Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I bit at my thumbnail and looked out the window again.
His words made me feel uncomfortable. For one, I definitely didn’t feel strong. I’d been a hot mess all summer. For two, I couldn’t imagine leaning on anyone who wasn’t Lee. No matter how platonically it would be.
“My Daddies give the best hugs,” Kit said matter-of-factly.
No, they didn’t. Master did. Lee had a signature hug. He’d start with framing my face with his hands and kissing me softly, a few times, and then he’d wrap his strong arms around my shoulders and slowly squeeze me harder and harder until all the tension melted away and I felt completely cocooned in his warmth. Then I’d feel his lips at the top of my head as he murmured how much he loved me.
I blinked and quickly brushed away a stray tear.
Forty-five minutes later, I stepped out on the patio behind the estate, and I had everything I needed in my arms. A five-pound bag of fun-sized candy and an open bag of barbecue chips.
Someone had rolled out the canvas awning, presumably in case the rain finally started falling, and my friends were knee-deep in Halloween decorations. Cam and Noa were sorting through a knotted ball of purple and orange streamers, Shay and Gretchen were carving pumpkins at one of the tables, Ella and Macklin were trying to detangle the pumpkin string lights, and Ivy was running from station to station to…do something. Oh, she was taking pizza orders.
I glanced over at the Founders’ cabins and found a few gathered outside Lucian and KC’s place. They looked comfy, seated there doing absolutely nothing except drinking beer and chatting.
“Hi!” Kit ran out with a happy grin and almost tripped over a full-sized skeleton decoration on the floorboards. “Oops. Ivy, what can I do? I’m here to help!”
Everyone looked up, and I steeled myself. If Lee wasn’t here already, he would be soon, and I didn’t want him to see me like this. I had to suck it up for a little while, at least.
I mean, I assumed he’d be here. I’d heard through the grapevine that he and Greer were going to be dungeon monitors at the party tomorrow, and unless we had other plans, we tended to come out the day before to help set things up. Every party came with preparations and cleanup, although this was a strict brat production, so maybe… Maybe he wouldn’t be here until tomorrow.
Ivy headed toward me, and I noticed everyone gave me a much more lukewarm greeting compared to the one they gave Kit. I couldn’t blame them. Everyone was sick of my breakup. I was sick of it.
“Hey, you. What kind of pizza do you want?” Ivy asked me.
I stuck my hand into my bag of chips and threw a few into my mouth. “I’m not hungry.”
I wouldn’t mind figuring out if she’d planned something with Shay, though. I just couldn’t bring myself to ask her outright.
“Anchovies and pineapple it is!”
“Oh God—you monster. Plain cheese with green peppers.” I joined her side and peered closer at the list. I’d made it a point earlier not to look for Lee’s truck in the big carport, but now I wanted to know.
“Yes, he’s here.” She knew.
I spotted Lee’s pizza somewhere in the middle. Plain cheese with olives and buffalo sauce. That fucking weirdo. The first time he’d ordered it, I’d laughed so hard. He’d scowled and said, “Just you wait. You’re gonna try it, and you’re gonna love it.”
I wasn’t much for black olives, but the wing sauce was actually really fucking good, though it’d taken me months to admit that to him.
Ivy popped a kiss to my cheek. “I love this depressed look on you, babe. Almost heroin chic.”
I snorted and wiped my barbecue-seasoned fingers on her face.
“Tate!” she complained.
“That’s what you get. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go stab a pumpkin.”
“Carve. You mean carve!” she hollered after me.
We’ll see.
When I reached Shay and Gretchen’s table, I dropped my candy and chips in one chair and sat down in the one next to it.
I threw more chips into my mouth, and I looked around me. Decorations everywhere—kill me. I didn’t wanna be here. Why had I come?
It was going to be dark very soon. How early could I fake exhaustion and go upstairs to my guest room?
Actually, there was nothing fake about my exhaustion.
“Man, you look as bad as Kingsley.” Shay’s comment made me sit ramrod straight in my seat, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What the fuck? Where’s this bluntness coming from?” I demanded. “We don’t have that relationship.”
“I respectfully disagree,” he replied smoothly. “You were the first one out here I followed on Insta.”
I rolled my eyes. Then I glanced over my shoulder, because I hadn’t missed what he’d said about Lee. Where was he?