Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Lou needed to make herself plain or Kala might decide to find a way to force TJ to love her. “He’s not attracted to me. It’s the only explanation.”
“It’s not the only one,” Kenzie countered.
“No, but it’s the most logical.” Kala’s face settled into a frown.
“I thought it was because he wanted to go into the Army and Lou’s going to Massachusetts,” Kenzie said.
“But if she just laid it out and he said he couldn’t see them as a couple? That’s fucking bullshit.” Kala stood and started to pace. “He said that? Said those words?”
And this was why she hadn’t mentioned it. “Yes, but don’t get mad at him. I’m not. He likes me, but it can’t work because he doesn’t find me attractive. He’s…I mean, he’s TJ. There’s a reason every girl in school wants to be around him.”
TJ dated a lot, but he never stayed with one for long.
Logic stated that TJ was never going to love her. They could be friends again, but maybe she needed the time. Maybe it was a good thing she was going away.
“He’s an asshole if he can’t see how amazing you are, Lou,” Kala said.
But he wasn’t. He was kind to her. He’d protected her like she was his own sister. He was good to everyone, and when he walked into a room, he brought along sunshine. He was goofy and sweet, and she loved him.
“It’s okay. I don’t want you to be mad at TJ. He’s your cousin.”
“Yeah, well, you’re my sister.” Kala slumped down beside her, her head dropping so it was on Lou’s shoulder. “I hate that you’re hurt, and right now it feels more like TJ hurt you than that fucker Dennis.”
TJ didn’t mean to hurt her. “I wish all the best for him. So we’re going to pretend like I didn’t tell you and life will move on. I will not be attending the prom. I will be staying home and watching movies and eating pizza. Want to join?”
“Well, now that sounds like fun,” Kenzie said with a frown.
“You have a dress and everything,” Kala shot back. “Like Lou, I made my play a couple of months ago at another dance and I’m done. I don’t care what they say. This is not the best time of my life. It’s not. But it’s coming.”
There was a knock on the door, and then her dad stuck his head in. “Hey, sweetie, I brought some snacks.”
Her dad always brought snacks. She sniffled and sat up. “Thanks.”
Her dad was a big blond hunk of man who looked like he should be on a muscle magazine rather than carting around a teen girl charcuterie complete with string cheese and grapes and Slim Jim’s. Her dad was six foot seven inches of pure muscle, though his badass look was always tempered by some dog at his side. There were two following him around now. He was fostering one super-sweet but mangy looking mutt who kind of cowered behind him, and the other was a creaky old Chihuahua Lou treated like a baby half the time. Her father loved animals, as evidenced by the four goats, two horses, and multitudinous chickens on their property. And then there was the sleeping baby on her dad’s chest. Her baby brother. Jayce.
She was so happy for her mom, so happy she’d found someone who could love her, who deserved her.
He sat the big board down, and there was a deep crease between his brows he only got when he was worried. His hand went up to the sling he had around his torso. Since Jayce had been born, her dad had taken to carrying him around most of the time.
“What can I do?” her dad asked. He looked to Kala.
“Already offered. I’m not allowed to murder anyone,” Kala said with a sigh. “But I am allowed to hang with her that night. How about you make some of your pizzas for us, Uncle B?”
Despite the fact that there wasn’t an ounce of blood between them, Kala had grown up calling Boomer Ward uncle. Like Lou called Kala’s dad Uncle Ian.
Was it so surprising that a guy like TJ viewed her as a sister?
“Anything you girls want,” her dad promised.
There was only one thing she really wanted, and she wasn’t going to get it. Did she have to give him up entirely? Could she not have the man she loved in her life even if he couldn’t love her back? She managed a smile. “Thanks, Dad.”
She settled back as Kenzie started talking about something going on with her friends.
Kala’s hand found hers, squeezing.
She was good. Dennis would mean nothing to her in a couple of weeks, and she would move on with her life.
Kala was right. They had a plan, and that was what she would focus on.