Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Lacey owes me an explanation.
Furthermore, she needs to explain why she’s not here with her.
I’ll make her talk to me eventually.
In the meantime, I have Samantha on the case. I only answered a thousand questions this morning over the phone. She promised to get the ball rolling on requesting a paternity test. I’m going to go crazy until I find out for sure.
“I can’t wait to see baby Emilia,” Charlotte chirps from the front seat of Cal’s truck. “I never get enough of her.”
Cal reaches over and takes Char’s hand, bringing it to his lips, and kisses it. They share a quiet moment, loaded with unspoken words. I’m glad this girl has my best friend. She’s his, which means he’ll take care of her until his dying breath. Maybe one day they’ll pop out a kid like Little Hoodlum and Jordy.
Then all the Hoodlums will have kids.
When the fuck did we grow up?
My phone buzzes in my jeans’ pocket. I pull it out and sigh after reading the text.
Grandma: Come get your mail, Terry.
Me: I will this weekend.
“Goddammit,” Cal complains. “Someone needs to teach that brat how to fucking park.”
Charlotte and I both laugh.
“Let’s hope you’re not the teacher,” Charlotte says. “You suck at it yourself.”
We all climb out and I smirk at the fact Penny drove her orange Jeep around all the other cars, parking in front of them, right in front of the stairs at Hollis and Roan’s. She drives and parks just like Cal. It’s fucking funny to me.
I head up the steps behind Cal and Charlotte, nursing my leg. It’s been aching today, putting me in a bitchy-ass mood.
The front door opens and the first thing I notice is the music. It’s not loud by any means and mostly background, but it’s still more than I care for these days. I grit my teeth and endure as I make my way inside. Their quaint apartment is decorated with gaudy New Year’s gold and silver. The table is loaded down with snacks and shit. I forget what a little entertainer Hollis is until it’s time for a birthday party or holiday. It makes me wonder if his siblings are the same way.
Charlotte, sure.
Penny, no way.
I find my grumpy girl sitting cross-legged in the recliner, a beanie pulled low over her brows, nearly covering her eyes. It’s her outfit, though, that has me freezing.
I’ve only seen Penny once in something that wasn’t comfortable and baggy. At Jordy’s wedding. And back in October, I was still so fucked up from my migraines, I didn’t take the time to notice.
I notice now.
Fuck.
An irrational spike of anger shoots through me, jealous of anyone who can see her. A quick assessment of the people here has me relaxing. They’re all taken or related to her, aside from Lo, who’s chatting it up with Roan, and he’s gay.
Chill the hell out, man.
Her expression is a bit more scowly than usual tonight. But she’s wearing makeup. Her lashes have been painted with mascara and her blue eyes are lined with black eyeliner. Pouty lips are stained Barbie pink and she chews on her bottom one like it’s personally wronged her. I skim my gaze to her outfit that made me crazy in three seconds flat. Dark, painted on skinny jeans that have more holes than actual material covers her long, slender legs. She wears a black pair of ankle boots that I’m shocked she even owns. Her white tank under her black, fitted leather jacket is loose and hangs low. A long, black necklace sits right between her perky tits, a bunch of silver and gold house keys attached. The tank is thin, so you can see the outline of her black bra underneath.
I can’t with this goddamn girl.
“Smash,” she says, tipping her head at me, barely looking up from her phone. “What’s up?”
Ignoring the laughter of the guys in the kitchen, I stalk over to Penny. I sit down on the coffee table right in front of her, drinking in her sweet floral scent. Fuck. She’s too fucking pretty and distracting.
Only seventeen.
Until April…
The thought feels like a lifeline I cling to. Soon she’ll be legal. And then what? I don’t like Penny. Not like a chick I want to stick my dick into.
No, you like her more than that.
She starts to shed her leather jacket. My mouth goes dry as she reveals her creamy arms that have cute curves of muscle from her being on the basketball team.
I’m not going to survive her.
I can feel it in my bones.
I’m going to do something regrettable—something that breaks the Hoodlum code.
Because… fuck.
“Put your jacket back on,” I bark out, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees so I’m in her personal space.
Her lip curls up as icy blue eyes sear into me. “I’m hot.”