Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Screw it.” She’s even more erratic than before, if that’s possible, and I refuse to let this mess with me. I take a deep breath, straighten my shoulders back, and march out of the kitchen.
His house is amazing. Not that I would expect anything less from someone like him, but I am surprised at how eco-conscious it is. His entire backyard looks drought efficient. This morning, I went out on the bedroom’s balcony and saw a huge rain barrel. Not that Los Angeles gets much rain, but the fact that he cares about our environment enough to have one bugs me. He has to stay a dick in my mind: a man so horrible he invests in corporate greed and gives millions to lobbyists—an energy hog who doesn’t believe in global warming.
An entitled asshole.
Grabbing the glossy wooden banister, I dart up the stairs, my bare feet tap-tap-tapping on the cold bluestone-paved tile. Not gonna lie. The main room is lovely. Open floor plan, with pale-yellow walls and giant windows, large glass French doors, along with a whitewashed brick wall and an ornate fireplace and mantel.
Either he’s an art lover, or he hires someone who is. That’s an original Jackson Pollock hanging to the right.
Yeah, this place is sophisticated and eye-catching, but at the same time it feels good, welcome, like you want to grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit down and just be.
Disarming, like him.
That should be on Jett Powers’s tombstone: Here lies a beautiful, dangerous, disarming man. I almost burst out laughing. This has to be my mind blocking out that that my mom is a vile and hurtful person.
Why would she say those things?
“Leave it alone, Raven,” I whisper, shaking my head as I swing open the door to my room, then shut it so I can lean against it and catch my breath.
Brody. I need to call Brody. I can’t deal with my mom, but Brody can and will ease my pain.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself right now. This is what I do when my mom traumatizes me. I either act out like a child, or I do the opposite.
Pushing off the door, I move toward my phone and sit on the edge of my bed, trying to catch my breath. Clearly, I’m more freaked out than I want to admit. And I’m not sure it’s my mom’s words that are entirely causing it.
My eyes drift around the room. It’s lovely, with light teal walls and ornate windows. French doors lead out to a nice-sized balcony overlooking his massive property. This room is more elegant and luxurious than the rest of the house.
I reach over and snatch my phone off the charger and press on Brody’s picture.
“Pick up, Brody,” I snap, my mind replaying the way Jett’s veiny forearms made my tongue tingle as he held out his hand for me to shake it. All I could think of was licking them…
“Hello? Raven? Can you hear me now?” I bolt up at Brody’s voice. Shit, what am I doing?
“Tell me you’re home?” I demand.
He laughs. “It makes me happy to know you missed me.” His kind, mellow voice used to make me relax. Today, though, the opposite is happening.
“Are you here?” I snap.
“Um… yes, I got in this morning—”
“Good, when am I seeing you?” I don’t care if I sound needy. It’s Brody, and I am fucking needy. I’m sick of fantasizing about a man I should never ever think about.
“I need to have lunch with my parents. Can I pick you up tonight?”
My eyes dart around the room and I wonder what time it is. “I guess.” I sigh, then silence. “Brody?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I snap. He’s getting that nervous voice, which I really can’t deal with.
“Raven, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I have to go to lunch with my parents. My grandmother is coming.”
I look down at my nails and almost want to scream, At least you have a grandmother and parents who want to take you to lunch!
So much for not having issues. Whatever, he needs to get over here and pick me up and fuck me against the wall, pound into me hard. Actually, the wall might be uncomfortable for the first time…
“My mom is out of town, so I have the house to myself. I’ll text you the address. Plan on spending the night, okay?”
Silence again. “Brody?”
He clears his throat. “Yeah, that sounds great. I don’t know about staying the night. I mean, I live in Manhattan Beach, so it might be easier with traffic if I leave after dinner.”
I close my eyes, trying not to snap again and make him nervous. He’s starting to sound scared and unsure.
“Brody?” My voice cracks.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to see me?”
“Yes, I can’t wait to see you. Please believe me.” His words sound fine, but the tone sounds unsure, and to be honest, I don’t know how to help him.