Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
The way their mom and dad did every day.
It was the type of neighborhood where kids were always out and about, playing ball or hide and seek or basically running amok.
Which was why Cash didn’t take much notice of the glint of a bicycle coming down the hill from the opposite direction.
That was until he heard a scream, and he looked up just in time to see a girl flying over the handlebars.
Fully pitched through the air.
Arms and legs pinwheeling.
Metal clanged and crashed as the bike tumbled against the pavement, but it was the hard thud and pained cry that came out of the girl that had Cash’s mouth dropping open in shock.
“Oh shit.” He blinked through the surprise before he realized she could be really hurt and went running in her direction.
Matthew howled from behind. “Holy balls, did you see that? That was epic.”
Cash didn’t slow until he was standing in front of the girl who was rolled up in a ball, moaning and rocking back and forth.
Frantic, he knelt. “Are you okay?”
She only tucked tighter into that ball, now fully on her side as she struggled for the breath he was pretty sure she got knocked out of her.
Worry twisted his stomach. “Hey, it’s okay. Tell me if you’re hurt.”
She only whimpered, and when he tried to pry her apart, she flinched.
“I’m here to help you,” he murmured.
“Go away, I’m fine.” It was a mumble buried in that tight ball she was still contorted into.
“I’m not sure your definition of fine, but you don’t look fine to me.”
He could almost see her pout, then something was pressing full at his chest when she finally peeked out at him.
He was impaled by these cornflower eyes. So blue they were nearly purple.
Striking and different and making him stall out.
He didn’t know what it was. But there was something so timid in them that they hit him like a plea.
Matthew whistled from behind. “Dude, she’s wrecked.”
Cash ignored him. “Can you sit up?”
Reluctantly, she did, though she kept tucked tight.
Warm brown hair kissed in wisps of cinnamon was tangled and hanging over her face.
Warily, he reached out and brushed it back.
Those cornflower eyes dipped, and she chewed at the inside of her cheek. Her cheek that had a big scratch running across it. He forced himself to take stock, noting her ripped shirt and skinned knees.
“You’re banged up pretty bad. Do you think you can stand?”
“I…I’m not sure.” Her voice was timorous. Her head drooped like she couldn’t even look at him.
“I’m Cash.” He kept his voice gentle, trying to get her to relax.
She peeked up through the locks of her hair.
“I’m Daisy,” she whispered.
Daisy.
He’d heard of her. She was one of the two foster girls who just moved in with Ms. Lopez at the end of the street. Supposedly she and her older sister.
There’d been a slew of gossip surrounding their arrival. From them being caught stowed away on a ship to the one that they’d murdered their parents, but Cash wasn’t one for rumors.
Only thing that mattered to him right then was the fact she looked so horrified and embarrassed and like she was gonna cry that his stomach hurt.
“Come on, let me help you up.”
He stretched out his hand. She looked at it like she was afraid it was going to bite her, before she reluctantly took it. She trembled as he started to help her up, then she yelped when she put pressure on her right foot. His attention darted to where her ankle was already swollen to twice the size it should be.
Crap.
“That shit’s bro-ken,” Matthew drew out, doing nothing to hide the laughter in his voice.
Cash sent him a scathing look.
Would you shut the fuck up? She’s freaked out enough.
“Come on, I’ve got you.” Cash swept her up, cradling her in his arms like she was a baby when she was probably only a year or two younger than him. She didn’t weigh much though, this frail little thing who turned bright red when she realized he was holding her.
“I can walk,” she breathed into his chest, though she clung to his neck.
“Don’t think you can.” He started in the direction of Ms. Lopez’s house.
“You’re seriously going to carry her?” Aghast, Matthew shouted it at his back.
“Yeah,” he returned.
Of course, he was.
Matthew laughed. “My baby brother with his bleeding heart.”
What was he supposed to do? Just leave her there?
He scowled at Matthew since he couldn’t shoot him a middle finger before he continued to trudge up the street, leaving his brother laughing behind him.
“I’m sorry.” Daisy mumbled it into his shirt.
He barely shook his head. “What are you sorry for?”
“I’m really clumsy,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Nah, it’s not your fault. That hill is way steeper than it looks. Bet you picked up speed before you even knew it, and there’s a big pothole at the bottom. No way could you dodge it when you were going that fast.”