Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Oh-my-god, oh-my-god, oh-my-god!” Harlow clasps my hands like we’re best friends. “You have to tell me everything you know about him so I can make my move at the party.”
“Gladly,” I say. “Under one condition.”
“Anything.”
“You have to take me home and get one of your other friends to go with you instead.”
“Ha! I was planning to do that anyway.”
ACT THREE
BOY OFFERS TRUCE
TRAVIS
Back Then
Reno, Nevada
2 a.m.
“Thanks for getting me and my friend into this party for free.” Tatiana’s stepsister is batting her eyes so hard that her fake eyelashes are slipping.
“Are you staying until it’s over?” she asks.
Not if I can help it.
“I’m not sure yet,” I say. “Is Tatiana on her way here?”
“Not unless she has a personal driver on speed dial.” She shakes her head. “She’s not much of a partier like we are. She’s probably in bed reading a romance novel or watching anime.”
“Interesting…”
“When do you think you’ll try to get into the UFC?” Her friend rubs my shoulder. “Like, months from now? A year from now?”
“That all depends on the league and the commissioner.” I force a smile and entertain their conversation for as long as I can.
After refilling their drinks, I disappear through the crowd and escape to the parking lot.
Sliding behind the wheel of my car, I send the motel manager a text.
Me:
I just sent you my rent money for this week and last week via email.
His response comes within seconds.
Text from Slumlord:
Hope you’re not expecting a fucking thank you. It’s still LATE.
I roll my eyes and pull onto the road. When I’m halfway home, Penelope’s name crosses my screen.
“Yeah, Crown?” I answer. “Something wrong?”
“Yes and no,” she says. “I think I tripped the lights again. Can you walk me through resetting the breaker box?”
“Of course. Grab a flashlight and head outside.”
I wait until she’s reached the side of the house before giving her instructions. When I’m finished, she asks me to walk her through unclogging a water pipe.
“Anything else?” I ask.
“Tatiana Brave got a perfect score at the West Coast Expo today.” The words rush out of her mouth. “A. Perfect. Score. Do you have any idea what that means?”
“I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”
“People are starting to wonder when and not if she’ll be the new number one.”
“Penelope…”
“Don’t you dare give me the ‘Focus on yourself’ speech’ today,” she interrupts. “Just let me vent about this tragedy, okay?”
“Okay.”
“First of all, she’s not that pretty and her skating is—”
I hit mute and toss my phone onto the passenger seat.
Predicting the exact same words I’ve heard countless times before, I drive all the way back to my motel before picking up the phone again.
“—I couldn’t find a single flaw in her routine.” She sounds near tears, like this is a catastrophic event. “It may have been an omen that my registration fee didn’t clear in time. I hope you yelled at your bank’s manager for screwing up the wire transfer.”
I couldn’t afford the transfer…or the fee…
A pang of guilt hits my chest.
“Are you there, Travis?” she asks. “Travis?”
“Yeah, sorry. I’m here, Crown.”
“I was beginning to wonder.” There’s a smile in her voice. “Anyway, feel free to stop calling me that nickname whenever you’re ready.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it makes me feel like I’m still seven years old.”
“Mom and Dad called you that all the time and you never complained.” I step out of the car. “I doubt it bothers you in the slightest.”
“It doesn’t.” She laughs. “I’m trying to evoke some emotion out of you since you’ve let me ramble on and on without interrupting to give me advice.”
“I’m fine,” I say. “I wired a thousand dollars to your account a couple hours ago. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never miss another competition. I promise.”
“It’s okay that I missed this one, it’s just an expo.” She pauses. “Your bank’s error actually saved me a twelve-hour car ride with Hayden, and expos don’t count toward the rankings.”
I unlock the door to my room, feeling too damn guilty to tell her the truth.
“Should I use some of this money for a bus ticket to come see you?” she asks.
“No, no, no,” I say. “Don’t spend any of it on me. Ever. Don’t ask Hayden to buy you travel tickets either. Focus one hundred percent on your skating career, and that’ll make me happy.”
“Okay.” She sighs. “Since you mentioned Hayden, do you have any other friends who can serve as my pseudo big brother while you’re away? Someone who’s not a man-whore with an ego the size of the moon?”
“Hayden’s not that a man-whore,” I say. “He’s just…”
I can’t bring myself to finish that sentence. His reputation with women has always been terrible, and he’s far worse than I ever was.
He’s worse than anyone I know.
“Exactly!” Penelope scoffs. “I’m thankful my coach is letting me rest these next few days so I don’t have to deal with him. Not only is he a terrible person, but he’s delusional enough to believe he’ll be a billionaire someday.”