Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Yet, it felt like a mistake that I would only regret not making.
The thousand-calorie slice of chocolate cake.
Missing curfew to hang out with my friends a little longer.
Spending a whole summer’s worth of paychecks on the perfect leather jacket.
Kissing my boyfriend’s brother.
“If he’s the one, you’ll look back on this and feel bad that you hurt Matt, but you’ll never regret taking a chance on love,” Heather said, putting her car into park.
“I love Matt because he was my first love. I love music because it’s my endless love. Isaac is just a transition—a bridge to a new road.”
“My song.” Heather turned up the radio as Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” played. It was her favorite song, and we sang it together whenever it came on the radio.
I laughed. “I can’t stay and sing. Sorry.” I opened the door as Isaac hopped out of his truck.
“Love you,” Heather said. “Be careful. And have fun.”
“Love you too. I’m bummed everything happened on the same weekend. Thanks for being the world’s best friend and understanding.” I hugged her and stepped out of the car.
“Sunday Morning,” Isaac grinned, taking my backpack from me and waving to Heather as he led me to his truck.
“It’s Friday Morning,” I said.
“Every day is Sunday Morning in my world.”
He’s just a bridge. A bridge that could collapse.
Isaac tossed my bag into the back and opened my door for me. I watched Heather pull onto the road and disappear into the morning haze. This was it. No turning back.
“You’re nervous,” he said.
I shook my head.
He leaned his shoulder against his truck, not rushing me to climb into the seat. “The day I left for basic training, I couldn't stop shaking. Like the first time I performed in front of an audience. And the first time I roped at the rodeo.”
I nodded slowly, lifting my gaze to his, knowing he’d see every ounce of doubt I felt.
“But that was nothing compared to you.” He eyed me with an unreadable expression, lips twisted. “When you sang ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ while watching my hands on the guitar, I was scared out of my fucking mind.”
“Why?” I furrowed my brow.
“You know why.” He nodded toward the seat.
I didn’t. I was so naive, and there didn’t seem to be a way to expedite my way out of it. There wasn’t a magic enlightenment pill. I was Silver Cord Sarah. Isaac wasn’t trying to make me feel stupid. Just the opposite. He gave me more credit than I deserved.
He closed my door after I climbed into the truck, and we were off to Nashville.
We listened to music for several miles before I decided to make small talk. “Does your family know where you’ll be this weekend?”
“Between my brother’s girlfriend’s legs? No.”
“Stop!” I laughed. “I’m serious. We’re not having sex. It’s overrated, even if Matt and I are …” I stared out my window, wishing that I could shed the guilt and leave it in Devil’s Head.
“You and Matty are what?”
I couldn’t look at him. Too many secrets burdened my conscience, and they all involved the Cory men.
“Our parents have high hopes for Matt and me. But he’s going to Michigan, and I’m …” I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I’m not going to Michigan or marrying him. And I’ve known this longer than Matt. Honestly, I think he’d marry me tomorrow if I wanted to move to Michigan. And that totally sucks to not love someone the way they love you.”
“But Matty won’t give up his own dreams to marry you. So I think you’re overestimating his love for you,” Isaac said.
I shook my head. “I don’t want him to give up anything for me. We’re too young to make such life-changing sacrifices.” I chuckled. “And we’re cowards. We’ve kind of ended it, but neither one of us can bring ourselves to tell our parents because everyone else is so invested. Your dad practically owns my family. Maybe everyone will get used to us not being together in a literal sense, and maybe they’ll—”
“Forget you two were dating and planning on getting married?” Isaac laughed. “Dream on.”
I knew it was stupid. Matt probably did too. It was easier to ignore it and hope it went away than to suffer the consequences.
“So why have sex if it’s all ending?” Isaac asked.
I shrugged, but I knew the answer. However, I didn’t think Isaac would understand my thought process, my belief that Matt had earned the right to my virginity, or that I simply no longer wanted to keep it.
“Why are you cheating on your brother? And don’t give me a scientific explanation.”
“How am I cheating on him?”
“Loyalty. You’re not showing family loyalty. At least I can say that I’ve known that Matt and I are ending, but you didn’t know that until now.”
“Oh, I knew it was over for you and Matty when I let you play my guitar.”