Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
She referred to the fact that I had a bunch of missed calls and texts from Aria. Not wanting my sister to worry, I did in fact text back.
I’m OK. I’m safe. I’m really sorry for what I said. But I don’t want to talk yet. xx
I sent the text, feeling like shit all over again. Aria deserved better than me, that was for sure. For some reason, however, that feeling of not being wanted—a feeling I was familiar with regarding my parents—was excruciating when it came to Aria.
Later, after tossing and turning as I went over and over the plan plotting in my mind, I must have finally fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion.
I didn’t know how many hours of sleep I got, but I was awoken by arms snaking around me. At first I thought I was dreaming and then when it started to register that I wasn’t, my eyes flew open. I blinked against the soft light pouring through the curtains as I tried to orient myself.
“I didn’t mean to wake you, Aunt Ally,” a familiar voice whispered.
Callie.
Tension melted from my body as I turned around to find a pretty young thing lying next to me. She grimaced comically, her blond hair splayed across the pillow. A soft laugh of relief escaped me. “I’m in your bed,” I whispered back, “so it’s kind of okay.”
Even in the dimness of the room, her eyes were a striking light blue. “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”
Callie had a Scottish accent. The American accent she’d been born with disappeared over the years. Sloane told me she’d read that kids learned their accents from their peers at school, not their parents. Even so, now and then I’d hear just a touch of an American twang from the sixteen-year-old.
“I’m okay,” I promised. “I’ll tell you about it later. What are you doing home so early? Your mom said you were at a sleepover.”
Callie blanched as she snuggled closer to me. “Can you keep a secret?”
Oh boy. “Is it going to be one I’ll regret keeping?”
“Only if you’re happy for my dad to kill Lewis,” she replied wryly.
“You were with Lewis,” I surmised. Her mom had guessed correctly.
She bit her lip against a dopey smile. “We spent the night in his parents’ annex, but we thought I better leave early because Mr. Adair gets up at the crack arse of dawn. Lewis and I rode back here on our bikes. He rode all the way here with me to make sure I got home okay.”
Though it wasn’t my place to be imparting advice on how to behave as a teenager, I had to ask, “Were you safe?”
“We didn’t have sex,” she promised hurriedly. “I mean … we did stuff—”
“Don’t need to know the details,” I interrupted.
She giggled quietly.
“You will be safe, though, right? When the time comes.”
Callie nodded, expression serious. “We love each other, but we’re not stupid.”
“And Lewis isn’t putting pressure on you?”
“No way.” Callie squeezed my arm in reassurance. “Aunt Ally, it’s Lewis. If anyone’s making the moves here, it’s me.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Please stop talking.”
She laughed again, her expression filled with such joy I felt a pang of envy. Callie Ironside wasn’t even seventeen years old and she was in love in a way I had never experienced. It was written all over her. She exuded happiness. Feeling a well of affection push out the envy, I pulled her close, tucking her into my side. She wound her slim arms around me and I felt her relax, readying for sleep.
But before she drifted off, I warned, “Your mom already guessed you were with Lewis last night.”
Callie tensed. “She did?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“She didn’t tell Dad, did she?”
I snorted. “No. She doesn’t want Lewis to die an untimely death either.”
Her giggle vibrated against me and I squeezed her closer. I wanted to protect her happiness. I wanted to make Lewis Adair promise me that he’d never break her heart. Because I didn’t want Callie to ever feel like I felt right now. Desperate and lonely, and ready to do absolutely anything to stay with the only people who brought me contentment.
Five
Jared
That morning I’d woken up to a pounding sore head. I’d clearly passed out midday, and I had the vague memory of Georgie taking me home and putting me to bed. But I gathered I was dehydrated more than hungover. After a shower, I forced down eggs on toast and as much water as I could. By the time Georgie arrived to pick me up so I could collect my Defender, I felt somewhat human again.
But I was mentally kicking my own arse. Yesterday’s actions would have shamed my grandfather. I’d acted more like my parents. Drowning my sorrows and feeling sorry for myself. A good sleep and a hangover was enough to give me a quick kick up the behind.