Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
That perfect face was tipped down, and I didn’t think I was imagining the fact he turned his cheek deeper into my palm. “You’re welcome,” he grumbled softly.
“Are your ears okay? I think I might have torn something in my throat from screaming.”
“They’re fine.” Alex’s gaze moved over my face. “You’re going to sound like the Cookie Monster again.”
I snorted, sucking in every inch of those features right then. His cheekbones. His brow bone. The shape of his unreal eyes.
His mouth.
Something bright glittered in his irises, and if I hadn’t heard him laugh, I would have still known he’d had a good time too. “I had a lot of fun,” he said gruffly.
“Me too, but you’re lucky I didn’t faint.”
His nostrils flared just a little. “You’re lucky I didn’t faint.”
I smiled.
“Are you feeling better now?” he asked after a moment.
“Yeah. I was sad and mad, and the reminder of how hopeless I’ve felt for so long because of him and his family really hit me hard. I had my grandma and grandpa, but it’s never been easy. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.” I shrugged. “Spending all this time with you and your family, just reminded me of how tired I am of being alone. Everyone’s spoiled me. They’ve been so nice.”
Alex frowned. “You aren’t alone anymore.”
My heart yearned, and I had to give it a gentle prod to keep it in place. To remind it not to fly too high. “I know. I know you said that, but what about… five years from now? What if he escapes?” I had to be realistic about this.
Our living arrangements wouldn’t stay the same for much longer. We could be friends forever, but he had massive responsibilities. Sure, his siblings managed relationships, but Alex could have anyone.
Plus, he knew the same thing I did about what his grandmother had wanted for him. What she’d shown him. I’d had my choices taken away from me, and I would never participate in doing that to someone else.
He was the last person I would ever do that to.
“You’re not alone anymore, Gracie,” he said, still frowning.
I just lifted one shoulder that time. “What about ten years from now?”
That got those eyes narrowing.
“Twenty, Alex?” I smiled at him, not wanting to ruin the night with this crap. I’d just had the time of my life. “I get it. People leave people all the time. One day you’ll find someone you care about, someone you love”—and oh that didn’t feel right to say it, it pissed me off the second it came out of my mouth—“and maybe she’ll understand what you promised me, but maybe she won’t. We already screwed up kissing. We could have played the friends card if we hadn’t, but we did. You’re not going to lie to her either.
“You wouldn’t be able to blame her for being unhappy about it. I wouldn’t. I’ll just be some person hanging on to you for something that happened in the past. Nobody likes a third wheel who knows how their husband’s”—oh boy, my voice broke saying that word—“tongue feels in their mouth.”
Why the idea of someone else putting their tongue in Alex’s mouth made me irrationally fucking angry was something I wasn’t going to poke at too much.
Trying my best to settle for giving him a tired smile instead of a frown that reflected how upset this shit was making me, I shook my head. “I’m rambling. I had the most fun ever, and now I’m going on about shit that we don’t have to worry about right this second. Yes, I’m better now. Thank you for that gift. It’s the best gift I’ve ever been given. You just made my whole life.”
I squeezed his forearm, trying my hardest to keep my voice even. “You’re kind of the best, Hercules.” Then I let go of him. “When you’re not aggravating.”
And I would try my best not to hate his future partner’s guts, but let’s be real, I would probably have to move across the country when the time came.
My hand formed into a fist on its own just thinking about it.
Alex’s eyebrows rose and stayed up, and I knew I didn’t imagine the growl that came from deep within his chest. “You can’t be that dense,” he sighed suddenly.
Uh, rude. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t be that blind,” he repeated with a scowl that might have made me want to hide if he hadn’t just played with me for half an hour.
“Hey, fuck you, I’m not dense,” I spat.
“Yeah, you are,” he argued, gently but somehow looking genuinely insulted.
What did he have to be upset over?
Those purple irises blazed, telling me just how aggravated or annoyed he was, and then confirming it with the way his voice went so deep it sounded like it came from the base of his throat. “Gracie, do you think there’s a future for you without me in it?”