Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I’m running in place because I don’t know whether to hug the shit out of my dad, run to check out the car, or run to get Erica so she can see it with me. Someone pinch me. I jump into my dad’s arms and hug him tight as I snap out of shock.
Erica, my mom, and Fran come out to see what’s going on. Bill is standing on the porch with a big smile on his face. It’s like the Christmas when Erica and I got new bikes and our dads stood outside to watch us ride them all day.
“Thank you, Daddy. Thank you,” I sing happily.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“Oh my God. You have to drive us to the field. This car is so awesome. Way to go, Mr. Nickels,” Erica croons.
“Only the best for my one and only baby.”
“Can I take it for a spin?”
“Of course,” Dad says as he hands me the key.
I hug him again. He gives me a big squeeze and kisses the top of my head. Releasing him, I then bounce happily in place.
“I love you guys,” I say to my parents.
“We love you too. Drive safely,” Mom says.
“I will,” I call over my shoulder as I rush to the driver’s side of my new car.
The chrome Mercedes screams fast and elegant. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer car. When I get behind the wheel, I sigh.
“Wait until Bent sees this. I think it’s nicer than his car,” Erica snickers.
“Let’s see what he thinks,” I say as my father takes the bow off and I start the car.
The engine comes to life and we both squeal. This is the best Christmas ever. I pull off feeling like somehow I just became a real adult.
Bentley
We’re in the middle of the game when a sleek, new-looking Mercedes pulls up to the field. When Erica pops out of the passenger side, I’m curious. However, when my girl hops out of the driver’s side, I can’t help but smile.
Zah looks good coming out of it. Her hair is in a ponytail and she has on a pair of jeans and one of my sweatshirts I shrunk in the wash. If you ask me, Zah is the reason it shrank. She had her eye on it and had worn it around my room a few times before it happened to become half its size.
“Is that Zah and Erica?” Gilbert Manning asks.
I look to him and frown. He’s nearly drooling over himself. He’s always had a thing for Zahirah.
I know that from high school. What he needs to remember is that she’s off-limits, even more so now. Zah is mine.
To prove my point, I jog over and tug Zah into me for a passionate kiss. I devour her for everyone to see. A few whistles and cheering go up.
“I missed you too,” she breathes when I break the kiss.
“You have no idea. Is this yours?”
“Yup, Daddy just gave it to me for Christmas.”
“This is sick. How do you like the drive?”
“It’s amazing. Drives like a dream. I can’t wait to get it back on campus.”
I lean into her ear and whisper. “We’ll have to christen it later.”
When I pull away, she’s looking up at me with lust in her eyes as she bites down on her lower lip. I almost forget about the game I’m supposed to be playing and toss her over my shoulder so we can get out of here.
“You guys are together?” Gilbert asks from behind me.
I wrap my arm around Zah’s waist and turn to face him. His eyes are wide, and he looks white as a sheet. Needless to say, he now knows he never has a chance with my girl.
“I thought I told you they were together,” Baker says.
“I think I would have remembered that,” Gilbert grumbles.
“Hey, I haven’t seen you in how long, and that’s all you have to say to me? I thought we were friends,” Zah says to Gilbert as she tilts her head to the side.
“Oh, sorry. I guess I’m a little taken aback,” Gilbert says then clears his throat. “You look good, Zah. It’s good to see you. New car?”
“Yeah, my dad just gave it to me. How have you been? How’s school and everything?”
“School is great. I’m about to graduate and start an internship with my uncle. I am going to take over and run the place, but it’s protocol for me to intern and shadow him first,” he rambles and begins to blush.
“I thought you wanted to start your own thing, move out to Silicon Valley and all that,” I say as I furrow my brows.
Before we left for college, that had been his plan. I don’t know if he’s trying to show off for Zah or something else. The Manning family business is well known around here.