Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Joey,” Merci greets. She stands and bites her lip as she approaches me. “Hopefully, you can help. Your girl is stressed.”
“I’m not stressed,” Adora bites back, flicking her hair away from her face and looking at me.
It’s those eyes.
They hold me hostage and don’t want to let go.
No matter how hard I try.
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
“The supplier sent me the wrong order. These are meant to be dark romance, not sweet.” She points to the books in front of her. “We have sweet. What we need is dark. And when I called, all I got in reply was ‘That’s what you ordered.’ Asshole, that is not what I ordered.” She slams one of the books shut. “Dark romance is hot. I need dark romance.”
“I think you’re living one.”
“You are not funny, Joey Rossi.” She gives me the evil eye.
“Ohhh, full name. Now you’re in trouble. Anyway, I’m off to get some much-needed caffeine. Drinks for you both?” Merci asks.
Adora doesn’t answer, but I nod my head. Sitting down in front of Adora and moving the books to one side, I reach for her legs and pull her to me, so her thighs rest over mine and her body is in front of me.
“Why are you being nice?” she asks, but before I can answer, her phone dings. She goes ramrod straight at the sound.
“Who’s messaging you?” I ask, searching her face.
“No one.” She turns away from me.
“If it’s a man, you can tell him I plan to be between those legs. And if anyone else even dares, I’ll cut their fucking head off.”
“I wish you would cut his head off,” she mumbles, but I hear her and reach for her phone. Moving forward, she rests her head on my chest. I pull her ass in closer, so she is sitting on my lap like a koala.
Opening the text, I read the first one.
You are such a slut.
Your father would be proud.
And he goes on for several more messages of nonsensical crap.
“Has he tried to call?”
“No,” she says into my chest. “You smell good.”
“Guys, no sex in here.”
“Too late,” Adora says to Merci as she walks in, holding drinks.
“Oh my gosh, really? You’ve fucked in here already? At least let us open first.” She shakes her head before she walks away.
“You need to change your number and get a new phone.”
“I ordered one, but it hasn’t arrived yet. I can’t not have a phone with Jerome. If he gets sick or something happens at school, I need to get him.”
The door opens, and we see her sister standing there, sunglasses covering her eyes and a look of sadness etched over her face. I can tell from Adora’s reaction she wasn’t expecting her.
“Abigail?” Adora asks, looking at her but not moving from my lap. Abigail removes her sunglasses to reveal a bruise blooming on her face. “What happened?”
“Your new family happened,” she says, glancing at me.
“Huh? Who did that?”
“Your wing woman. Is that what you call them?” I have no idea who she is referring to. “Piper.”
Adora turns to me, her eyes wide.
“What did you do to her?” I ask. Piper would not have hit her for no reason.
“I did nothing. I was assaulted by someone in your ‘family,’ and you both sit there and look at me as if I am the problem,” she screams. “I am not the problem.” Her hands go to her hips.
“She really is a spoiled brat,” I say quietly.
Adora gives me a soft laugh, which makes Abigail even angrier.
“Do you plan to do anything?” Her eyes are on her sister.
I reach for my phone and message Piper, who answers straight away.
“Take a seat,” I tell Abigail. “Merci.” Merci pops her head out and looks at us before she sees Abigail and offers her a wave. “Do you have a drink Abigail could have?” I ask her.
She nods, goes to the back of the shop, and comes back with a bottle of water, which she hands to Abigail.
“Are you okay?” Adora asks. I like that she doesn’t bother to move away from me. I can feel her body relaxing the longer she stays on my lap.
“No. Not that you care. What are you doing anyway? Is his cock stuck in you so you can’t move?” she snipes, and I roll my eyes. I fucking wish it were.
“No.” Adora goes to pull away, and at first, I squeeze her closer, but I do eventually let her go.
She walks over and sits with her sister as the door opens again, and Piper walks in, smiling.
TWENTY-THREE
ADORA
“You,” my sister seethes, standing and dropping her water all over my shoes. I step back and pick up the bottle. “It was her. This… thing.” Piper stands just inside the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Thing? Do you want another black eye, kid?” Piper asks.