Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
“I talked to my dad last night.” I unzip my jacket, hot all of a sudden.
My parents are dealing with an eleven-year-old daughter, a soon-to-be eight-year-old son, and a six-year-old daughter back at the lake house.
I want to give them some slack here. My parents don’t need to worry about me, and I’m not about to blow up his phone for what?
I can handle anything.
Ryke rubs his unshaven jaw. “You change your mind at all and you fucking call me. Alright?”
“Yeah, alright.” We hug, and he approaches my bodyguard, saying a few words to Declan. The usual. Stay close to Moffy. Protect Moffy. All of that. I kind of tune it out.
I call out to Sulli and wave goodbye. She waves back, and then I aim for the hotel-lodge again. Walking on a stone path. Passing a few fire pits, pubs, a giant Christmas tree and other festive decorations. Garland strung and wreaths hung.
Declan sprints until he’s several feet ahead of me, but he hangs sort of off to the side like a shadow.
A second rental store is attached to the actual hotel-lodge, and I notice a college-aged guy restacking snowboards. His longish blonde hair sticks out of a beanie, and he hoists three snowboards above his head, fitting them in place.
He looks like a young Thor.
He’s hot.
Really ho—
My foot catches something hard, and I almost face-plant on the stone and light layer of snow. But I stumble forward and keep enough balance to stay on two damn feet.
I glance back and realize what went wrong.
I tripped over a short wooden bench.
Greaaat.
Turning back to the rental boards, Young Thor is staring right at me with a load of fucking confusion. I can’t be certain if it’s because he’s wondering why this kid just tripped over a bench or if it’s because he’s beginning to recognize who I am.
Maximoff Hale.
Famous.
He’s jogging over. Fucking Christ.
I’m more aware that paparazzi are in perfect distance for money-shots from the parking lot. I don’t care if they take photos of me.
I care if they sell these to the media who’ll print headlines that say: Maximoff Hale Caught Checking Out Hot Young Thor! He Likes Dudes!
Just let me tell my family first.
Please God.
I mortar nothingness in my features. Stoic. But friendly. I’m approachable, which is why Young Thor comes up to me.
I wish Janie were here, but she’s probably warming her feet near a fire at the lake house.
The only person at my side is Declan who stays quiet and observant of the incoming guy. Young Thor closes in at about ten feet, and Declan steps forward, just to gain a better angle to protect me in case something happens.
He knows that I let fans approach.
“Hey!” Young Thor stops in front of me and holds up his phone, his cheeks reddened from the cold. “Can I get a selfie? My girlfriend is going to die when she sees I met you. She’s obsessed with your family—in a good way. She loves you guys.”
I almost breathe a sigh of relief. Glad that he didn’t think I was checking him out. Glad that he can’t sell that fun fact to a tabloid.
The realization that he has a girlfriend doesn’t really hit me in any sort of way. I’ve never really thought about being in a relationship. I know I won’t ever be in one.
“Yeah, no problem,” I tell Young Thor and I lean in a bit and smile at his camera. He snaps the photo and then nods in thanks before leaving.
Once I’m in the lodge, I decide to use the stairs instead of the elevators. My room is on the third floor anyway.
Declan walks ahead of me, and I tell him my plan.
I’m going to put on my swimsuit and then head to the indoor pool.
Once I exit the stairwell and enter the carpeted hallway, Declan is guiding me down the long hall. An elevator dings as we pass, and a few beats later, the silence tenses the air.
When people come off an elevator, they usually make some kind of noise.
Hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
My pulse skips.
I check over my shoulder.
It happens fast.
Two guys in ski masks and goggles. One is two strides up on me and he’s about to cold-cock me with his board. He begins to swing...
I duck, and Declan suddenly appears like an Avenger. He forcefully throws them backwards, and they stumble and drop their boards. They don’t pick them up.
They glance at each other. Maybe realizing that this guy is with me and he’s a lot stronger than a fifteen-year-old.
And they’re not going to get away with whatever they planned.
As I rise, my blood red-hot, I reach into my pocket and grip my switchblade. I don’t take it out, but my pulse hammers hard in anger.
I wish I were afraid.