Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
My lips part. He’s worried, genuinely. I can see it swimming in his guarded eyes and my heart gives a little flip.
“You’re crazy if you think I’d ever cheat on you, Kane Jessop.” I approach him and place my hand on his heart. It’s beating wildly and I wonder if all those extra thuds are just for me. “You’re the only guy I want and need. But yesterday was fucked up. The things you said. And then the constant paranoia. You always talk to girls and I don’t say shit. Yet you constantly seem to think I’m some kinda whore.” I throw my hands up and let them drop. “Like I ever have the time.”
“You smile at him,” he blurts when I start to walk away again.
“He makes me happy,” I reply and his features sink to a depth I have never seen. “He’s just a friend, Kane. A good one. Dig deep and maybe he could be yours too.”
“No way am I hangin’ with that fucking tool.”
I laugh humorlessly and walk away again. “You’re the only one acting like a tool here, Kane.”
The hall is empty, I’m late for class. I’m going to get a bad mark and Mee-maw will probably be called. Fucking Kane.
“Babe,” he tries, his tone softer now. I love it when it gets soft.
“You gotta straighten your shit out, Kane. I’m not sticking around if this is how you’re always gonna be. It’s fun, but not always and at the moment, it’s not always is a lot more than the other.”
“I don’t want to be his friend.”
“You don’t have to be. But you do have to respect him because he’s mine.”
He growls and chases me again, this time when he snags me, I let him. He backs me up into the wall and kisses the curve of my neck.
“He’s got money, Immy. He’s got cash and a fuckin’ lot of it.”
“So?”
“He’s probably going to Dallas like you.”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Still.” His soft blue eyes search my face and his lips twitch with a gentle but defeated smile. “I’m stayin’ here for my dad and for me. I don’t want to leave.”
“Then stay, I’m not asking you to follow.”
“But what if he follows you where I can’t?”
“Then you should be grateful I’ve got a friend who will look after me wherever I go.”
His hold tightens as his body becomes cement.
“I want you to stay,” he finally says and I’ve been waiting weeks to hear it. I never thought he’d say it. Never thought he wanted it. And now I’m posed with it I don’t know what to do. “Don’t know dick about love, Imogen Hardy.”
“So you’ve said.”
“But I sure do know that I love you.”
My breath catches in my throat where a lump is swelling, making my eyes burn with unshed tears. He’s never said it. Didn’t think he ever would. And now he has I’ve never felt such deep happiness.
“Don’t want you to leave. Couldn’t stand it. So, go to Austin college, we can commute.”
“You love me?” I whisper, smiling now.
“Yeah.” He says this so simply, so easily. “You love me back?”
I nod, letting tears slide out of the corners of my eyes and down my soft cheeks. “Yeah.”
“Then what’s left to figure out?” His calloused thumbs catch the droplets and spread them across my cheekbones.
“Everything,” I reply even quieter than before and he presses his lips to mine.
I kiss him hard and deep and forever. I don’t want it to stop but a teacher rounds the corner and starts shouting at us. I race away without looking back because I might start crying again.
Kane Jessop definitely doesn’t hate me anymore.
Well… at least until lunch when he finally hears about me going to homecoming with Marshall. The entire school is talking about it. I sort of regret not bringing it up with him.
“Not happening,” Kane states. It’s the only thing he says when he approaches, eyes blazing with fury. I know exactly what he’s talking about.
“You gonna take me?”
“Fuck no. But we can go to the movies or some shit. I’ll take you out to dinner.”
“As tempting as that is, I’m going to homecoming, I’m going with Poppy, Marshall and my brother. If you want to join us, you can. If you want to help me get ready or take me to dinner before, you can.” I kiss his cheek and smile sweetly. “The invitation is there.”
“Are you purposely trying to piss me off?”
“No. I’m going to homecoming with my best friends. Are you purposely trying to be a dick?”
He presses his lips together and pushes a hand through his hair. “Fine. I’ll go riding with a few people. You go to your stupid dance. We’ll meet up after.”
“And you’re not gonna give me shit about it?”
“Nope,” he grits and I can see him trying. “Not gonna be a dick because I gotta get used to this shit. If you’re living in Austin and you’re in a co-ed dorm, I need to be able to chill about you and other guys or I might not get any sleep.”