Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Was that the summer you used to hang out in our yard?” I ask, remembering Dornan leaving it to the absolute last minute to leave and then running home so he didn’t miss his curfew.
“Yeah. Do you remember? It might not be as bad as you think.” I nod, hoping he’s right, and his brows draw tight as I take a step back and rub my hands over my upper arms. “I didn’t know you were so invested in the blended family thing. You’ve always moaned so much about the triplets and your mom and stepdad.”
“Better the devil you know,” I mutter as heat spreads over my blotchy cheeks.
“Did something else happen?” he asks, cocking his head to one side and studying me with his best friend magnifying lens on high alert.
The wall is cold against my back, and I roll my lips between my teeth, tasting strawberry Chapstick. It’s not that I want to keep secrets from Dornan. He’s my best friend, and I usually share everything with him. It’s just that, under the circumstances, revealing my sexual escapades feels like laughing at a funeral.
“Can we save that chat for another day?” I ask eventually.
“I’m not sure. Let me buy you one of those ridiculous frozen coffee things you love, and I’ll even throw in an exploding chocolate muffin. Then we’ll see how you feel.” He takes my hand, and I push off the wall, pretending to be reluctant but relieved that I don’t have to motivate myself to go to my class anymore.
It doesn’t take us long to get to the coffee shop, and Dornan fills the journey with stories about his frat buddies and their ridiculous antics. It feels weird to laugh when my heart is so heavy, but I do. I guess that’s the power of a good friend in a time of crisis.
Dornan grabs our drinks while I sit in the window, staring at the other students rushing to class or hanging out with friends. Weirdly, I carry a strange feeling of ‘outsiderness’ with me, as though the unsettling home environment has crept into every aspect of my life. I catch sight of Colby’s back, but he disappears inside a building before I can be sure it’s him. Then Dornan places an extra-large iced frap in front of me with as much excitement as would accompany a diamond ring.
I suck a long, sweet drink through the straw, and as the coffee and caramel rest in my stomach, I instantly feel better.
“Good?” he asks, slumping into the small wooden chair in front of me that doesn’t look like it can hold a man as big as Dornan.
“The best.”
“So, are you now in the mood to tell me everything?”
Just as I open my mouth, there’s a dull thud of a fist against the glass. I almost jump out of my skin. When I turn, I find Celine and Gabriella pressing their lips against the glass the way toddlers do, making grossly hilarious expressions. When they’ve succeeded in making me laugh, they aim for the open door of the coffee shop and burst inside, chattering noisily.
Celine plonks herself onto the adjacent chair, and Gabriella grabs a spare from the next table, turning it so she can sit with her legs wrapped around the back.
“I hope our girl here is about to spill some good shit,” Celine says. She reaches out and grabs my coffee, taking a long drink and rolling her eyes.
“Ellie’s having a tough day,” Dornan says.
“Why? The triplets decided not to give you the good cock?” Celine whispers.
Dornan, who was sipping his hot cappuccino, snorts some back into the cup.
“Celine, you have to chill out with talking like that in front of boys,” Gabriella says, resting her hand reassuringly on Celine’s shoulder. “You know that’s just for women's talks. Men don’t know how we speak when it’s just us. They can’t handle it!”
“Do they seriously believe they’re the only ones who talk about cock?” Celine asks, aiming her question in Dornan’s direction.
“Don’t ask me,” he says, wiping his lip on the back of his hand. “I’m not the voice of all men,”
“Shame,” I say. “At least they’d make more sense if they were all like you.”
“Trouble in triple dick paradise?” Celine asks, but Dornan is sensible enough not to comment.
“I’ll give you the lowdown,” he says, telling them my family’s sorry tale of woe.
“Shit. He dared to cheat on your mom?” Celine says. “He’s one brave man.”
“He didn’t expect to get caught,” I snort, pealing the wrapper from the chocolate muffin and breaking off a chunk. Gabriella swoops in for a piece, too, as expected! Food is always communal.
“Yeah, but any realistic person knows secrets don’t stay private forever.”
“True,” I nod, the secrets I’m keeping from mom making me nauseous. “Maybe he got sick of her,” I say. “But I don’t know why he would. She’s always been like the perfect Stepford wife. And they have fun together. I always hear them laughing in their bedroom.”