Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I don’t know what’s possessed me to poke at Levi, but it actually feels good. Dempsey could blow my cover and I will die of humiliation.
Dempsey kisses the top of my head. “Yeah, babe. Of course.”
Being called babe, even by the wrong Park brother, does wonders for my ego. I stand taller and face off with the monster I live with. Levi blinks at me, a mix of confusion and rage.
“When you get knocked up or crawling with STIs, don’t come home looking for support,” Levi snarls at me.
“Don’t be a prick,” Dempsey snaps, his easygoing persona disappearing in an instant. “And stay away from my sister.”
Levi’s nostrils flare. “Is that what this is about? I fuck your sister, so you fuck mine?”
Dempsey vibrates with anger and drops his hold on me. He steps forward until he comes nose-to-nose with Levi. If I don’t do something, there’s going to be a fight.
“Stay. Away. From. Gemma.”
“Or what?” Levi taunts.
“It’ll be the last thing you do.”
A crowd has formed around us, a combination of curious students and those who are laughing, entertained by the impending fight.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing Dempsey’s bicep. “He’s not worth it.”
Dempsey considers my words and then steps back. He takes my hand, threading our fingers together. It’s all a ruse, but Levi doesn’t know that.
I tug at Dempsey’s hand, dragging him past my fuming stepbrother. The eyes of every student in the hallway are on me and Dempsey, quickly forming their own shocked conclusions. That we’re a couple.
“Care to fill me in?” I ask when we’re no longer in Levi’s earshot.
“Your brother is a dick.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. And he’s my stepbrother.”
Dempsey squeezes my hand. “Right. Step. Sorry about all that. I just…” He huffs. “He pisses me off.”
“That’s something we both have in common.” I glance up at him. “Is he really messing around with your sister?”
“Doubtful, but he wants to. My dad won’t let Gemma date, but that doesn’t mean Levi won’t take every opportunity to get with her. The last thing my family needs right now is Gemma causing a scandal by getting mixed up with Levi. No offense.”
I don’t know what half of that means, but I nod in understanding, because any way you shake it, Levi is a bad apple. The Park family is not only wealthy, but they’re the backbone of this community. Levi would be the bad seed that poisons them all. Just like he and his father are at my house.
“I don’t think he’s watching anymore. We can stop pretending.” I go to tug my hand away, but his grip tightens.
“This might work.” He comes to a stop, shooting me a teasing grin. “I mean, we’ve already practically been to second base.”
I roll my eyes, unable to smother a laugh. “You’re a brat.”
“Your brat.”
“Ha.”
“Seriously.”
“No. I will not be your pretend girlfriend.”
“I’m wounded, Reyes. What about my for real girlfriend?”
As enticing as that might sound, my heart isn’t in it. It’s his brother I can’t stop thinking about.
“How about friend?” I offer, arching a brow at him. “I don’t have too many of those.”
“Friend. I guess I can handle that label until I woo you out of your clothes and make you beg for girlfriend status.”
I playfully shove at him. “Asshole.”
My heart is light. A friend. And not just any friend, but one of the most popular kids at this school, too. Not to mention, imagine all I could learn about Callum through Dempsey.
“You chose the right side, Reyes.”
“Yeah?”
“The Parks take care of their own.”
He messes with my hair before sauntering away. I stare after him, a little unnerved by our whole encounter, but not hating it.
Dempsey Park is my friend now, just like Callum said he was my friend last night.
Interesting.
This is by far the weirdest week of my life.
“Bell’s about to ring, Miss Reyes.”
I jolt at the deep timbre of Callum’s voice, jerking my attention to where he stands just outside his classroom. Today, he’s handsome as ever in a three-piece navy suit that accentuates his electric blue eyes. His dark hair is tousled like he’s been running his fingers through the thick strands. My own fingers twitch to do the same.
“I see you know Dempsey,” Callum says, his stern features unreadable.
Flames lick up my neck and heat my cheeks. “I, uh, he…” I bite down on my bottom lip, trying hard not to continue to ramble out words that make no sense. “He’s my friend.”
Callum doesn’t react to my words. I guess I expected to see relief in his features. Or maybe jealousy. He wears the same almost-scowl he always has on. No secret smiles or winks. I’m thrown for a loop, questioning everything that happened yesterday.
I didn’t imagine it.
I have proof of his texts on my phone.
“Call—er—Mr. Park, it’s not what you think,” I whisper, unsure why I feel like I need to make him understand the situation.