Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Everything she is saying is true, so I try to make her fumble. “And my dad, what’s your solution for him?”
I’m not anticipating for her to answer me, so not only does her reply blow me away, but it also shocks me into silence, “He needs to learn the same lesson you do. That you can’t win them all if you’re only concentrating on one thing.”
Chapter 34
McKayla
One month later…
“Hey, McKayla, wait up.” I twist to face my greeter, halfheartedly smiling when I put a face to the recognizable voice. It is Gabriel. “Are you heading out?”
I nod before replying, “Yeah. I have an errand to run.”
When he asks, “Can I come with you?” I peer at him as if he has a couple of screws loose.
We haven’t spoken since our unexpected kiss. Not a single word, which should be virtually impossible, considering we have several classes together and a mutual study group.
I guess he didn’t want to admit that Vivienne and he had been in cahoots the entire time of my ‘ruse’ with Cash.
Supposedly, the soundproof room is only soundproof from the inside, which means Gabriel heard every word Cash and I exchanged before he snitched on our plan to Vivienne.
I don’t know why they worked together. Even Kamil is at a lost, but I plan to find out, just not now. Not when I have far more pressing matters to attend to.
The reminder of my hectic to-do-list sees my focus returned to Gabriel. “Thanks, but I think I’m going to run this one alone.” As I have done all ‘things’ the past four weeks.
My interaction with Cash was heart-tugging and eye-opening, but our communication ended on that dusty halfcourt four weeks ago. We see each other around campus and exchange a wave at his games, but other than that, I’ve been flying solo.
It should be weird, but the independence that comes from being the solo member of a club has also been strengthening. I’ve grown and matured more in the past month than I have in the past year, which means I am starting to like who I am more than being afraid of who I might become.
When Gabriel remains lingering like a bad smell, I say, “I’ll see you around.”
Stealing his chance to reply, I crank the ignition, then reverse out of my parking spot, leaving him confused and muted on the sidewalk.
Anyone would swear he’s never been turned down before.
If he were Cash Mancini, I might have believed him.
The drive to a leafy suburb on the outskirts of campus is relatively breezy. A bird almost takes me out on the freeway, but the stinky interior of my car soon becomes too much for him to combat, so after a rest on my bag of books, he makes his escape two miles later.
After parking in the driveway, I snag a bag of groceries from the floor of the passenger seat, my book bag, and my purse before slipping out of the driver’s seat and skipping down the cracked front path.
“They didn’t have any grapefruit juice, so I got pear. I hope that’s okay.” I dump my books onto the entryway table before entering the kitchen to put away my supplies. “Guys?”
My stomach gurgles when, “It’s not right,” roars out of the lower level of the house.
I snap my eyes to Trenton, who’s wheeling into the kitchen, before asking, “How long has he been down there?”
It dawns on me that we’re not alone when Trenton strays his eyes behind me. When I spin, I spot Cash’s mother sitting on the kitchen counter, smoking a cigarette. “Around four or so hours.” She licks her lips before releasing a smoke chain. “You wouldn’t happen to have any money, would you?”
I do, but I shake my head, adhering to my mother’s warning about never giving addicts money. Food or water, but never money. “I have juice.”
Her bitter laugh mocks me. “Juice. Huh.” She leaps off the kitchen counter before moseying around me. “Call me when Cash gets here. I need to use the ladies’ room.”
“Cash is coming?” I sound panicked. Justly so. He doesn’t know I’ve been visiting his family twice a week for the past four weeks.
Trenton nods. “I didn’t have your cell, so I couldn’t call you to calm him down. Besides you, Cash is the only one smart enough to solve his riddles.”
Pride is the first emotion that hits me. It is closely followed by worry.
Will Cash be angry that I’m here?
Did I overstep some kind of boundary?
I don’t know what is kosher for fake relationships. I just couldn’t leave our conversation how it was. His family needs help, and although I’m not the best person for the job, it is better than acting ignorant.
“I should go.”
I only make it to the foyer of their home when I spot Cash climbing out of the passenger seat of Kamil’s ride. He pats him on the back, thanking him for the ride, before turning to face the house.