Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 822(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Seriously?” I whispered, somewhat doubtful.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “You don’t remember me bringing that damn thing to school every single day. You know why I did it, right?”
“No. Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to disappoint you. I refused to let you down by forgetting it.”
“Why?” I asked again, realizing how stupid I must’ve sounded repeating the same questions.
He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s just the way I am. I don’t like to break my promises. I don’t want people thinking I don’t keep my word.”
“Drake, stop messing around with my emotions,” I blurted out, leaning over the middle compartment. “You’re just saying this stuff to be nice when you honestly don’t have to be.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true.” His forehead scrunched as he looked me deep in the eyes. “You think you’re the only one that appreciated having a friend? I hated everyone in that damn class and thought I would forever… until I heard you defend me. No one outside the twins, my mother, and my grandma, has ever defended me. Not to the point that they ended up embarrassing themselves like you did that day. Out of all the memories I have, that one sticks the most. I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
I was speechless. Utterly, indisputably speechless.
I’d never heard Drake speak so honestly—so sweetly. He may not have thought he was saying something kind, but he was. His honesty held compassion.
I don’t think he knew how much he was working his way in, controlling my emotions without even knowing it.
“I was glad to have you as a friend too, Drake,” I stated softly.
I sat back in my seat and grinned, and when I looked over, a smile lingered on the corners of his lips, the streetlights flashing across his sculpted face.
I didn’t know what this was here—how we’d gone from friends, to hating each other, to pretending we didn’t care at all, and then to becoming more than friends—but I wasn’t going to deny or ignore it.
Drake—he was capable of a lot. I could tell.
He was afraid of getting close—afraid of letting me in. But the fact that he was opening up to me and being so honest right now proved to me one thing.
He fought all the time—fought with himself, fought during his free time, fought with his past—but I think when it came down to me, he didn’t want to fight it anymore. He couldn’t fight it because if he tried he knew it would be his first loss.
So he tapped out.
He gave in.
Just like me, he wondered. He probably daydreamed about it—maybe not as much as I did, but at least once… I hoped.
I was glad he felt he didn’t have to ward me off anymore.
I was also glad that he felt this way about me—like I was his only friend back then. Like I was the one he could confide in. Like I was the girl he would never forget.
We’d gone separate ways, but we were back now. Maybe a little more attracted to each other than friends should have been, but that was okay.
Being only friends with someone like him seemed boring anyway.
This, I thought, could work.
There could be so much more between us.
My hopes were high…maybe a little too high.
Chapter 15
Drake
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing at this damn carnival with her.
Riding the damn merry-go-round, the rollercoasters—all of it. I hate rollercoasters, but somehow she managed to talk me into getting on one. The biggest one.
I don’t know how the hell I didn’t end up vomiting all over her lap, especially after all of the cotton candy and popcorn I ate.
She would have hated this whole idea of a carnival if that would have happened.
After the ride, we sat on the nearest bench. She went for a candy apple, a brownie, and water. When she brought it back and offered, I refused it.
“Can’t handle anymore sweets,” I mumbled.
“You are a such a wimp,” she laughed, bumping my shoulder playfully.
“I’m not used to all the junk food.” I shrugged.
“I bet, with all of the working out you do.”
I looked over at her as she took a bite of her brownie. When she caught my eye, she gave me a full, chocolate-crumbled grin. Crumbs were between every tooth, and she looked so silly I couldn’t help but huff a laugh.
I tried to fight it, I did, but it was useless.
She was so damn innocent and cute. She didn’t even know it.
She snorted. “Sorry,” she giggled.
“Don’t be.” My face straightened as she dropped her head. I didn’t get it—why she apologized so much. “Do you even realize how often you apologize for doing absolutely nothing?”
“No…?” She looked confused.
“You shouldn’t feel sorry for being yourself.”
She chewed slowly and looked me deep in the eyes for several seconds before pulling away. “It’s a bad habit. I’m working on it.”