Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“No! Molly, we—”
“‘Officially’ we’ve been friends a lot longer than we’ve been dating, or at least I thought we were friends. I would’ve been excited for you.” A painful wave of embarrassment almost knocks me out of my chair. “How could you not tell me at all?”
He scowls and genuinely seems puzzled.
“Wow.” I draw out the word with as much sarcasm as I can gather. “I see how it is. We’re not really friends. My opinions don’t matter. You expect me to accept all your decisions.”
“Calm down—”
Those two words are a lit match tossed on the gasoline in my veins. “Don’t tell me to calm down!” I jump out of my chair so fast, it skids backward several inches. “Eight weeks is almost the entire summer. I might already be starting classes by the time you get back.”
“It’ll be okay.” He stands and reaches for me, but I dodge to the side, out of his grasp.
“No, it won’t.” Pressure builds behind my eyeballs. No, no, no. I can’t cry in front of Griff. I won’t.
“Can you go?” I point toward the door.
“What?” Shock twists his face and raises his voice. “No.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.” The tip of my nose stings. I push past Griff. “I’m tired.”
“Molly.”
I can’t look at his face or I’ll cave.
I all but run for the staircase, praying he won’t chase me.
He’s leaving.
He’s been lying to my face for weeks.
Crying in front of him—acting like a baby when he already has so little respect for me—that’s unacceptable.
I gather my humiliation and hold onto it tight all the way up the stairs. Once I’m in the safety of my room, I quietly close the door, and burst into tears.
All by myself.
Griff
Despair wraps around my chest as I watch Molly run up the stairs, fighting off tears. She didn’t want me to see, but I know my girl. Every sign that she was about to cry was written on her face and ripping up her voice.
A magnetic force tugs my body toward the staircase, instinct to go after her and say anything that will chase away her tears.
To repair the damage I caused.
Why didn’t I tell her sooner? She was happy for me at first—before she realized I’d been lying to her for so long.
“So, how’d that work out for you?” Remy steps out of the kitchen with an angry scowl twisting his face, and nods toward the stairs.
I shouldn’t be surprised he caught some of our conversation. Or hell, maybe he’s listened in on the whole disaster. “Not great, but thanks for showing up to gloat.”
“I warned you to tell her.”
I blow out a long, annoyed breath. “I think she would’ve been pissed no matter when I told her.”
“Eh.” He lets out a sharp mocking sound. “I dunno about that.”
“Yeah, because you’re some sort of relationship expert?”
“Maybe not.” He tilts his head toward the stairs and walks around the table to stand in front of me. “But I know my sister pretty damn well.”
“Then get out of my way so I can go talk to her.” I step toward him, and he blocks my path.
“No.” He lifts one hand in a stop gesture but doesn’t touch me. “Let her cool off.”
“Are you fucking serious?” I slap his hand away.
“Go home,” he insists in a lethal tone. “Give her some breathing room.”
The stubborn part of me wants to tell him to fuck off. Stay out of our relationship. But deep down, I know he’s right. There’s no way I’m giving him the satisfaction of saying that, though. His ego’s big enough.
“Fine.” I lift my chin in stubborn defiance. “Just tell her—”
“No, you’ll tell her yourself. Later.”
“Remy,” I plead. “You know the only reason I considered this is to give us—”
“I understand why you think it’s a good idea.” Above us, the pipes screech and water rushes through the house’s ancient system. Remy tips his head back, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds.
I follow his gaze and try not to picture Molly wet and naked in the shower. Or think of her last night, all cute in the little shower cap and nothing else while I ran my hands over her slick body.
“She actually loves your dumb ass for some reason,” he finally says in a sharp voice that snaps me out of my showering-with-Molly fantasy.
“Thanks,” I grumble. “You know I love her too.”
He dips his chin in agreement. “Being away from you for that long probably seems like an eternity to her right now.” He shrugs. “Give her some time to digest the information. It’s a pretty big secret you kept from her. “
How did I not anticipate the damage keeping a secret like that would cause? Of course Molly feels betrayed.
I just hope I haven’t fucked things up beyond repair.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Molly
Later, when I’m calmer and I’m sure Griff isn’t around, I venture downstairs. Stillness fills the house. There’s no chatter from the television or music humming out of the speakers.