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)
“Terrence,” she breathes. “I need—”
Deep voices resound in the living room. Fuck. Garrett must be home.
“That’s our cue to leave and go grab lunch. We’ll continue this tonight when you’re in my bed,” I promise, pressing a kiss to her swollen lips. “Get dressed, beautiful. I’m taking you out.”
Penny is hot on her worst day. But when the girl dresses up? She makes me weak. Today, I hung out with Garrett and Jace while she got ready. Garrett eyed me with suspicion but didn’t say anything, even when his dumbass best friend kept smirking at me. Penny came out of her room looking sexy as fuck. I pretty much dragged her out of there so her dad wouldn’t see the hard-on I was sporting.
And now, as we walk hand in hand along Main Street, I keep sneaking in peeks at her. Her tight jeans hug every muscular curve she has, especially her perfect ass. She put on some boots that made her a little taller than normal, so I don’t have to bend as far to steal a kiss. Her top is fitted, showcasing her narrow waist. The leather jacket she’s wearing has silver buckles and is edgy. With the dark gray beanie she wears and her blond hair in messy waves, she looks like a fucking model.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
I check her out again because she’s my girl and that’s my right. “Mmm?”
“I know you cracked your head open, Smash, but you’re not dumb. Focus.”
I release her hand so I can smack her tight ass. “I was taking you to get ice cream, brat.”
She smirks at me and grabs my hand again. Penny can be so standoffish and gruff, but deep inside is a woman I can’t get enough of. I know she feels the same. When she’s not withdrawing into herself, she enjoys being with me.
We finally make it to the ice cream shop. I open the door and hold it for her. She walks in and perks up. This place is pretty awesome. I’ve been wanting to try it but keep forgetting. Since we had lunch at a bistro nearby, I thought it would be the perfect time to give it a chance.
“I’m definitely going to bring Zella here as soon as I can,” I tell her, flashing her a happy grin.
She grimaces. “She’ll like it.”
I don’t understand the face she makes. I know she’s happy I’m getting Zella in my life, but something’s up.
“She was looking for you,” I tell her as we wait in line.
“Oh?” She keeps her attention on the refrigerated cases with bins of different ice cream flavors.
“I told her she’ll see you soon.” I slide my hand into the back pocket of her jeans, letting it rest there. “What flavor are you getting?”
“Cookie dough.”
“I imagined you more of a chocolate girl.” I flash her a playful grin.
Her lashes flutter as she rolls her eyes in exaggeration. “Let me guess. You want vanilla? Don’t be such a dork, Smash.”
“Vanilla? Fuck vanilla. Too plain for me.” I give her ass a squeeze. “I like rocky road.”
“Gross.”
“How do you figure, woman?”
“Marshmallows in ice cream is a sin.”
“But raw cookie dough isn’t?”
“No,” she drawls out. “That’s sinful. Learn the difference.”
“What flavor do you think Zella likes?”
She tenses. “I don’t know. Why would I know that?”
“Just a question,” I say with a frown. “I’m guessing anything pink or orange or rainbow.”
“Maybe.”
The line moves up a little, but we’re still several people back from the man scooping up orders. I dip down and kiss her cheek.
“Everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” she mutters.
My arms wrap around her from behind and I hug her to me. “You can talk to me. I’m your man. That’s what we do. Listen to our women. Neither of us is very good at the relationship thing, but I want to try. Tell me what’s up so I can help.”
“I don’t need help.” Her voice is an icy purr. “I can help myself.”
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I know you like giving us Hoodlums shit, but we’re stronger as a team. We’ve always had each other’s backs. When one of us is in trouble, the other three show up with bats and nasty fucking attitudes.” I squeeze her, nuzzling her soft hair. “I want to be that for you, Penny. Let me in.”
Her body relaxes. “I’ll try.”
Better than the prickly way she’s been thus far this week.
“That’s all I ask, baby.”
Rockford is good.
They’re good because they’re sneaky and get in jabs whenever they can. Each girl on Rockford’s team is dripping with unrestrained aggression. The referees are blind to it and aren’t calling half of what they should. Rockford’s team quickly learned that Penny is our star player because they are relentless, continually jabbing elbows at her or knocking her down.
And Tierra?
She’s playing like shit. Her head isn’t in the game. I knew this would happen. Those girls she used to play with when she went to Rockford are the same ones who knew all about her sexting with a grown-ass man. I’m pretty sure one of them is Sage, the man’s daughter, based on the way she cringes whenever number sixteen nears her.