Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
The sound of the doorbell ringing draws my attention, and I listen out for Josh going to answer the door. There's nothing.
"Fine, I'll get it since you two are elbow-deep in dessert dough." I push myself away from the kitchen island, expecting to see Josh on the other side of the door, having locked himself out. Instead, I'm staring into the devilishly handsome pale blue eyes of Collin Wright. Butterflies flutter in my belly and a fresh wave of desire thunders through me.
Teenage Collin was hot, but this guy? He can make all my lady parts vibrate with anticipation with one look, one smirk. I'm not sure that’s a good thing.
He holds up a bottle of wine in his hand. "Well, are you going to let me in the house, Jelly Bean?" Something about his voice triggers the clenching in my core, and it’s like I’m seventeen all over again. My heart races as I feel like this relationship is far more real than we planned. He hands me the bottle, and I step aside for him to walk through the door.
Evelyn is the first to emerge from the kitchen, and her mouth drops open as she rakes her eyes up and down his body shamelessly. "Fuck, he's hot."
4
COLLIN
Evelyn's reaction is a familiar one to me, but I don't want Danielle to feel a way about another woman commenting on my looks, especially her sister. I'm supposed to be her boyfriend, after all.
My arm moves around Danielle's waist, pulling her into me to nuzzle against her ear as I speak to her sister. "Thankfully, I'm not too hot to handle for my Jelly Bean."
"Oh my God. How come he gets to call you Jelly Bean after all these years, but I can't call him Leftie?" Evelyn whines.
The name Leftie isn't one I chose. It's one that followed me the entire time I spent in foster care. I hate it, but I have learned to accept that it's too easy to pair Leftie with a last name like Wright. It amuses people, even if it makes me a bit uncomfortable.
"Because I told you he doesn't like it," Danielle says with a touch of hostility in her tone. She just went from 0 to 100 in my defense, and something about that makes my chest crack open. No one defended me before, which was why I learned how to fight. I depended on no one but me.
And this slip of a girl is out here fighting her own family for me.
I wrap my fingers around her hand to calm her down. "Take it easy, Jelly Bean."
Danielle's face is red with anger, her nostrils flaring. "Evil, just leave it alone. I told you not to call him that, so don't call him that."
"What's going on here?" Josh Brogan comes inside, standing behind me.
I have no idea where he came from, but the look in his eyes as he drags them up and down my frame shows he's less than enthusiastic to see me. I can imagine why since he's two years younger than me and Danielle, but he hasn't been taking good care of himself. The stress in his life is easily seen in his receding hairline.
"I don't know." I shrug.
"Oh shit, Leftie! Welcome back, bro." Josh extends his hand for me to shake, which I do, but Danielle stiffens beside me, looking like she’s about to explode.
"Don't call him that!" Danielle shouts at her brother.
Josh holds his hand out as if he's waiting for payment. Danielle turns her nose up, with her arms folding across her chest as she shakes her head. The whole thing is confusing.
Josh's tone is teasing as he says, "Aw, what's the matter, Dani? Not enough jelly beans to pay the toll?"
"What's happening?" I ask the siblings, feeling like I’m missing some inside joke or something.
Evelyn narrows her gaze before throwing her hands in the air. "You all suck. I'm getting back to my croissants. The butter can't get too warm."
Josh smiles, elbowing me playfully. "It's funny how you two are dating, but you don't know about the jelly beans by now."
"I call her Jelly Bean." I tug Danielle close to me, feeling warmth all the way to my toes at her nearness.
"Josh, don't," Danielle warns, but I want to know what the hell is going on.
"Come on, guys, don't hold out on me," I tell him with a smile.
Josh doesn't need much prodding. "She used to bribe everyone with jelly beans to call you Collin. Didn't you ever wonder why she always had them on her? She got everybody we knew and in your senior class to call you Collin."
I'm alarmed by the realization that she's been looking out for me, but it also comes as no surprise. Danielle is beautiful inside and out. There's a reason why she stands out and why my best memories as a teen had something to do with her.