Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
That’s got to count.
I bite my lip to stop the smile threatening to consume my entire face. “I think I can get on board with that.”
“Yeah?” His voice is husky. “You sure?”
“Uh-huh.” I put on a casual tone. “And maybe I feel the same way.” When his smile widens, I narrow my eyes in warning. “Just a little, though.”
“Of course.” Without another word, RJ grabs my waist and hauls me over the fence to plant a relieved kiss on my sweat-salted lips.
For the first time in days, everything feels right.
Chapter 52
RJ
I’ve just sat down to scan through the boathouse footage when Fenn returns from his workout. He’s gotten used to me ignoring him and doesn’t say anything as he grabs a water from the mini fridge and shoves his gym bag in the corner beside his closet. From my peripheral vision I watch him bang around for a couple minutes until he notices the plastic bag on his bed.
“Where’d this come from?” he says, pulling out a takeout container of wings and onion rings with some of that god-awful bar sauce he loves so much.
“I sent a sophomore into town for it.”
“You got me wings?” Forehead creased, he takes the box to the coffee table and digs in.
The guy’s always going on about the damn wings, but they don’t deliver and he’s usually too lazy to go into town himself unless it’s to stay long enough to get wasted.
“Call it a peace offering.”
“I’m listening.”
I swivel around in my chair, meeting his eyes. “I’ve decided that maybe I overreacted. And given everything, I understand why you didn’t want to tell me about you and Sloane.”
“I admit I didn’t handle it the best,” he says, licking his fingers. “I’m sorry I lied.”
“Well, you know. I forgive you or whatever.”
Fenn smiles around a drumstick. Dude’s entire face is already covered in that wing sauce. He possesses little kid levels of enthusiasm when it comes to these wings. “This mean we’re good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“Should we hug it out?”
“Nah.” I grin to myself. “This took a lot less time than my talk with Sloane.”
“Girls are long-winded,” Fenn says solemnly. “They need too many reassurances.”
“Right?”
“Guys know how to do it. Keep it short, you know? Maximize all the cool shit you can be doing instead of dragging it out.”
I nod seriously. “Maybe Lawson has the right idea about swinging both ways.”
Fenn busts out laughing. “I’m telling him you said that. Dude. You know what Silas told me the other day? Lawson’s banging two teachers. Two! I can’t even get my dick in one.”
“Damn,” I remark. “Can’t wait to see how that turns out.”
“Wait.” Fenn arches a brow at me. “Does that mean you want to stick around? You’re not going to throw the fight with Duke?” At my startled expression, he glowers at me. “Yeah. I heard about that one too. Lawson said you were ready to lose just to get out of here.”
“I was,” I admit.
“And now?” my stepbrother pushes. “You’re ready to face Duke?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
There’s a better-than-zero chance Duke is going kick my ass. That nothing I did or could have done over the past month to prepare ever would have made a difference. This is a guy who gets off on inflicting pain and has his entire personality wrapped up in being the meanest dog in the junkyard. I can’t compete with that. But I’m not about to hide from him, either. I picked this fight. And I’m going to try to win it.
Even if it kills me.
A couple hours after Roger nods off to the History Channel, Fenn and I get ready to slip out of the dorm. I do one last thing on the computer before we head out.
“Stop messing with that and let’s go,” he says from the doorway. “What is it?”
“Yeah, I’m coming. Don’t worry about it.”
There’s a distinct chill in the air tonight, an almost ominous turn in the weather. The night feels darker than usual as we cross campus and wade into the black forest. Sloane texts as we’re walking, my screen lighting up the darkness.
SLOANE: You sure you don’t want me there?
I type a response as I walk.
ME: Nah, you’re too delicate. The blood will make you squeamish.
She responds with a dozen laughing emojis. Yeah. My girl is no fragile flower and we both know it. But it’s still fun to tease her.
SLOANE: Good luck. If you don’t win, I’m kicking your ass.
I grin at the phone, and Fenn smacks me on the arm. “Focus,” he orders. “Can’t have you tripping over a rock or something and taking yourself out of the equation.”
I don’t see them but hear the whispers and footsteps stalking our path. Half the campus descends on the dilapidated glass building overgrown with weeds and drowning with fallen leaves. The walls are dripping with condensation from the bodies crushed inside, ready to see the floor painted.