Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“No, no one bought it.” I shake my head. “I stole it and tossed it into a dumpster so no one can call about it anymore.”
“You know that’s a crime, right?”
“Are you planning to report me?”
“I might.”
He laughs. “Hypothetical question. If you got arrested for something you did, but the police were convinced that you didn’t do it and let you go, what would you do next?”
“Go about my life.”
“You’re supposed to wait for three options before responding, Scarlett.”
“Not when I already know the answer.” I smile. “What would you do?”
“Probably the same thing.”
We both laugh, and he slides his hands under my body, rolling me on top of him.
I wait for his kiss, but something next to me catches his attention.
Stretching his arm, he grabs a sheet of crumpled yellow paper.
“No, don’t look at that!” I try to grab it from him, but he keeps it away and unfolds it.
“How the hell did you get an ‘F’ on a Sex Ed quiz?” He laughs. “Everyone gets an ‘A’ on these things.”
“Maybe with the old teacher.” I groan. “This new lady wanted us to write down our inner-most thoughts about sex, and I told her I was reporting her to the principal.”
“So, this is a retaliatory ‘F’?”
“It’s a ‘You’re being dramatic and you have two days to redo this assignment, or else’ F.”
He laughs. “Would you like some help?”
“No…I’ll just write, ‘I think about Easton Rush going down on me and screwing me in the back of car his all the time’ and see what she says next.”
“You should’ve told me that a lot sooner,” he says, trailing a finger against my mouth. “I think about tasting other your lips all the time, and I wish you would hurry up and let me…”
His fingers leave my lips, and I feel bereft.
We stare at each other in silence for what feels like forever, communicating without saying a word, wishing—like always—that things were different between us. Easier between us.
My phone buzzes at midnight, and I lean over him to turn it off.
“Happy birthday, Easton.”
“Thank you, Scarlett.” He pauses. “If it we’re for my mom lying to me and my dad the entire time, I’d probably feel like celebrating it.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just promise that you’ll never do that.”
“Tell you sorry?”
“Lie to me.”
I nod. “I promise.”
“Good.” He kisses me one last time and pulls me into his arms. “Go to sleep."
PART 2
THE LIES KEEP SPINNING
Question:
If you knew that you’d suffer no consequences for holding onto a secret that hurts someone you love, what would you do?
A) Keep it to yourself. There’s no point in hurting someone for no reason.
B) Invite them out to a public place and tell them. Honesty is always key. No matter what.
C) Write it in a letter with as many details as possible to get it off your chest. Send it later to clear your conscience.
Answer:
A.
But not because you are concerned with hurting them.
You don’t want to hurt yourself.
8
ME
Dear Yemi Davis,
I could never understand why you demanded to sit far away from “those Crane girls” whenever we were assigned to the same class. Until now. I truly had no idea my dad was sleeping with your mom and making plans to be with her long-term.
Wish I Would’ve Told You,
—Scarlett
When people unfamiliar with The South hear “Gulf Shores,” they typically envision dark waters on brown-sanded beaches. They flee to Florida and crowd that coast, completely unaware of the secret white sand and palm trees hidden along the edges of Mississippi and Alabama.
In the weeks before the football season begins, I always look for any excuse to escape to our shores on weekends.
Today, I’m tagging along with Kevin at an “Ole Miss Fraternity & Sorority Beach Party” all in hopes of him getting a glimpse of his “totally not a crush” or “landing a hot guy.”
For some reason, he’s far less easy-going than usual.
“No, no, hell no!” Kevin shakes his head at me as I step out of the women’s restroom. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Scarlett!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I told you to dress to impress today.” He looks over my swimsuit. “You look like you’re about to swim with the Amish.”
“Seriously, Kevin?”
“A one-piece bodysuit?” He presses a hand against his chest. “Why get dressed to go swimming at all?”
“Okay, that’s it,” I say. “I’ll go home then.”
“Not so fast.” He sets his bag down on a ledge. “I figured you’d pull this bullshit, so I came prepared.”
He rummages through the bag and pulls out a sparkling red bikini.
“Here,” he says. “Put this on.”
“Kevin, I came here for you to find a guy. Not me.”
“Well, no guy will come near me if he knows that I let my best friend come out of the house wearing that.” He presses the suit against my chest. “Hurry up before someone sees you.”
“Fine.” I return to the restroom and change. Then I stare at my reflection in the mirror.