Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
I’m on birth control for other reasons, so in a way, making this recklessness guilt-free is just a side effect.
Best side effect I could ever ask for.
We remain there for a time, our bodies entwined as we enjoy the serenity of it all.
“You’re fantastic,” he whispers, this virgin exhausting a stud like he is.
“And you’re wonderful.”
“No, you’re marvelous.”
“You’re stupendous.”
“You’re scrumdiddlyumptious.”
We break out into fits of laughter, the joy a welcome side effect to the naked lust we’re having at that moment.
God, he really is something special.
It can’t have been more than three, four hours since I met him.
And yet? I think I’m in love.
FOUR
serena
We cleaned ourselves up the best we could before heading back home. It wasn’t very successful, to be honest, given that we had pressed our clothes really hard down into the dirt and grass. But you don’t grow up in Evergreen Valley without learning how to get grass stains out of your clothes.
Once there, Tristian kissed me goodbye and headed back to his own home, leaving me feeling lonely, which isn’t something I usually feel. It’s only been five minutes, and I’m missing him already.
I enter the house, Reuben at my side, and head into the living room, wondering if the family is out and about.
The only person there is Hawk. He’s watching some football game, but he doesn’t seem to care too much about it as he rises to meet me, not even bothering to pause it.
“Where were you?” he says. I’ve heard him concerned for me before, but never with this level of desperation to his words.
“Taking Reuben for a long walk, felt like he deserved it after I’d been gone for a bit.”
Reuben wagged his tail going up to Hawk. Usually, Hawk would give him a good petting or belly rub, but Hawk is far more bothered about something else right now.
“With that Tristian guy?”
I suddenly feel nervous about what my brother is getting at. He’s never been the kind of guy to freak out over me dating boys. At least he’s never said that I was forbidden to date or anything like that. But my lack of experience, I suppose, had made it so I didn’t really get to test that fact too much. “And if I was out with that Tristian guy?”
“You need to be careful, Serena. There’s something not quite right about him.”
“Like what? That he’s a guy who likes me?”
Hawk shakes his head. “No. Not that. Fox stopped by and spotted him. Said he looked familiar. And that the name Tristian also rang a bell with him.”
“What? I’m supposed to be worried that Tristian has connections to real estate development?”
Hawk stares at me, not amused. “Maybe you’re oblivious, but Fox has some history with less-than-savory types. He knows them when he sees them, and something about Tristian set off an alarm in him. And I trust Fox like a brother, Serena.”
“What? Just because your friend has a hunch, I should stop seeing a guy?”
“I’m just saying something ain’t right. Guys like him don’t move to tiny towns like Evergreen Valley for no reason.”
“I can think of plenty of innocent reasons. Like wanting to be closer to nature. Maybe he likes the culture of the town. What, do you think he’s on the run because he killed someone?”
Hawk remains silent, his eyes still firmly on me.
“Do… do you really think he’s killed someone?”
“I don’t know shit about him, Serena. And that’s the problem.”
I throw my hands up. “This is so much bullshit, Hawk. You’re just profiling him because he’s a city boy with tattoos. What, is that too much of a bad boy to be with your sister?”
Hawk scowls. “His tattoos have nothing to do with it. He just seems kind of shady is all.”
I head to the kitchen. I need something to eat, and with luck, Hawk won’t follow.
I didn’t have that luck, so the conversation continues. “Oh, come on. You’re like this with all of my potential boyfriends.”
Hawk thinks for a moment, and right alongside him, I realize my mistake. “What boyfriends?”
“Well, if I had them, I’m sure you’d be freaking out about all of them the same. I thought you were better than this, Hawk.”
“You’re thinking worse of me because I love my sister and want to protect her?”
I open the cabinets to try to find something dinner-worthy. “No, not that, That you’re going to treat me like a little girl who can’t take care of herself, instead of a grown woman who can manage her own affairs.”
“You’re nineteen. You barely qualify as an adult. I think trying to show some concern and providing guidance is only natural.” He looms over me as I try to find food, his arms crossed sternly.
“If he’s shady, I’ll figure it out on my own. These are my mistakes to make, Hawk.”
He lets out a long sigh. “I’m just worried the one mistake you make will be a truly horrific one is all.”