Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
And an hour later, when we’re back in the living room, and I’m exhausted and crying, and we’re all just staring at each other, Ava says, “Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck.”
“But you’re having sex,” Harper says.
“No, we had sex. Once. And it was just fucking. Actually, now that I think about it, it was hate fucking. Because the man can’t stand me.”
And that’s what makes me the saddest of all.
“I call bullshit.” Ava shakes her head. “If a man hates you that much, he doesn’t fuck you. No matter how good it is.”
“Agreed.” Harper nods. “He may be angry, and he might not want to want you, but he does, Jules.”
“He destroyed me once,” I admit softly. “I can’t do it again.”
“Who said anything about destroying?” Ava demands. “Unless it’s him destroying your vajayjay. Because I’ve met the man, and Holy Baby Jesus, he looks like he’d be fun in bed.”
“He’s fun everywhere,” I admit with a smug grin, but then I shake my head. “But I haven’t even heard from him this week, except to tell me my car isn’t ready yet.”
“You told him to leave,” Harper points out. “So he left, Jules.”
Well, shit.
She’s right.
“I was embarrassed, and I didn’t want him in my apartment.” The last word is whispered.
“What’s wrong with your apartment?” Ava tilts her head to the side as she frowns at me.
“It’s just an attic, really. And I know that I shouldn’t be embarrassed by it, but I am, and it makes me uncomfortable when he’s up there.”
“Honey, you need to have this entire conversation with Brooks,” Harper says. “You should tell him about that piece-of-shit Justin.”
“You did the right thing there,” Ava says.
“He’ll be so mad.”
“Yeah, he will,” Harper agrees. “Because that asshole fucked everything up for you, and that makes me so mad and sad all at the same time. But he deserves to know how it all went down.”
“Wait.” Ava holds up her hand. “Jules, have you only ever had sex with Brooks and Justin?”
I bite my lip and nod.
“Wow. That’s … intense.”
“Yeah.” I sigh and notice that Harper’s eyes have gotten heavy. “You have to sleep. You worked all night, and you’re pregnant.”
“I guess it is my bedtime.” Harper yawns. “Did we help you feel better?”
“It helps to talk it out, and I think you’re right. At some point, I have to talk to the man, but he’s so broody and angry, and I hate that.”
“Maybe he wouldn’t be so broody if he knew what you told us today,” Ava points out. “Something to think about.”
Ava drops me off in front of the restaurant. It’s not quite noon—I was with my new best friends for a long time—and I said that I didn’t want to just lie around in bed all day.
I still don’t.
But I don’t have my car. So I walk down to the city park right in the center of town and find a bench in the shade, pull my book out of my bag, and settle in to read for the afternoon.
There’s a nice breeze today, and the sun came out, so it’s pleasantly warm.
Before long, I’m lying in the grass, my sweatshirt under me as a pillow, and my eyes are heavy as I try to read my book.
I should go home and take a nap.
But it’s so lovely out here. I lean back and close my eyes for just a minute.
“Jules? Are you okay? Christ, what happened?”
I blink my eyes open and frown up at Brooks, who’s scowling down at me.
“What?” I sit up and realize that I’m still in the park.
I fell asleep.
“Are you okay? You scared the shit out of me.”
“A girl can’t take a nap in the park?” I rub my hands down my face. I’m totally disoriented and have no idea how long I’ve been asleep. It could have been ten minutes or five hours. It could be ten years in the future, or I could be late for school for all I know.
This is why I don’t take naps.
“By yourself? Fuck no.”
I sigh. I don’t want to look at him.
So I don’t.
“I’m fine, Brooks. I was reading and fell asleep.” I check the time. “It wasn’t even thirty minutes.”
“You shouldn’t let your guard down like that.”
Now I do look up at him. His hands are on his hips, and he’s so broody. So … handsome.
Why does he have to be so damn handsome?
“I haven’t let my guard down in fifteen years. I think thirty minutes in this little park, in the middle of the day, is fine.” Shit, I’ve said too much. “Thanks, though. I’ll head home.”
“No, stay and read. I just had to make sure you’re okay, since it looked like you were passed out on the grass.”
“Why?” I stand and brush off my clothes, then face him. “Why do you care?”
“Jules, I do care if you’re safe.”