Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Cole looks confused, probably wondering why I’m suddenly desperate to get out of here and not ready to party the night away. “Um, yeah. Sure, whatever, man. I’ll see you at Rebels tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
“Yeah, thanks,” I mutter before taking off like a bat out of hell, barely able to spare him a backward glance. I’m all too aware of the fact I’m wearing nothing but a pair of gym shorts.
I head toward the exit, one foot slamming down in front of the other, adrenaline spurring me on. I dash up the stairs and into the abandoned building, but can’t find her through the mass of people all trying to get out of here before it turns into a fucking raid.
After racing out front, I look up and down the car-lined street before hearing a feminine growl tearing through the night. “Let me go, asshole.”
I run, my feet pounding against the pavement.
“Chill, babe. We’re having fun,” some guy responds. “Don’t start acting like a bitch now. You’ve been teasing my cock all night and now suddenly you’re not into it?”
“This is your idea of fun?” the girl scoffs. “Get your dirty as fuck arm off me.”
I pick up my pace and follow the sound of her voice before turning down an alleyway and finally finding her. Charli is standing next to the asshole, his arm still locked around her, and there are two other people already sitting in an old beat-up car, just waiting for Charli to play along with their fucked-up games.
A girl hangs her head out the window, and there’s something familiar about her. Maybe a waitress at Micky’s? I don’t know. All that matters is the way she’s staring at Charli. “Come on. Hurry up already. We’ll head back to Eddie’s and Chris can show you a good time,” the girl slurs as she tries to light up a joint. “God knows you fucking need it.”
The guy beside Charli, who I’m assuming is Chris, grins down at her and takes her by the wrist. He gives a sharp tug, yanking her toward the car and making her stumble under his force. “Don’t,” Charli shouts out, trying to yank her arm free, the desperation in her tone almost killing me.
“Hey,” I call as I finally catch up to them, my tone having all four of their stares whipping in my direction. I focus on Charli and relief surges through her blue stare. “You okay?”
The guy reluctantly lets go of her wrist and steps around Charli as if blocking her from me. The two in the car watch me with suspicion while Chris watches me as though I’m some kind of competition. Charli though, she looks at me as if she’s about ready to fall into my arms and let me whisk her away.
“Um, yeah,” Charli says, hesitantly taking a step away from Chris. “I’m okay.” Her silent now is deafening.
I nod, my gaze shifting over her company once again before coming back to her as I continue to make my way toward her, Chris getting antsy with every new step. “Cool. Do you want to get out of here?”
Charli narrows her eyes on me, and I know she’s hesitant about me, but not nearly as much as this other asshole. The relief in her eyes is evident, and I know without a doubt that she’d rather risk it with me than this guy. “Uh . . .” she cringes, almost looking for some kind of way to politely excuse herself from her current company. As if they deserve that much.
“Dude, back off,” Chris says, inching toward me. “She’s with me.” Quickly realizing he’s not about to intimidate me, he turns back to Charli, reaching for her wrist again. “Let’s go. Get in the car already.”
“Dude,” I say, mimicking him as Charli flinches back from his touch. “Are you fucking blind? She doesn’t want to go with you.”
“Come on,” the chick in the passenger seat whines as she blows a cloud of smoke out into Charli’s face. “Let’s go already.”
“Um,” Charli says, finally speaking up. “I’m going to go with this guy,” she announces, hooking her thumb in my direction.
Chris gapes at her as if her response is truly baffling to him, and as Charli steps further away, he rolls his eyes. “Whatever,” he grunts before getting into the car. “She’s fucking frigid anyway.” He slams the door behind him, and Charli has to jump back out of the way as the car takes off up the alley.
She stumbles back, and I have to quickly catch her before she falls. “Thanks,” Charli murmurs, looking up at me as I hastily drop my hands away, not wanting her to freak out at my touch. “That guy was a bit . . . much.”
“No shit,” I scoff, before looking her over, really making sure she’s alright. “You’re really okay?”