Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 146548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
My eyes scald, probably bloodshot, and ten tons of brick compound on my chest. “Stay the fuck away from me.” How I’m not slamming my fist in his jaw, I don’t know. Rage is my go-to feeling, but I think…I think I’m in a lot of shock.
His face contorts in indignation. “I like you, and you’re into me—”
“No, I fucking hate you,” I spit out, my skin crawling. I’m about to tell him that his ass is going to be flung off this yacht, but he takes a step forward and I raise a warning hand. “You come near me, and I’ll break both your kneecaps.”
I’m yelling internally, my ribs concaving around my lungs and shrinking my fucking breath.
Farrow—he’s not here. I love him so damn much that I can already feel the pain he’ll feel from this moment. But for some reason, I only wish he were right by my side. Maybe because I know he can carry the weight with me. I know he can bear it.
“Come on,” Rowin repeats. “You and me would fit more than you and him. You’re kind, considerate and sweet, and he’s…” Our heads swerve as a cabin door cracks open.
No.
No.
“Moffy?” Luna peeks her head out, concern and fear wobbling her voice. I’m not sure how much my siblings heard, but I have one mission now: shield them from this doomsday.
“I’m okay. Go back inside.” I move towards her, stoic and unbending. Rowin—I feel him lingering in the hall, closer to me than I fucking like.
But I reach my sister’s cabin, and I notice Kinney and Xander right behind Luna, their eyes huge like saucers. Uncertain of what to do and scared.
“I’m okay,” I say strongly. My eyes have to be bloodshot because they stare at them like it’s the only evidence that I’m not. “I’m okay. You’re all safe, and I’m going to shut this door—”
“No, Moffy!” all three shout like I’m exiting a bomb shelter to face certain death. The intensity of their reaction startles me a bit, and I try to think back on what they could’ve heard:
Can you not do that?
What the fuck are you doing?
Come on.
Stay the fuck away from me.
I like you and you’re into me.
No, I fucking hate you. You come near me, and I’ll break both your kneecaps.
Come on.
Fucking Christ. That’s it, that’s all they could know.
Luna grabs my hand, looking from me to Rowin. He’s in my peripheral, and I don’t acknowledge him or curse him out. Because I’m trying not to frighten my siblings.
I guide her further into the small cabin, a nautical comforter on two single beds. Luna drifts backwards with Xander and Kinney, and I slip further inside, shutting and locking the door behind me.
“I’m not in any danger,” I tell them. “You don’t need to panic. Alright, Kinney. Kinney.” I force out her name; my thirteen-year-old sister has buried her face in her hands. “I’m okay.”
My harsh tone pops up her head, and she scrutinizes me.
“I’m okay,” I repeat.
“Then stay,” Kinney snaps at me, her voice cracking in a brief sob.
I can’t. I need to get Rowin off this fucking yacht. She can tell that I’m planning to go back out, and she wails at me like I’m being reckless with my life and throws a pillow at my face.
“Kinney.” I smack the pillow away. “I’ll be back.”
She gears up to chuck another pillow.
“Stop, Kinney,” Xander cuts in, his cheeks blotchy and tear-streaked. His face is flooding with remorse and pain. “Moffy has been beaten down enough tonight from me, you don’t need to do that too—”
“Summers,” I say with the shake of my head. “You could tell me to rot in hell, and I’d still overwhelming, unconditionally be there for you and love you—there is nothing you can do to push me down. Alright?”
Xander rakes his hand over his face, hot tears pouring out. “I’m sorry. I’m fucking sorry. I didn’t mean what I said earlier. I love you, you know I love you, right?”
I didn’t think I needed to hear that, but maybe some part of me did. I breathe more, and I nod. “Yeah,” I say. “In every universe.”
I wrap my arms around my brother’s shoulders. Same height, he hooks an arm around mine, his head hung while he rubs his eyes.
He murmurs, “I can’t live without you…”
My eyes try to well, and I whisper, “I love you.” I open my stance for Kinney and Luna. “All three of you.” And our sisters join the hug. My arms envelope my younger siblings, and I can feel them cling onto me.
I breathe and breathe. Knowing they’re safe calms me, and when we all pull back, I glance at the locked door.
Luna tries to hide her face in her white shirt. “Where’s Farrow?”
“I’m about to go get him,” I say. “You three stay here. I’ll be back later.”