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)
“Now?”
“Yes.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “Right now.”
“It’s kind of soon, isn’t it?” I look into his eyes. “I mean, I’m sure most people will assume I’m Tully, but if we run into anyone who knows her or mentions—”
“I’m not taking ‘No; for an answer,” he says, “but if you want to stand there and give me every excuse in your arsenal so I can have all of them, please be my guest.”
He kisses me before I can say another word, and before I know it, I’m following him outside and into his car.
With the windows rolled down, he caresses my hand behind the gear shift as the night air blows against my skin.
“Stop thinking so much, Scarlett,” he whispers.
“I’m not thinking at all.”
“It's four in the morning and if anyone on this campus is awake right now, they’re not heading anywhere we are. Trust me.”
“Okay.” I let out a breath and try to focus on the moment.
On us.
An hour later, he’s pulling past his house and into our old hangout spot, but it looks far different from how I remembered it.
In place of the old shack is a beautiful, black A-frame cabin, complete with a tin hot tub on its deck and two grey hammocks on its side.
“Whenever I wasn’t practicing with the football team this summer, I worked on this,” he says. “I came here every time I thought of you.”
“How often was that?”
“Every fucking day.” He trails a finger against my lips. “Coach said we have forty eight hours before we have to completely lock in and focus on the season. I need to spend all that time with you. Preferably right here.”
I look up at the cabin again, stunned at the details.
“Something wrong?” he asks.
“Yeah…I’m feeling extremely guilty right now,” I say.
“Why?”
“The only thing I brought you back from London is custom tea.”
He lets out a low laugh. “I got an umbrella and some pajamas in the mail from you last week, too. That’s good enough, but I don’t think that’s what you’re really thinking about.”
It’s not… “It’s silly, but I have to ask you something.”
“The answer is no, Scarlett.”
“Have you slept with anyone else since I’ve been gone?” I ask the question anyway. “I’ve read comments and seen things online, and I trust you, but there’s just a small part of me that—”
“I haven’t slept with anyone else since you.” He kisses my lips and unbuckles my seatbelt. “And we’re about to make up for several months of lost time.”
32
EASTON
Quarterback Easton Rush STUNS in Season Opener
Alabama Has Never (EVER!) Looked Better
In Rush We Trust! 410 Completion Yards for Easton!
The national, local, and school level headlines are what I’ve dreamed of for years. The adrenaline rush I feel each time I run out of the tunnel and into a stadium full of crimson and white dressed fans on game day is utter magic.
The first weeks of the semester are falling into a predictable pattern that only needs one deletion to be perfect.
There’s practice, practice, practice, content with Tully, class, class, and more practice. And then every night ends with me climbing through Scarlett’s window, sliding under her sheets and making sure she knows that she’s the love of my life.
She always will be.
With every day that passes, it’s becoming harder and harder for me to put on a convincing show with her sister.
33
ME
A couple weeks later
“Do you think Easton Rush is a good fuck?” The redheaded flute player ahead of me asks. “Like, on a scale of one to ten, how good do you think he is in bed?”
“Um…”
“He’s dating your sister, so you have to know.” She leans closer. “Twins tell each other everything, so I’m sure she’s told you something about his bedroom skills.”
“He’s probably a nine on an off-night.” The flute player on her left laughs. “He’s in my Psychology lecture hall this afternoon, so I’ll take some more secret shots of his bulge and let you know.”
“Has he caught you doing that yet?”
“No, but her sister shot me a glare the other day because she knew what I was doing.” She’s still laughing. “To be fair, I would probably be protective as fuck as well if I was bound to be his wife someday.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet, Scarlett.” The redhead waves a hand in front of my face. “How good do you think he is in bed?”
“I have no idea.” I force a smile. “He’s not mine.”
“He’s not ours either, so that’s why we’re speculating…Have you seen the video he and Tully put up last night?” She continues talking to the other girl, rendering me invisible. “He treated her to some private restaurant I’ve never even heard of, and it looked expensive.”
“He’s probably never breaking up with her, but a girl can keep snapping crotch pics and dreaming…”
As they laugh, I pull out my phone.