Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
How had Keira been so blind to this?
“I should have never let it get as far as it did. I’ve screwed everything up, Keira.”
“Oh, Molly.” She stood and moved toward her friend so she could sit beside her. She wrapped her arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. “You shouldn’t hold yourself back because you’re afraid of what might happen. He obviously likes you too, or things wouldn’t have gone as far as they did.”
“We’ve just been friends for so long. What if I do give us a shot and things go south? I can’t lose him. I mean, we’re going to the same college in the fall, and things would just be so weird. Not having Ian in my life would ruin me.”
“Have you actually tried to talk to him about all this, or did you just run from it all?”
“You already know the answer to that,” Molly said and laughed humorlessly. “Although he’s already realized why I am avoiding him. On Monday when he tried to talk to me, I was still so angry with myself that I lashed out. He really hasn’t tried talking to me again, and I’m worried I’ve pushed him away for good.”
Keira shook her head. “You and I both know you could never get rid of Ian.” Molly offered her a watery smile but didn’t comment. “I think you should talk to him, get all this off your chest.”
“I know. I can’t keep doing this. It feels so toxic, and it’s never been this way between us.” Molly straightened and wiped the remaining wetness from her cheeks. “Thanks for letting me let all this out, and I’m sorry I kept it from you. I was just really confused and pissed at myself.”
“You know I’m here anytime.”
“I know.” Molly stood and exhaled. “I just need to get this over with, and hopefully shit doesn't get even more ruined.”
“It won’t.” Keira stood and walked Molly out. When she was in the car, Keira lifted a hand to wave goodbye then closed the door and leaned against it.
For long moments, she just stood there, letting her mind play over Molly’s and her conversation. The solution to Molly’s problem had been so easy for Keira.
Just tell Ian.
And as she thought about it more, she thought maybe she should take her own advice and talk to Reese.
15
That weekend
Keira heard Reese’s truck before he even pulled up to her house. She pulled the living room curtain aside and watched as he pulled around the circular driveway before coming to a stop in front of the house. Her father was in his study, far too invested in work, and her mother had gone out for an evening of cocktails with her friends.
She was thankful for small miracles, because she really didn’t want to have her parents give her the interrogation on who and what Reese was to her. Because she wouldn't have been able to answer honestly… because she had no clue.
But maybe after tonight she would.
Her plan was to talk to him, to be honest about how she felt. And if he wanted distance because it made things weird if he didn’t feel that way toward her, then so be it.
But on the off chance he wanted something more, then she wanted to take that risk.
He climbed out of his truck, and she let the curtain drop back in place. She stepped away from the window and pressed her now overheated body against the wall. That's all it took to have her on fire.
Just one look at him.
He knocked on the door twice, and she smoothed her now sweaty hands down her jeans. Walking over to the door, she slipped her ballet flats on, took a deep breath in, and blew it out slowly. Opening the door, Keira couldn’t look at him at first and instead stared at the ground, feeling nervous, because she knew what she wanted to do tonight.
And that scared the shit out of her.
“Hey,” he said, and she lifted her head to look into his eyes. He wore that sexy as hell half-smile, the same one that had her heart beating funny.
“Hi,” she said, biting her lip.
“You ready?”
She nodded, turned to grab her purse, then stepped outside and shut the door behind her.
“Your parents okay with us going out? You need to be home at a certain time?”
“My mother will probably be too drunk to drive, so she’ll stay in the city with her wino friends. And my dad will pass out in his leather recliner with the stock market flashing across the TV.” She glanced at him. “In other words, they won’t care or even know when I get home.”
“Well, okay then. Good to know I have you all night if I want.”
She lowered her head so her hair hid her face, because his words seemed very suggestive, and her face turned red.