Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“He paid you? How much?”
Dallas shrugs his broad shoulders. “Fifty bucks.”
I can feel my eyes almost bugging out of my skull, frustration and shock widening them. “You’re going to stand there and tell me you’re so hard up for cash you took fifty bucks from some kid on your team to dump his girlfriend?”
He shrugs again. “I never said I was hard up. For anything.”
His cocky grin makes me want to pop him in the face with a towel.
“You think it’s okay to come up to some girl you’ve never met and drop a bomb like that? Neither of you considered how it was going to make me feel?”
What if I were heartbroken? Then what would he have done?
What if I’d started to cry or get hysterical?
What if I’d had a catatonic meltdown like I’ve seen some girls do?
What if—
“Uh, judging by how pissed off you look, I feel like you’re misdirecting your anger at me instead of Diego. He’s the one you should be pissed at.”
My arms go up, then down. The jerk needs to stop interrupting my thoughts.
“Do you see him anywhere? No. Can hardly get pissed at someone who didn’t think he had to show up for the party!” I begin stomping away. “Asshole.”
Behind me, Dallas laughs again, that dopey, loud laugh. “Are you calling me an asshole or your ex-boyfriend an asshole? Be more specific.”
The nerve of this guy! Who the hell does he think he is? What kind of guy does this, Diego notwithstanding? He took fifty dollars to dump me? We were barely going out in the first place!
Freaking guys.
This is why I was single for so long before going out with Diego, and now I know why!
The outrage!
The—
“Want a ride back to wherever it is you live?”
Wherever it is you live? Lord, this guy is terrible with words. He needs a lesson on subtlety.
“As if I’d get in a car with you.” As the words leave my mouth, a cold shock of wind hits my face, leaving me breathless. Chills run down my lower spine, and I shiver.
“It’s going to snow. How far do you have to walk?”
I know for a fact it is NOT supposed to snow, but still, my body shivers again at the words.
I don’t answer, only stand here debating my options. Yes, I’m pissed off and angry, and yes, I never want to see this guy’s face again as long as I live—Diego’s either.
On the other hand, I’ve never been a glutton for punishment or being so stubborn I can’t see past the nose on my face.
“Fine. You can drive me home. I deserve it.” My chin tips up indignantly.
I know my worth.
I did not deserve to have some guy break up with me by proxy in the freezing cold, to get completely caught off guard by some dickhead who thinks his shit doesn’t stink.
I follow Dallas to a big black pickup truck that’s parked at the end of the block, its taillights flashing as we get closer, doors unlocking with a telltale sound.
“Need help climbin’ up?” he asks from behind me, hovering.
I want to swat him away—the last thing I want is him touching me.
“No.” Don’t touch me.
I don’t care if I am accepting his hospitality. I don’t want him helping me. He’s done enough to ruin my afternoon already.
My fingers are itching to pull out my phone and call Winnie, but I don’t want to take my eyes off this guy for one second. I’m also tempted to send Diego a message to find out if this is all legitimate, but…
The facts are the facts.
1. He canceled our date.
2. Barely touches me.
3. Hasn’t made any effort.
Part of me stings from the rejection. The other part of me knew all along it wasn’t going to work and we were wasting each other’s time.
And I was right.
“Is he seeing someone else?”
Dallas’s hands are on the wheel and he’s pulling out of his spot. “Who?”
I roll my eyes. Follow along. “Diego.”
“If you’re askin’ if he was cheating on you, the answer is no.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugs. “I don’t.”
That tells me nothing. “You’re operating on a hunch. Got it.”
Staring out the window, I eventually remember that this guy has no idea where I live and I have to give him directions, I tell him to go straight when he gets to the railroad tracks.
“What were you doing in the theater?”
“You little creep.” He laughs instead of giving me a direct answer. “Were you watchin’ me?”
“No.” I roll my eyes. As if. “My coworker was. Get over yourself.”
“Trust me, I’m not under myself.”
I side-eye him, unamused by his attempts at joking, unamused by his deep, teasing voice.
Watching the road ahead of us, I find myself asking, “On what planet is it a good idea to break up with someone else’s girlfriend?”
“What’s the big deal?”