Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
All that Julian has to offer me is himself, and that’s all I want. Still, I have even less to offer him. I’m an unemployed young girl who reads kinky romance books, who is aiming for a cosmetology degree and pining away for a man too old for me.
A soft knock disturbs my rapidly unfocused thoughts. “Come in.”
“So, are we going to talk about how you got what you wanted?” my mother asks, smiling at me. I just rushed past her after Julian walked out. My excitement had been a little too much to control.
I grin back, turning myself around and plopping down on my bed. “I supposed I did.”
“Don’t sound modest now.”
I bounced on my bed, thrilled to the gills about a chance to live with Julian. “Fine, you have me there. I want it more than anything, but it’s only the beginning and you know it. He has to want me, too.”
“You know he does.”
“You think so, but it’s been several years, and he has done everything he can to avoid seeing me and when he does, he’s a total big brother, a big jerk.”
My mother rolls her eyes and shakes her head as she walks over to me; she gently takes my hands in hers. “Sweetie, we’ve been through this. The man is obsessed with you and is only holding back because you’re Drake’s little sister and you were underage.”
“Yes, and now that I’m an adult, he hasn’t even bothered to make a move.”
“You’re still Drake’s little sister. Convince him that he’s better off crossing that line than not. If he’s not willing to choose you over your brother, then maybe he isn’t the guy for you,” my mom adds. That’s the part I’ve considered all this time. Yes, he might find me attractive, but if it’s just looks, then he’s not willing to ruin his friendship for a fling.
“Thanks, Mom. I don’t want to force him to want me, but I can’t miss this opportunity. Are you sure you’re making the right decision with Harold?”
“Yes. He’s a good guy. He’s not like the other ones. Sometimes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs. And if your father was still alive, there wouldn’t be any other frogs for me.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Mom, I wanted to ask about my bed. Will I be taking it?”
“I don’t see why not. We’ll get you a moving truck and maybe con your new roommate to help, along with his brothers.”
“I think that’s asking way too much.”
“If not, we’ll get movers. It’s not a lot of stuff, but I already have movers coming for the rest of the house, so they’ll be busy packing up the house.”
“Okay.”
“Get some rest.” I nod and she gives me a great big squeeze before getting up and leaving my room.
****
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this again,” Drake says on the phone as Julian drives me to his apartment. Well, now our apartment.
“Yeah, no problem,” he grunts a perfunctory reply.
“Look, I’ve got to go. Everly, don’t give him trouble, and Julian, make sure you keep every dick away from her.”
“No problem,” he growls before ending the call.
“You know both of you don’t own my body. I’m twenty, not a minor. If I want to have sex, I can.”
“You can’t be fucking in my damn home, and I’m going to explain something to you. If a man really wants you, he’s not going to take you in the back seat of a vehicle, so don’t go buying that bullshit, Everly.”
“Holy shit, you know my name,” I say, surprised. I think that’s the first time I’ve heard it.
“Must you be a pain in my ass already? If you keep it up, I can find a place for you somewhere else.”
I freeze, feeling my heart crack. The thought of him tossing me out so effortlessly hurt. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, looking out the window so he can’t see the way my eyes fight the tears in them.
He huffs, “Everly.” I expected him to say something, but then his phone rang. I see the caller ID on the dashboard display. It’s Dallas General.
“This is Dr. Martinez.”
“We’re sorry, Dr. Martinez, but we need you to come in.”
“Yes, I’ll be in shortly. Give me an hour and a half.”
“Thank you, sir.” He ends the call and then he takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t worry. My brother Rick and my cousins will be around to help you move in.” He quickly releases it as I nod. We pull up to a small apartment building and he backs into a parking space.
“Are we ready to unload?” I asked Rick.
“We already started, bro.”
“Really?” I looked in the truck and I didn’t see my bed. If it was the last thing they loaded, then it would be the first thing to come out.