Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111732 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“Goodnight, Max,” she says. Her chest heaves. It’s the only visible tell she might be feeling a surge of feral attraction, the same way I am. She smiles. “See you Wednesday.”
“See you then.”
I practically rip the front door off its hinges opening it, stride to my car in the driveway, and race back to my place. The second I’m home, I beeline to my bedroom, grab some tissue and lotion, and jerk one off to images of Marnie Long enthusiastically riding my cock.
19
MAX
“I swear, she’s a drug,” I lament to my brother. “The woman is human cocaine.”
It’s one o’clock on Tuesday, and I’m sitting next to my dork of a brother on a bench in a park-like setting in the middle of U Dub’s beautiful campus. When I woke up this morning with nothing to do except some research for Marnie at some point, I called my buddy, Grayson, to see if he wanted to grab breakfast or lunch. When it turned out Grayson is out of the country with Selena, I called my brother and convinced him to ditch his morning class and meet me on campus for some hoops. We wound up playing two good games for about an hour before grabbing a couple Gatorades and this courtside bench.
“Well, I’ve never done cocaine, unlike you,” Auggie says. “But I get the gist of your meaning. She’s addictive and makes you act like a fucking idiot.”
I exhale. “Do I want to feel addicted to her? Fuck no.” I lean back on the bench. “What sane person wants to get a boner simply from looking at someone? I’m not a middle schooler.”
“I think you should enjoy someone getting under your skin the way Marnie has,” Auggie says. “It’s a relief to know you’re capable of feeling tormented by your attraction to someone again.”
Again. He’s referring to Skylar, obviously. Which pisses me off. Why bring her up?
“It’s not enjoyable when that someone has dated your father,” I snap. “Or when that someone has a four-year-old who’s decided, for reasons unknown, she wants you to become her new best friend.”
“I think Ripley’s aiming a bit higher than her new best friend, brother.” When I look at Auggie blankly, he says, “I think that little cutie is hoping to make you her new daddy.” When I grimace like my brother has shoved a pile of dog shit under my nose, Auggie laughs and says, “Don’t be so dramatic. You’ve dated MILFs before.”
“I’ve never met their kids, though. And I’ve certainly never had a MILF’s kid glom onto me the way Ripley has. She literally screamed ‘I love you!’ at me yesterday when I helped drop her off at school.”
“Aw. She’s so sweet.”
“Why me, though? You were way nicer to her at the gallery, and Mom’s the one who took her to the fucking zoo.”
“To be honest, the way she only had eyes for you at the gallery kind of pissed me off. Children and animals usually love me.”
“She takes after her shit show of a mommy. She likes bad boys.”
Auggie scoffs. “You’re not a bad boy. You’re a grumpy workaholic with a high sex drive and commitment issues. But you’ve got a heart of gold.”
I roll my eyes and take a swig from my Gatorade. “I’m not a workaholic.”
“Of all the things I said about you, that’s the one you’re taking issue with?”
“I’m just saying I’m not innately this hardworking. I like to relax and have fun, but I set a goal for myself, so I’m doing whatever it takes to achieve it. Once I do that, I’ll look around and smell the roses a lot more, I assure you.”
“What’s the point in living like that? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, Max. Life is about the journey, not the destination.”
“Mom? Is that you?”
He laughs.
“It’s too late to give me that advice,” I say. “I’m way too close to finally achieving my goal to even think about taking my foot off the gas now. It’s full speed ahead, motherfucker. No one can stop me.”
Auggie sips his Gatorade. “Just, please, promise you won’t reach your goal and immediately set another one that requires you to continue working this hard. Please, stop and smell the roses at that point. Get yourself an actual life.”
“I have a life. A good one.”
My brother looks at me like I’m crazy. “If you say so.”
“I do. So, shut the fuck up.”
We watch the game in progress on the basketball court for a while. Finally, Auggie says, “I don’t think it’s a big deal Marnie has dated Dad, by the way. I mean, if you wanted to give it a go with her, that shouldn’t stop you.”
I don’t disagree with him. After taking some time to process, I’ve come to the same conclusion. But since I’m quite certain I don’t have room in my life to “give it a go” with Marnie, not in any serious sense, it’s a moot point.