Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I frown, trying to remember who this girl is. “What’s up,” I greet coolly. It’s as polite as I have it in me to be.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Tarrin,” Roux says after ending her call. “They’re all taken.”
I don’t correct her that I’m not.
“No one’s talking to you, slut,” Tarrin hisses at her.
Jordy shakes his head. “Get her, Little Hoodlum.”
“I’m not the slut here,” Roux bites back at her, fire in her tone. “I’ve slept with one man. How many have you fucked, Tarrin? Oh, that’s right, you can’t count that high. My bad.”
I start to laugh because pregnant Roux has fucking balls.
“Fuck you guys,” Tarrin spits out. “I was just going to blow Cal over here because he looks so pathetic without Terrence. Excuse me for trying to cheer him the hell up.”
Pathetic?
Try destroyed.
Screw her.
“Go home, Tarrah.”
“It’s Tarrin—”
“Who the fuck cares?” I bark out. “You’re not going to come here and talk trash to my family.”
She turns on her heel, her black hair swooshing out behind her before storming back to her friends. I rub at the back of my neck and pace the porch. Am I really seen as pathetic? All because I miss my goddamn friend?
Fuck everyone.
I hop off the porch and start to stalk past the fire. Roan calls out after me. Ignoring him, I trek the three hundred feet or so through the woods to my cabin. By the time I reach the porch, Roan catches up to me.
“Cal, stop. Talk to me, man,” he pleads, his voice catching with emotion.
“What’s there to talk about?” I ask, swiveling around to face him. “The one thing I want to talk about, everyone wants to forget. So, unless you want to talk about how fucking pathetic I am for missing T, then go the fuck away.”
His throat bobs as he swallows and he shoots me a pained look. “Dude, I don’t want to forget him. I can’t stop thinking about what happened. I pray to fuck he’ll wake up because we need him. He’s our best friend.”
“No,” I shout. “You have Jordy. I had Terrence. Now I have no one.” My voice cracks. I grit my teeth so hard they nearly crack from the pressure.
Roan walks right up to me, yanking me to him for a hug. “Shut the fuck up, Cal. You’re my best friend too. Don’t say shit like that.”
Guilt stabs at me, making me feel like a huge dick. “If he dies…” I trail off, squeezing my eyes shut so I don’t fucking cry.
“He won’t die,” Roan assures me, though he sounds uncertain. “He’s a fucking Hoodlum. We’re like roaches in the apocalypse. Invincible.”
I manage a laugh, shoving him away. “Only you would compare us to roaches.”
“Would you rather I call us Hood River rats instead?”
“Nah, your hubby has that title all for himself.”
“He fucking owns it too,” Roan says with a chuckle.
“Fucking weirdo,” I joke.
Roan grins a stupid, happy smile we never saw growing up. I’m jealous of his happiness, but thrilled to hell all the same. “Yeah, he’s a weirdo. My weirdo.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go slob your weirdo’s knob, asshole. I’m headed to bed. It’s my last weekend of freedom.”
“Monday starts adulthood, man. Next thing you know, you’ll be married.”
I roll my eyes and he laughs. “Can’t wait,” I deadpan.
He grows serious, gripping my shoulder. “When the time comes, I won’t even fight T on who’ll be the best man.”
His confidence that Terrence will be there one day for my wedding does wonders for my mood.
“I’d kinda like to see you two douchebags fight it out,” I joke with a shrug.
“Everyone knows I can whip Terrence’s ass.”
“Does Terrence know this?” I snort out a laugh. It feels good talking about him. Remembering him as tough and a hellion like us.
“Terrence’s grandma knows,” Roan says with an evil grin. “Someone had to kiss all his boo-boos when I beat him up all those times.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I dare you to talk shit to his face.”
“I’m going to one day. That’s a motherfucking promise.”
Charlotte
I am strong. I am brave. I am worthy.
I am woman, hear me roar.
That last bit is all Loden. After every time they’d drill those thoughts into our heads, he’d whisper that second part just for me. I’ve barely been home three days and I already miss him.
A freaking rock star.
It’s weird the people you connect with. Once we started talking, we realized we had a lot in common. He comes from a wealthy family, has battled enormous pressure, and failed everyone around him. Loden puts on this hardass act just like I put on my cheerleader smile. Inside, though, we’re dying. It’s nice to know we’re not alone.
I shoot him a text, suddenly overcome with nerves.
Me: Wish you were here.
Lo: Pink Floyd. Oh…we weren’t playing Name that Tune?