Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I’d be lying if I said I was expecting her to say anything besides, “I hope you choke on that apple.”
“Wow,” I scoffed out. “After everything I just said to you, that’s all you have to reply?”
“You should be grateful I’m not screamin’ your name.”
“Oh, baby girl, don’t you get it? I’m counting down the days till I have you screaming my name.”
“You’re unbelievable! What do you expect me to say?”
“The truth. Starting with those fuckin’ papers. Do you know the results?”
“What if I did? It wouldn’t matter anyway. You claim I’ve known your worst fears. You’re right, I have. But don’t try to pretend like I haven’t been pushin’ you to take the test for years.”
“Why would you do that when you’ve had them in your possession all this time?”
“’Cuz I wanted you to take that step forward on your own. I didn’t wanna force the results on you.”
“Oh, you mean like you did two days ago?”
“That ain’t fair.”
“No, what’s not fair is the fact you’re trying to put yourself up on this pedestal. When you’re no better than me. You’re not my girlfriend, Harley. We aren’t in a relationship. We never have been. I didn’t cheat on you, so stop trying to crucify me like I did.”
She noticeably grimaced.
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, however there was no taking them back. At the end of the day, it was our reality.
“I. Hate. You. Get the fuck out of my room and my life.”
“Easier said than done, Gremlin.”
“Why don’t you go run to Willow, huh? I bet she’s just waitin’ for you to keep talkin’ shit about me.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I don’t talk to Willow about you. Where would you get that from?”
“I don’t believe you. You’re nothin’ but a liar.”
“For fuck sake, Harley. I apologized, I meant it. Even though I shouldn’t have to. I did nothing wrong. I wasn’t lying to you when we were dancing. You took our conversation way out of context and put your own spin on it. Now, I’m getting your bullshit ’cuz you romanticized something I said and ran with it? What more do you want from me? You want me on my knees, begging for your forgiveness? Or on my knees with your pussy in my mouth, eating it out for you?”
“Ugh! You’re disgustin’! I want nothin’ from you but to get out.” Her fists clenched at her sides. “Now!”
I wasn’t going to get through to her. Not when she was like this. She was too riled up, too heated. Her thick Jameson skull was in full effect. Nothing I said would matter because in this moment...
She did hate me.
In spite of it being the last thing I wanted to do, I stepped back away from her.
Speaking another truth, “This isn’t over.”
All I could do, was give her what she wanted.
I turned and left.
Her room, not her life.
In hopes, she would eventually forgive me.
Chapter 7
<>Harley<>
Then: Sixteen-years-old
“Harley, you can’t not do something for your birthday! That’s like against the law,” Shiloh exclaimed, standin’ in front of me with her hands on her hips.
It was my birthday.
My sixteenth birthday.
Sweet sixteen only comes around once, and I was spendin’ it workin’ at the animal shelter. I went from a volunteer position to a part-time employee about a year ago. These flea bags were my happy place. Always had been. Always would be.
To this day a Wheaten Terrier mix hadn’t walked through the doors, but I didn’t give up faith that eventually my furry best friend would come into my life.
When the time was right, it’d happen.
It didn’t matter how many times these mutts bit me, their bark was always bigger.
Exactly like a certain bully who wouldn’t stop by any means to get my attention.
“Shiloh, I don’t mind. It’s just another birthday.”
“It’s your sweet sixteen, and you already forbid your parents from throwing you a party. Come on, let’s go do something amazingly epic that will be monumental for this day!”
“Like what?”
“I have an idea, but you have to come with me.”
I laughed, “I’m workin’.”
“Puhlease ... you know Sharon would let you leave early. It’s your birthday after all.”
“How many times are you going to remind me it’s my birthday?”
“As many as it takes to get you to leave with me. It’s bad enough that Cash has a gig today, and he can’t spend your birthday with us. Now you’re telling me you’re out of commission too? I won’t stand for it. I’m putting my foot down, you’re coming with me. With or without your consent.”
“You sound like Jackson.”
She rolled her eyes. “Jackson’s an asshole.”
I nodded. “Facts.”
These last few months proved to be hectic to say the least. Jackson was ruthless in his pursuit to get back into my life. His antics knew no bounds, from the letters he left in my locker, to his text messages, to the sunflowers he’d leave on my bed every Sunday evenin’.