.
I look up and see this fucking dude bro with brown hair watching me. It’s clear he wants to come over and talk but isn’t sure if he should.
I give him a nod, and he comes over. “Do you have any…” He looks from left to right as if someone magically popped up beside me. There are people around, walking across the greenery, but no one close enough to hear what we’re saying, and they know better than to pay too much attention when it comes to me anyway.
“Any what?” I ask, bored with him already. “Actually, you know what? Never mind. Get the fuck out of here. You’re annoying me.”
“I…okay.”
He turns, and I let him get five feet away before I say, “I changed my mind. Come back.”
Dude bro stops. The frustration on his face is clear, his jaw tight, but he does as I say. It’s impossible not to enjoy this power.
“Now, spit it out. What would you like?”
“Coke.”
“How much?”
He tells me, and I give him a price, then stare at him while I wait for him to hand me the money.
“What? Right here?”
“Did you want to take me on a date first?”
He opens his mouth, then closes it again before sputtering, “No…am I supposed to?”
I laugh. “Give me the fucking money, dude bro.” He does, and I slip the coke out of my backpack, glad I brought it out here with me. I’m not surprised I’ve already gotten hit up. The best place to sell is a college campus.
I stay out there a while longer, getting a few more people coming up to me and buying some more shit, but eventually my stomach feels like it’s going to eat itself, and I figure Ollie must be the same. It’s getting close to dinnertime, and if he sleeps too long now, he might not sleep well tonight.
There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving this bench, though, so I pull up a food-delivery app, hoping he likes burgers and fries, then head over to the stairs leading into the dorm building to wait for them to bring it to me.
It takes half an hour for them to get there, but then I go straight for the elevator and up to Ollie’s floor. My stomach growls, the scent of fries making me salivate nearly as hard as I do over Ollie.
I unlock the door to his room and push it open. The second I do, something swings at my head, and I have to jump backward not to get knocked the hell out.
“Ouch! Shit.” Ollie clutches his side.
“I’m the one who almost just got my head taken off.”
His pupils blow wide as if he just realized what he almost did. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I…” He looks down, then away, still holding on to his hurt rib. “I thought you left and they…”
“I did, but I was coming back. I stayed right outside so I could watch your building.” I set the food on the counter. “I left you a note.”