Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” I laughed. “But you’re not a douche like him.”
“Not to that level, no.” He grinned. “I’m like a douche level two maybe. He’s a douche level ten.”
I elbowed him. “I suspect you’re not a douche at all, despite my earlier preconceived notions.”
“Well, one thing’s for certain. I would never push myself on a girl.”
“You’re too busy pushing them off.” I winked.
He shrugged, unable to argue with that.
We stopped in front of the door at the house. “I assume you’re not coming in. It’s still a little early for you.”
He shook his head and looked down at the ground. “Nah. My dad’s probably still up, so…”
“I don’t blame you for wanting to avoid him.” I sighed. “He’s tough on you.”
“Yeah. It wasn’t always as bad as it is now, but…”
“I got a little taste of it myself earlier.”
He drew in his brows. “What did he do?”
“He quizzed me about my decision to major in journalism this morning. He didn’t approve.”
“Typical, yeah. Unless you’re gonna be a doctor or lawyer—or something else that promises good money—it’s not worth pursuing in his mind.” He rolled his eyes.
I opened the door. “Well…have fun…with Bree, I presume.”
He kicked some dirt. “Thanks.”
I watched as he walked away, wondering why the hell I had butterflies in my stomach when the dude I was apparently crushing on was about to have sex with another girl.
• • •
The following morning, as I set out on my jog, there was something missing: Archie. I couldn’t help but look back from time to time, hoping he’d show up. He’d made it sound like coming with me would be a regular thing, since it wasn’t safe to be alone. But apparently, it was a one-time thing.
The fact that I was disappointed bugged the shit out of me. Why did I care so much about Archie all of a sudden? Why had I thought of little else but him since the moment he arrived? I pondered such things for three miles.
When I returned to the house, no one was up yet. I popped one of the coffee pods into the machine and made myself a quick cup before I went upstairs and jumped in the shower.
As I shampooed my hair, a deep voice startled me from behind the shower curtain.
“I overslept.”
My hands froze mid-lather. “You just come in here without knocking?”
He sounded groggy. “I knew you were in the shower. Figured it was safe.” He paused. “But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before anyway, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “You did not just say that.”
“Anyway…I’m sorry I missed our run.”
“It’s not your responsibility to accompany me.” I resumed rubbing the shampoo into my scalp.
“But I meant to.”
“Not sure how you can stay out all night and expect to get up early to run. I heard you come in pretty late.”
“Did I wake you when I came home?”
I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair. “Just for like five minutes when you went to brush your teeth.”
“Sorry.”
A few seconds passed.
“Are you going to stand there while I shower?”
“No. I just wanted to apologize.”
“Apology accepted.” I squirted conditioner into my hand. Then I heard the door close.
As I got dressed in my room, I was painfully aware of Archie’s presence nearby. I was also aware of a weird tension within me. I was bummed he hadn’t joined me this morning, but I was probably more bummed about the reason he was out so late.
A few minutes later, I heard his voice from behind the bathroom door.
“Are you decent?”
I looked down at myself to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. “Yes.”
“Can I come in?”
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
He entered the room and plopped down on my bed. I couldn’t help noticing the way his shirt rode up, displaying sculpted abs. My eyes explored the tattoo on his upper arm as he wrapped his hand around the back of his head. It looked like a wolf’s face. Maybe a school mascot? Archie had played football in high school, but it hadn’t carried over into college.
He let out a deep sigh. “Today’s gonna suck.”
“Why?”
“I have to meet that attorney my father wants me to intern with this summer.”
“Might there be anything good to come of that?”
“Possibly. But…if I know Dad, he’ll find a way to say I’m fucking the whole thing up and embarrassing him.”
“Whatever happened to just enjoying the summer?”
“Right? This final year before law school is going to be hard enough.” He stared up at the ceiling for a bit and then turned to me. “I need to ask you for a favor.”
I blinked. “What is it?”
“I’d like you to change your running time in the morning.”
Tying my hair up into a ponytail, I looked at him through the mirror. “Why would I do that?”
“So I can go with you. Five AM is too fucking early, Noelle. I can’t have a social life at night and get up at five.”