Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s fine. How’s your head?”
“My head is fine. I’m fine. Let’s drop it. I don’t want to argue about this with you.” I don’t really have much of a choice because our next class is starting. “I’m having lunch with the coach so we can go over some stuff,” Van tells me when our next class ends.
“Okay.”
“Hey, don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“All sad. I need this right now.”
“All right.” I let out a long breath. He’s been so angry since everything went down with Mom. Van shoots me a big smile. The first I’ve seen in a long time. He gives me a side hug to not hit my sling before he takes off in a jog down the hallway, leaving me by myself.
I make my way to the lunch room wondering where Dunc is. He said he was going to meet me. I look around but don’t see him anywhere. Great, I’m going to be the weird girl sitting by herself in the cafeteria. I take a calming breath, the memories of all the mean girl things that happened at my old school trying to creep in. I push them back. I can do this.
I walk in, grabbing a tray and getting in line. Once I pick out a few things that I want, I scan the room, looking for a place to sit. The tray wobbles in my one hand since my other arm is in the sling. When I turn, someone collides into me.
The tray smashes against my chest before dropping to the floor. A sharp pain shoots through my shoulder, taking my breath away.
“Watch where you are going,” Rose hisses at me, but a smirk plays at her lips. Everyone around us is laughing. Heat rushes to my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” I’m pretty sure she ran into me. I hadn’t moved, only turned around to see if there was somewhere on the other side of the cafeteria to sit.
“You should be sorry.” She drops her voice. “You should really watch what you’re doing more carefully. Wouldn’t want more accidents to happen because you're somewhere you shouldn’t be.” It’s not hard to read between the lines. She’d shot me a glare when I got out of Dunc’s truck this morning. “You understand?”
“I think I do,” I manage to get out. How is this happening all over again to me?
“Good. Dunc has been mine since middle school. A chubby nobody isn’t going to take him from me.” A few more laughs sound around me. I don’t wait to hear more. I make my way out of the lunchroom, using the side door that goes outside.
A few tears slip free. I tell myself they’re because my shoulder is now throbbing. I fumble through my backpack to call my dad but remember he has a big meeting tonight about some project. He’s been working on it for a while. I call Mom instead.
“Hey.” Cooper answers the call. “Sadie? You there?” I don’t respond at first because I’m trying to get my emotions in check.
“Yeah, I was looking for Mom,” I finally manage to get out.
“She’s sleeping. The meds knock her out.”
“I’m not feeling so great either. My shoulder is killing me.” I just want to go home. I already missed a bunch of school. What’s another day going to hurt at this point?
“All right.” I can hear him shuffle around. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“You’re coming to get me?” I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with Cooper before.
“Yeah, your mom will be out for a few hours. It won’t take me long to pick you up. Hold tight,” he says before ending the call. Relief fills me, knowing that I don’t have to go back inside.
I make my way toward the front of the building. My phone goes off in my hand. Dunc’s name comes up. I don’t answer. Instead, I turn my phone off before shoving it down into my bag. Thankfully, Cooper gets here quickly. He leans over, opening the door for me.
“Thanks.”
“I brought you your medication if you need it and some juice.”
“Thank you,” I say again. I can definitely see why Mom is so head over heels for this man.
“You don’t have to thank me, Sadie. I know I’m not your dad, but maybe I could be like an uncle to you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Did you think something else would happen?” I chew on my bottom lip, not sure if I should say anything. I take my medication and swallow it down with half the juice. I tried not to take them because they make me loopy, but my arm is still throbbing. “Sadie?” Cooper pushes for an answer.
“I thought maybe you wanted my dad and me gone.” I tell him the honest truth.
“Shit,” he mutters, sounding like Dunc. “Not gonna lie. I was damn jealous of your dad. He’s had her all these years.”