Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
“I am a real cowboy. I own a farm with my family,” I tell the boys to distract everyone.
“Told you.” Parker sticks out his tongue at his older brother before turning his attention back to me. “Can I ride a horse?”
I reach back to make sure Parker is secure in the seatbelt, and he flinches. The kid fuckin’ flinches, and my stomach swoops. Someone taught this kid to be afraid.
Chase bats my hand away and juts his chin at me, the picture of defiance just like his older sister. Fuck, just how hard were their lives that they’ve had to be so tough? “I got it.”
He quickly adjusts the seatbelt so it’s not resting on Parker’s neck and when he thinks I’m not looking, he ruffles his hair affectionately. Poor kid has learned that anger can be a hell of a shield. A lesson I learned at his age.
I want to track down whoever made these boys and their sister afraid. I want to feel their ribs cracking beneath my knuckles. But I force a smile on my face to put the kids at ease. “Alright, now who’s ready for the arcade?”
Chapter 7
Evie
“You lose. Again.” Chase smirks. The four of us are playing air hockey here in the arcade in Sweetgrass River. We’ve been playing teams, Chase and Parker against me and Greer.
Greer is a good player, but he couldn’t make up for the disaster that I am when it comes to this game. We’ve just lost. After spending the past twenty minutes with Greer’s arm brushing mine as he fought to keep the puck from disappearing into our slot, I don’t feel like I’ve lost. Every nerve in my body is a livewire right now.
I wait for Greer to blow up at Chase the way Spencer would have. I wait for him to get pouty and sulk in the car. But he just laughs off the teasing. “I’ll kick your asses at hoops.”
The four of us spend the next hour together, playing more arcade games. I don’t think I’ve laughed this hard in weeks. Maybe months.
When Chase and Parker pause to use the bathroom, Greer touches my shoulder. “How are you? How are the lungs?”
I beam up at him. It still hurts to breathe and laugh. I know from previous attacks it could take a few days for me to feel good again. But being out with Greer and my brothers is the best medicine I could have been given. “You’re making them happy.”
“They’re not the only ones I want to make happy.” His gaze darkens before it drops to my lips. He leans close, so close I can see the flecks of gray in his blue eyes. “Come back to the farm with me. Let me show you and the boys around.”
I lick my bottom lip. “I’ll need some convincing.”
His lips twitch then he’s sliding his hands around my hips. He pulls me closer, sealing our bodies together before he tips his head. The first brush of his lips against mine is soft, tentative. But then I groan and that’s all the encouragement Greer needs.
He cups my face, angling my head and devours me. Our tongues tangle together, and I can taste the new beginning on his lips. My nipples bead to sharp points, and I grip a fistful of his t-shirt, desperately needing him closer.
Somewhere in my brain, I register the sound of an opening door. I step away from Greer even though I want to spend the rest of the night kissing him. I can’t remember the last time I felt wanted or desired the way he makes me feel.
The boys appear from the bathroom, and I give him a quick wink before they can see. “No, Greer, I don’t think the boys want to go see the farm tonight.”
“Me! I want to go!” Parker says.
“What? We can go see the farm?” Chase asks before he catches himself. He crosses his arms over his chest and does his best to scowl. “Might be kind of lame though.”
Greer shrugs. “You’ll never know if you don’t tag along.”
“Let’s go. Can we go, Evie? Tell Chase I want to go,” Parker insists.
“If Parker wants to, I can come along, I guess,” Chase offers.
“It’s not a school night, so maybe we could stay out a little bit later,” I add.
“Good, then it’s decided.” Greer starts for the door then stops. He turns to me. “Do you have your inhalers on you?”
I roll my eyes, even though I’m secretly delighted by his concern. “Yeah, I’m fine. I promise.”
Main Street is still open when we drive through town, so Greer stops at the donut shop to get us dessert.
I study the case filled with colorful donuts. I had two slices of pizza at the arcade, and I already took one of the steroid pills today. I should definitely skip this outing.