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)
“Cooper ever say anything about him dating?”
“No, but I can poke around if you want.”
“No, it’s fine.” I don’t think I want to know anyway. I already feel a certain type of way about how some of the girls at school are oddly possessive of Dunc.
“If you want to talk, you know I’m here, right?”
“I know.”
“I was wondering when you were going to start dating.”
“I’m not even eighteen yet.” I roll my eyes at her.
“A few days.” She smirks.
“No surprises.” I narrow my eyes on her. “In fact, if you could keep it to yourself?” I’m always awkward when I’m the center of attention.
“I have to do something.” I can tell how much she wants to. “I’m your mom.”
“Fine.” I give, making her face light up.
I finish getting ready for school. When I make it downstairs, Dunc is waiting for me with a breakfast sandwich in his hand and a strawberry milk. My favorite. Without thinking, I press my mouth to his.
It’s going to be harder than I thought to keep us hidden.
CHAPTER 17
DUNCAN
“I’ll pick you up for lunch at your classroom,” I tell Sadie. I don’t want a rerun of what happened yesterday where she thinks I abandoned her. “Don’t leave until I get there.”
“Are you planning to do something that will make you late?”
“No.”
“But you are planning something.”
I swing into the school lot and park. “I’m not saying I am, but if I was, what would make you think that?”
“Because you might be late and you don’t want me leaving until you arrive. I might not have graduated, but I can still put two and two together.” She stares out the window at the practice field. “Do you think Van’s okay?”
“Yes.” I grab our backpacks and head over to her side of the truck.
“You don’t really know, though,” she says when I open her door.
“And I don’t care,” I say before pressing her lips to mine for a quick kiss.
“You should. He’s your cousin,” she says when I pull back.
“If he’s my cousin, you’re my cousin.”
She makes a face. “It’s not the same, and you know it. Besides, you would care. You just like to hide it.” She thumps my chest. “I know it’s not all concrete in there despite what you like to show to the rest of the world.”
I rub my hand over the spot she touched. “Don’t tell all my secrets.”
“Or what?” She lifts her nose slightly in the air as if she’s too cool for my rules.
“Or I’ll have to take you into the back seat of my truck and teach you a little lesson.”
“Gasp, in the school parking lot?” Her eyes are sparkling, and it fills me with some unexplained happy emotion that I don’t know I’ve ever felt before. Is this what it’s like to be high? This mix of free joy and lightness?
“Yeah, right here.” I slide my fingers up the side of her jean clad leg wishing she wore a skirt so my hand could be under it, stroking her soft, bare skin.
“Not that I don’t want that, but we’re keeping this on the downlow at school, remember?” Her tone is slightly chastising, but she doesn’t push away my hand.
I harness my inner demons and straighten. “All right but only at school. I’ll talk to your dad later.”
“My dad?” She squeaks as she hops down. “What does he have to do with it?”
“Parents always want to know shit. Better that you let them in on a few things or they’re always up in your business. What’s going on at school? How are classes going? Have you thought about college?”
She makes a small noise of understanding. “Mom will talk to him about it anyway, but I guess it can’t hurt. What will you say to him?”
“That you and I are together.”
“He’s going to want more than that.”
“Like what? A resume? A financial statement? Donovan Construction is my co—” I shut up because is it? Now that Van’s in the picture, is Donovan Construction all mine? It’s not anymore. I have to share it. Hell, I might even get pushed to the side because Van’s the true son. Donovan Donovan. What a fucking dumbass name.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it will be fine.” Sadie rubs my arm, mistaking my sudden anger over fear of her father.
I shoot her a tight smile because I don’t want to tell her what kind of shit is going on in my head. She doesn’t need that. I try to redirect the conversation. “How’s the arm?”
“It’s fine. Actually, I don’t have much pain. I can’t wait until I don’t have to wear this sling anymore. But enough about me and Dad and Van. What are you planning?”
Her sudden change of topic catches me off guard. “Wh-what?”
“Ha!” She points a finger at me with her healthy hand. “I knew you were up to no good. Spill.”