Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Slade?” she questions, pulling back and looking at me through narrowed eyes. “Why does that name sound so familiar?”
“Slade is Daniella Cruz’s son. You know, mom’s best friend from high school.”
“Oh my God,” she gasps, throwing a hand to her chest. “That’s right. How could I have forgotten? How is she? I haven’t seen her for so long. She was such a great friend to your mom. It’s a real shame that we grew apart but you know how life gets in the way.”
I nod. “She said the same thing.” And a shitload of other things.
Shay carries on as though I hadn’t said a word. “How’s Slade? He must be…what? Eighteen or nineteen by now? He was such a good little boy with the cheekiest little grin.”
If only she knew that cheeky grin turned into a devilish smirk that could have women’s panties disintegrating with only the click of his fingers. “He’s, ahh…he’s good,” I say, failing to take the interest out of my tone.
Shay goes to continue when she stops herself and looks at me with furrowed brows. “Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘she said the same thing?’ When did you see her?”
“I, umm,” shit. “I saw her at her place.”
“Her place? Why were you at her place?” Shay’s head tilts before a slow, knowing grin begins to spread across her face. “Is there something going on between you and Slade? Is that where you were all night?”
“Umm…” I cringe, looking up at her through my lashes, hoping this isn’t going to bite me on the ass. “Is it going to be a problem if I was?”
“Oh, no, honey,” she beams as Ben comes striding in from the hallway, gawking at me in horror. “Hell, yes. That’s going to be a problem.”
“Shut up, Ben. She’s nearly eighteen. She should be allowed freedom. She’s been locked up by that horrid man for thirteen years. She deserves to have a little fun.”
“Not if it involves running around with strange boys in the middle of the night and sleeping in someone else’s bed. What kind of role models are we trying to be here?”
Shay looks up at her husband and raises an unimpressed brow. “Should I remind you that we were dating when I was only fifteen?”
“Yeah, but that was different,” he says, his gaze sweeping across to me and then back to Shay.
“How so?”
He lowers his voice and leans into Shay. “Because I remember what we used to get up to and believe me, I don’t want that for her. What if she…you know, got herself knocked up? We can’t have her ruining her life before she’s even had a chance to really begin. Think about it. Just one little mistake could change it all. We owe it to Chelle and Jake to keep her safe.”
Shay cringes and sinks back before turning her cringe on me, making my stomach sink. “I’m sorry, Sky,” she says, looking as though she’s hating herself for having to put her foot down. “He’s right. Maybe we need to have a chat tonight about setting some boundaries if you’re going to start dating.”
“Dating?” I grunt with wide eyes. “I didn’t say anything about dating, and especially Slade Cruz. He isn’t exactly dating material. We’re just hanging out. We’re fr…kind of friends, actually, I don’t know. I don’t think we’re friends at all really.”
“I don’t even know what to make of that,” Ben says, gawking at me in confusion as Shay gives me a knowing smile with excitement brimming in her eyes.
She walks toward me and runs her thumb lovingly down the side of my face. “You like him, don’t you?”
I guess there’s nothing better than honesty in times like these. “I don’t really know to tell the truth. He’s kind of an ass and tormenting him was the most fun I think I’ve ever had, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to stay away from him.”
“You know, your mom and Daniella always used to joke about you two getting together. Maybe this is a blessing from your mom to go for it.”
“I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s way too soon for that.”
“I agree,” Ben cuts in. “Why don’t you take a little break from the guy to think it over? There’s nothing quite like a bit of alone time to figure things out. No need to see him too much.”
Shay nails him on his shoulder. “Shut up. She can see him as much as she likes to figure out what’s going on between them.” She turns back to me. “How does Slade feel about all of this?”
I shrug again. “I mean, he certainly likes the way my ass looks in my jeans.”
“Okay,” Ben grumbles, turning away. “It’s way too early on a Sunday morning for this.”
Shay laughs as I watch his retreating figure disappear into the kitchen. “He’ll come around,” she says. “He still sees you as the little four-year-old girl who used to run around in her mother’s bikini pretending to be Miss Universe while waving at her adoring fans. I don’t think he realizes that you’re a woman now. He’s just trying to protect your innocence as much as he can.”