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)
I’m not sure what to say to that. Griff and I haven’t ever really been “apart.” And even though my life hasn’t always been easy, I’ve never been tossed around to different foster homes the way Ella was her whole life. I had my brother to take me in when I needed him.
And now I’m making out with his best friend behind his back. Worse, I can’t wait to do it again.
“Hey, sorry.” Ella squeezes my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to go all melancholy on you.”
“You didn’t.” I have the sudden impulse to hug her. I reach out, bundling her up in my arms, almost knocking her off her feet. “Thanks for listening to me.”
“Any time, girl.” She pats my back and I release her.
“What’d I miss?” Juliet calls out. I turn and she’s walking toward us, carrying her son, Atlas.
“Aw, hey, little guy!” I hold out my arms and Atlas eagerly reaches for me, a sweet smile stretched across his toddler cheeks.
“How you doing?” I coo.
“No love for me, huh?” Juliet teases.
I lean in and give her a one-armed hug. “I’ve always got love for you.”
“Operation Unclench needs to kick it up a notch.” Ella leans toward Juliet and covers her mouth sideways like she’s starring in some corny comedy.
“Oh, reeeaally?” Juliet clasps her hands under her chin. “Do tell.”
Heat burns my skin from my forehead to my neck. “Nothing…just Griff and I…”
“Aww.” Juliet throws a knowing glance at Ella.
“Uh.” I tilt my head toward the shacks. “Your Uncle Dex kinda walked in on us. He won’t say anything to Remy, right?”
“Walked in on what?” Ella practically shouts.
“Jeez, calm down.” Juliet flaps her hand at Ella, and Atlas mimics his mother’s movement, making all of us laugh.
“Nothing…just…” Oh my God. My face… How have I not burst into flames yet? “We were kissing but…”
“I doubt Dex is going to report to your brother,” Juliet assures me. “He likes to stay out of everyone’s business as much as possible.”
“All right. Good.” As much as I want Griff to tell Remy about us, I want him to do it—not have someone else do it for us.
Griff
Desire for Molly simmers under my skin. Our kisses in the dark still have me worked up. Not even my conversation with Dex erased the feel of Molly’s warm, soft body under my fingers.
Sweet Molly in her tight jeans who seems to be trying to drive every man at this party insane.
Or maybe I’m the only one ready to lose my mind. My brain seems determined to wander into forbidden territory this afternoon, no matter how hard I try to wrangle it into more wholesome thoughts.
At some point, she shed the bulky hoodie she’d been wearing earlier, leaving her in a tight red T-shirt that keeps lifting and showing a peek of her skin every time she moves a certain way.
The party at Zips pulses with life—friends talking, music pumping, engines revving—and all my attention’s focused on Molly.
And those jeans that curve to her body like a second skin.
I caught Spoons eye-fondling her earlier. The look on his face made me want to borrow his nickname as inspiration while I scooped out his eyeballs as a punishment for staring at my girl.
My girl. Mine. I gotta have this conversation with Remy sooner rather than later. I thought it made sense to wait until after her birthday but the disappointment in her voice before has me questioning that plan.
Molly’s playing with Vapor’s son, Atlas, while Vapor and Juliet take their new Jeep for a few laps on the track. Atlas brought a container of tiny toy cars with him, and the toddler seems determined to show off every single one to Molly. She playfully snatches one of the cars and hides it behind her back. Atlas’s giggles fill the air.
I walk up behind her and steal the toy from her hand, then hand it back to Atlas.
“Hey!” Molly shouts.
“No!” Atlas shoves the miniature plow truck right back at Molly and shakes his head at me. Guess the little bugger’s as enamored of Molly as I am. “Mow-wees,” he insists with a scowl that looks exactly like his father’s.
“It’s all mine?” Molly gasps and widens her eyes with playful surprise, leaning down and blowing a raspberry on Atlas’s cheek that makes him squeal with laughter.
She’s killing me. A mixture of adoration and longing stirs in my chest. More than simple attraction—it’s admiration for the way she connects with Atlas. It’s a picture of our future suddenly becoming very clear. I’ve never thought about having kids of my own.
The impulse to claim Molly in front of everyone tonight seizes me.
She leans back, resting her head on my chest, and peers up at me. “Look what I’ve got,” she teases, holding up the toy.
“Cute.” Our gazes connect and the urge to kiss her pulls me down.