Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 129881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Yeah. Sure.”
I lift my head and watch Jake stride toward the snack table. Then I glare at Dean when I find him glaring at me. “What.”
He brings his arms across his stupidly broad chest. “Quit acting like that.”
“Like what.”
“Like I just stole your boyfriend.”
My gaze sharpens even further. “That’s not how I’m acting.”
“Yes, it is. And I thought we talked about this already.”
“I just don’t want him thinking he should be going to you instead of me.”
“Why would he think that?”
“Because you’re cool and you’ve been sober forever, and now you two are practically best friends.”
“What.”
“I know I’m being stupid, all right?” I move closer and lower my voice. “I just—I want him to think I’m the best sponsor, and if he goes to you about something, which he’ll never have to do because I’ll always be available, but if he does, he’ll see how great you are and question what he’s doing with me.”
“You shouldn’t be worrying about that. You’re too close to him.”
“I’m not really worrying about it. And no, I’m not.”
Dean cocks his head.
I cock mine. “I don’t like that we’re fighting.”
“We’re not fighting.”
“Please let me return your hoodie on Monday. I really can’t take it off right now.”
His goatee twitches. “I’m sure your hair looks fine, Felix.”
“You are crazy if you think I’m risking that.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful with Jake. And that you’ll come to me if you need to.”
“I promise.”
“You can return my hoodie on Monday.”
“I love you so much, it’s sick.” I throw my arms around him, squeeze for a solid second, and then release. “What a great first hug.”
“We really didn’t hug. I just stood here.”
“I felt the embrace of your body.”
“Never say that again.”
“It sounded sexual. I hear it now.”
“I’m leaving,” he says as he gives me his back.
“Byeee.” I smile at him even though he can’t see it, and then I make my way over to Jake. “Hello.”
He watches Dean step through the door. “You hugged.”
“We did. It was mutual.” I feel the hood, making sure it’s still covering everything I want it to cover. It could’ve shifted during that epic hug. “So.” Just say it. Say it before you chicken out. “Wanna come over to my house and watch a movie with me?”
And absolutely not cuddle or even think about cuddling.
Okay. We can think about it.
Jake turns his head, the light catching in the soft dusting of stubble along his jaw. (Wow, he needs more of that.)
“I’ve never been to your house,” he says.
“Tragic, right? Let’s fix that.”
He smiles a little shyly, avoiding my gaze. “Yeah, okay.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets. “I’ve been wondering what your house looks like.”
I feel my eyes widen. “You have?”
“Yeah.”
That’s hot.
“Why?” I ask, hoping his reasoning is something amazing that I’ll never forget as long as I live.
“I don’t know,” he says.
“Oh.”
“But I’m glad you’re finally inviting me over so I can see it.”
Oh.
My tongue works slowly inside my mouth. I can’t form any words besides “Ungh,” and I really don’t think that’s a word.
“What?”
“I’m glad I’m inviting you over too.” I stuff my hands into the hoodie pocket even though I am straight up melting in this thing. “Wanna follow me? Follow me.”
I don’t wait for Jake to answer and instead, haul ass out the door and into the night air.
I gasp when the cool breeze hits my face, and pull in long, deep breaths, keeping my face tilted toward the sky.
Snow in October. That’s all I wish for.
Jake chuckles when he gets up beside me. “Why don’t you take that off before you pass out?”
He tries to push the hood back, but I quickly step away.
“No don’t,” I plead, holding the hood against the top of my head while I back away another step. “I’m fine. It’s October. I’m really not hot at all.”
Sweat drips into my eye, and I blink the sting away.
Shit. He totally saw that.
The smile slips right off his face, and then he’s looking at the hair plastered to my forehead and above it, at the curls he knows are hidden, and I see it, the exact moment he realizes why I’m wearing this hoodie.
His eyebrows draw together and then release, and the softest look blankets his face as he moves closer and closer, his hands raising when we’re only inches apart, and I have to remind myself to breathe when Jake slides the hood back, rough palms grazing my temples and fingertip touches along my scalp.
The cool air assaults my head, my ears, and the back of my neck. It feels so fucking good.
But I know what I must look like, how much worse it probably is now that I’m dripping sweat, and I almost draw back and turn away, yanking the hood back up to hide. I want to so bad.
“You don’t need it,” Jake says, and I’d swear he was a mind reader if I didn’t know how freaked out I probably look right now.