Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Sunlight streamed in through the window, bouncing off Jade’s bubblegum-pink walls. The brightness was unbearable to look at with my headache. I squinted before taking off my boots and collapsing onto her bed, the open books beside me bouncing from the sudden weight.
“You’re actually studying?” I asked, thumbing through some of the pages. God, I didn’t think my brain could process anything right now.
“Yeah, hangover or not, I have a math test next week.” And like me, Jade was hoping for straight As and a scholarship into a college.
“I don’t remember half of last night.” I traced my finger over the stitching on Jade’s comforter.
“Well, you were all over Zepp. I can tell you that much.”
I groaned.
“Oh my God.” Jade grabbed one of the fuzzy bears on her bed and whacked me with it. “Tell me you did not lose your virginity while shit faced.”
“No! Luckily, Zepp was chivalrous.” And I still didn’t know quite what to make of that.
“Wait.” She dropped the stuffed animal. “I thought he didn’t know—”
I let out a sigh and flopped back onto the bed, hanging my head over the edge. “Yeah, well, apparently I told him.”
“It’s kind of ironic, though, right? Zepp Hunt is the hottest guy in school. And you’re the only girl he’s ever dated.” She nudged me with her foot. “A virgin who won’t sleep with him.” She cackled at that last statement.
“Zepp screws a lot of girls.” I focused on her pink lampshade, trying to push down the sick feeling that crawled up my stomach anytime I thought about him with any of those girls. “What if I sleep with him and that’s it?” I closed my eyes, voicing the one fear that held me back with Zepp. “What if the only reason he even wants me is that he can’t have me?”
“You’re kidding, right?” She snorted. “God, Monroe. He looks at you like… I can’t even explain it.” She shook her head.
“Anyway, enough about me. We need to study.”
I found it hard to focus, though.
My mind kept veering back to Zepp. And that was the way of things more and more these days. Sometimes it felt like I was only happy when I was with him. And that was where the dilemma was. Being dependent on another person for happiness couldn’t be a good thing. Life had taught me that much, but he was like a drug I couldn’t deny myself. And though I had planned to go home, the second I left Jade’s, I was texting him.
Me: What are you up to?
Asshole: Heading back from the northside. What R U doing?
I should probably change his name in my phone, even if it did make me smile.
Me: Just leaving Jade’s. Want to do something?
Asshole: Eat Ur pussy…
A little ball of heat settled low in my stomach at the thought of Zepp’s face between my legs.
Me: Maybe… I’ll come to your house.
I did go to Zepp’s, but I didn’t go in, instead taking him to the outskirts of Dayton.
I turned onto the narrow service road that branched off the highway, allowing my car to roll to a stop in the small clearing at the base of the billboard. I shouldered my backpack as we headed toward the metal ladder attached to the post, then started to climb it.
I hauled myself up onto the platform. It always felt so much higher than it looked from the ground. The setting sun painted the horizon in tones of orange and gold that made the mishmash of small project houses and neon signs from fast-food restaurants almost seem pretty. I dangled my legs over the edge of the platform and grabbed a can of Grapico from my bag, handing it to Zepp when he sank down beside me.
He frowned at the drink like it offended him. “You’re shitting me, right?”
I cracked the tab on mine, then tipped it back. “Hey, it’s my favorite.”
He opened his, staring down into the can. “You know this is pretty much hummingbird food?”
“Let me have my sugar fix. It’s definitely not worse than beer and cigarettes.”
“Bullshit.” He took a sip, then made a face like I had just fed him pure shit.
“Shush. It’s good.”
He kissed me, then licked over my lips. “Tastes better on you.”
“Eww, Zepp.” I swiped the back of my sleeve over my mouth, and he laughed.
“You wouldn’t be saying that if it were between your legs.” His hand went to my thigh, creeping higher and higher.
Despite the breeze up here, my cheeks started burning, and when his fingers crept beneath my skirt, my legs instinctively parted a little. And he immediately took the invitation.
“Now I know why you’re so tight.”
“Don’t act like you haven’t been stealing virginities since you were fourteen.” My voice came out on a hitched breath as he crooked his fingers.
“I wouldn’t know. Never bothered to ask.” He pressed his lips to mine before moving to my neck.