Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 83550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Lying to her.
Maybe I should end it.
The thought makes my stomach churn. Fragile has always been there for me, and now I’m just going to ditch her because things with Holland have become complicated?
What kind of person does that make me?
I’m still staring at the screen, lost in thought, when Holland appears out of nowhere.
“Hey,” she says, her voice soft but steady.
I glance up, and just like that, everything in me eases. Seeing her does that to me, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around why. My gaze drifts over her outfit, and I sit up straighter, the tension in my shoulders momentarily forgotten.
Holy fuck.
Holland looks more like a walking distraction. She’s rocking a black band T-shirt that clings to her curves in all the right ways, and a leather jacket that’s just a touch too big, giving her an effortlessly cool vibe. But it’s the rest of her outfit that nearly derails me. My gaze slides over her short plaid skirt that’s paired with black fishnet tights. If that wasn’t enough, her socks have tiny pink lip prints stamped on them. The look is finished off with platform sneakers that somehow make her legs look even longer.
In all the time I’ve known Holland, I’ve never seen her wear a skirt.
I like it.
Too damn much.
She drops into the seat across from me, pulling me out of my daze.
“Hey,” I manage to reply, shoving my phone into my pocket and trying not to blatantly stare. My voice falters as my brain scrambles for words. “You look…”
Her brow quirks, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. “Nice?”
“Better than that.” The word tumbles off my tongue before I can stop it. “Hot.”
Her cheeks flush, and she ducks her head, a small, self-conscious smile tugging at her mouth. “Thanks,” she murmurs before meeting my gaze again. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Not really.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “Although, I’m not sure how you expect me to get any work done when you look like that.”
“You’ll figure it out,” she says with a snort.
I narrow my eyes playfully, the corner of my mouth tugging upward. “We’ll see.”
“Yes, we will,” she counters, her smile growing as she pulls out her laptop. The easy banter between us settles something inside me, like a knot loosening after being pulled too tight.
For the first time all day, I finally feel like I can breathe again.
And that has everything to do with the girl sitting across from me.
27
Holland
I sneak another peek at Bridger from across the table. This newfound friendship that has sprung up between us is seriously disturbing.
And yet, I like it.
The more time I spend with him, the more I find myself falling.
My heart skips a beat as everything inside me freezes.
No way.
Falling is the last thing I’m doing.
So maybe he’s turning out to be different from what I originally thought.
He’s deeper.
Softer.
Kinder.
Fuck.
It’s almost a relief when the chime of my phone pulls my attention away from him. I scoop up my cell and glance at the screen.
A muffled groan rises in my chest.
Mom
Amazing idea! Let’s double date this weekend! Me and Jigsaw with you and his club buddy, Hammer! It should be fun! Let me know if you’re in.
Jigsaw.
Hammer.
Double date.
I blink at the message, half-expecting it to morph into something less insane. My guess is that he wasn’t dubbed Jigsaw because he enjoys putting puzzles together.
And Hammer?
I don’t even want to know how he got that nickname.
Mom’s pop-up romances normally fizzle after a few days. It’s a little disconcerting that this one is still going strong.
“Okay, I’ll bite. Who was that from?” Bridger’s voice cuts through my thoughts as he glances at me from above the laptop open in front of him. “Usually that kind of scowl is reserved solely for me. Should I be jealous?”
“Hardly.” Instead of explaining, I tilt the screen toward him. His eyes scan the message, and before I can pull it back, his fingers wrap around mine, taking the phone.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
His lips curve as his thumbs move across the mini keyboard. “Solving your problem.”
Doubtful.
“Bridger—”
Before I have the chance to threaten him, he passes the slim device back to me, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “You’re welcome.”
I read his message, and my jaw drops.
“Oh my God.” I scan it for a second time just to be sure I didn’t misread it as heat creeps up my neck. “You told her that I would bring my own date and—” My eyes narrow as I process his words. “And that I’m really into him?” I glare. “Are you being serious right now?”
He grins as his shoulders shake with laughter. “What? I’m just helping maintain our cover.”
“By telling my mother I’m really into you?”
“Would you prefer if I said that you find me irresistible? Because I can send another—”