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)
Me: Dude…
Cal: Sorry. I had to run Charlotte to Samantha’s office. We finally have a trial date.
I need to get my ass down to the dealership and get another car.
Me: Great. I’ll walk my ass home.
Cal: No, you won’t, crybaby. Roan’s on his way.
Because I’m a dick, I send him a huge thumbs-up emoji. He doesn’t respond, which makes me laugh. I park my ass on a bench, waiting on my ride. While I wait, I text Penny.
Me: You want to come over and hang out?
I’m tired of her ass avoiding me.
Penny: Can’t. Busy.
Me: Whatever, Penny. I don’t know what I did to deserve to be pushed away, but it’s fucking cruel.
I hit send before I can stop myself. As soon as I do, I feel like an asshole.
Penny: I’ll come over around eight. Will you still be crying in your Cheerios then? I hope so. I enjoy making fun of you.
A smile touches my lips.
Me: Mean-ass.
Penny: For some reason, you like it.
Me: For some reason, I like you. Let me take you out on Friday.
Penny: Can’t. Your cousin needs entertainment.
Me: My cousin is grounded.
Penny: Queen Tee talked your grandma into letting me spend the night. One of my duties as her best friend, she said. Peopling is hard, Smash. I prefer solitude.
Me: Want me to come over too?
Penny: As tempting as that is, I think I owe her some girl time. We can brood in silence tonight together. Much better than a date.
Me: If I cook you dinner and kiss your pretty lips, can we call it a date then?
Penny: Stop talking.
Me: Nah, I quite like talking to your hateful ass. What about the following weekend?
Penny: Tierra will be ungrounded. We’re going to a party.
Penny at a party? She’ll hate every second of it.
Me: Want me to tag along to the party to keep you company?
Penny: Tee would kill us both. No. You can woo me another day, Smash. Gotta go.
I pocket my phone, elated over the fact Penny is coming over. I know hanging out with her is a bad idea because I fucking want her, but I can’t stop myself. She’s different than anyone I’ve ever met and I like being around her.
I’ve dated chicks who played hard to get.
Penny plays impossible to get.
I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.
After a shower and a nap, I make my way into the kitchen to start thinking about dinner. I find Charlotte already in there, pulling ingredients out.
“Whatcha cookin’, good-lookin’?” I ask, peeking over her shoulder.
“Kate gave me her King Ranch casserole recipe. I thought I’d make that. Sound good to you?” She smiles at me, knowing it’s my favorite.
“Hell yeah,” I state. “Need help?”
“Keep Cal away or it’ll never get made,” she tells me in a stern voice.
We both laugh as Cal comes staggering in, shirtless.
“How did the meeting with Samantha go?” I ask them. “Everything going as planned?”
“Yeah,” Cal grunts, his eyes sweeping over Charlotte, love shining in his stare. “Char will have to testify obviously. We’ll see both of those motherfuckers. It’s going to be hard not to fucking kill them like I should have.”
“Michael woke up?”
They both nod.
“It’s only procedural,” I tell them. “Those two are going away for fucking forever.”
“Once Charlotte tells the court her side of the story, including what happened with your accident, you’ll probably be called to the stand, too,” Cal says, frowning. “Jordy, Hollis, and Roan will have to speak too since we were all there that night.”
What a clusterfuck.
“We probably won’t get them on the arson of Mom and Dad’s since we don’t have proof,” Cal grunts. “But Charlotte will tell them about what Michael said to her regarding that too. Any ammunition we have against them, the more solid our case will be.”
For the rest of the evening, we keep shit light, avoiding the topic of the trial and the fact Samantha still hasn’t gotten anywhere on the paternity tests for Zella. Penny doesn’t show up, even when Cal and Charlotte retreat for the night. I’m about to give up when I hear a soft knock.
I make my way over to the door and open it. Penny has the hood of her hoodie pulled over her head. She reeks of cigarette smoke, which confuses me and frankly gives me an instant headache.
“Where is everyone?” she asks, pushing past me.
“They went to bed.” I close and lock the door behind her. “You hungry?”
“I already ate.” She stops to stand in the middle of the living room, body trembling. “Can I shower here?”
Her words are whispered out. Strained. It makes alarm bells ring loud inside my already throbbing head.
“Of course. I’ll grab you something to wear.” I start for my room and she stops me, her hand grabbing mine.
“I’m sorry if you thought I was being cruel.” She swallows, pain flashing in her blue eyes. “I don’t like being this way.” A small crack in her hard façade.