Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Daniella glances up to find a space to sit when she stops on me and gives me a wide, beaming smile. “Shit,” Nessa says, surprised. “She must like you. She’s never smiled at me like that.”
I smile and give a small wave before indicating to the few spare spaces beside me. Daniella nods and starts making her way over here as I explain to Nessa. “I’m sure she liked you just fine. Daniella was actually my mom’s best friend back in high school.”
“Are you kidding?” she says, wide-eyed. “Wow, what a small world.”
“You’re telling me.”
“You know, I really am sorry about your parents,” she whispers, not wanting to draw attention to our conversation. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like growing up without them and then having to deal with everything you’ve dealt with since then. I really fucked-up making those nasty comments. You could have used a friend and instead, I was a bitch.”
“You really were.”
“I’m working on it,” she promises.
“What are you working on?” Daniella questions pulling me into a quick hug before leaning over me and doing the same for Nessa.
“I’m trying to be a better person,” Nessa explains. “I’ve been too nasty but I’m turning a new leaf and from now on, all you’re going to get from me is kindness.”
“Kindness is only worth something if you truly mean it,” Daniella explains. “I’m proud of you, but make sure that as you make these changes that you remain true to yourself. Trust me, if you have kindness come right from within your soul, you’ll truly feel like you’re making a difference, but if it comes from anywhere else then it’s fake and no one wants that.”
Nessa beams at her while I nod my head in agreement. “Wow,” I say, impressed. “That was deep.”
“Oh, stop,” Daniella laughs. “When you get to my age you start to really understand what’s important in life and if I can share that with the young women of the world and try and make their lives just a little bit brighter, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“You’re too good for this world,” I tell her, glancing around her to see the girls. “Hi, I’m Skylah. I’m a friend of Slade’s. What’re your names?”
The closer of the two gets to her feet and gives me a smug look that reminds me so much of her brother. Her chin rises and I prepare myself for whatever it is that she needs to say. “My brother told me that you’re not his friend. You’re his girlfriend.”
Her sister chuckles and I glance to Daniella for some help but she simply sits back and lets me handle this on my own. “You know what?” I say with a wink. “He’s right.”
They each suck in a deep breath and break into uncontrollable fits of laughter. “Ewww, that’s so gross. Do you two kiss?”
I wiggle my eyebrows and grin, not needing to say a single word to convey my answer. They instantly lose their tiny minds as Daniella shakes her head in exasperation. “This is Emma and Rain,” she tells me. “And clearly, they were very excited to meet you.”
“I’ve been excited to meet them too.”
The Aston Creek Mambas come tearing onto the court and the crowd instantly start cheering on their team, drawing my attention away from Daniella and the girls. Slade comes out with a ball already in his hand, but truth be told, I don’t even think he realizes it’s there. The way he moves with it comes so naturally that the ball is just an extension of him.
Damian and Blake come out and a wicked grin pulls at my lips as Blake scans the stands and his eyes fall to mine. He makes his way to the very center of the basketball court, stands up straight, and raises his chin.
Eyes bounce around the gymnasium, trying to work out what the hell he’s looking at when he drops down into an extravagant bow, sweeping his arm around in a greeting fit for a queen. “Your Majesty,” he says in an old English accent, making the crowd burst into fits of giggles at his expense.
Blake’s eyes come back to mine and I nod in appreciation, making him shake his head before he takes off at a jog around the court, scooping up the ball for a quick warm-up.
“Blake, I take it?” Daniella questions, leaning over so she can be heard over the crowd.
“Sure is,” I say proudly.
Daniella’s eyes light up as she watches him move around the court. “Your mom would have loved this. Seeing both Slade and Blake on a team together.”
“I bet,” I smile proudly, watching the two boys who seem to have a massive impact on my life.
The game has finally started and I watch in awe at just how good they are. I don’t understand how it gets me every time. I know they’re good, I’m their biggest cheerleader yet every time I watch them move as a group, I’m completely blown away.