Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
My feet slow as I reach the copy room where Mom can be found this time of the afternoon. The door is usually wide open, and I’ll catch a glimpse of her standing in front of the machine from the hallway.
Instead, it’s partially closed, leaving just a two-inch crack.
Which is…strange.
I step closer and push the thick wood just a bit before peeking inside. When I catch movement from within, the words gather on the tip of my tongue. I’m about to call out her name when I realize she’s not alone. My voice dies a quick death as air clogs my lungs, making it impossible to breathe.
My eyes widen, bulging from their sockets. I give my head a little shake, needing to dislodge the image of her wrapped up in a man’s arms. Even though I’ve only been staring for a few seconds, the mental snapshot has been singed into my brain for all eternity.
“Mmm, I’ve been waiting all morning to get you alone,” he groans before his lips settle on hers.
My hand flies to my mouth as I falter a few paces before slamming into a hard chest. Strong fingers curl around my upper arms before I’m spun around to face the person who now holds me captive.
I’m almost afraid I’ll find Jasper. His threat from earlier continues to echo in my brain. Instead, I find the dark-haired boy I’ve been unable to stop thinking about since he showed up two months ago.
It becomes necessary to lift my chin to hold his eyes. Even though I’m wearing my blazer, the tips of his fingers burn the flesh beneath the thick material as electricity sparks in the air. My mouth grows cottony as the woodsy scent of his cologne teases my nostrils.
It’s so tempting to inhale a big breath of him and hold it captive in my lungs.
“Are you all right?”
That’s when I remember what’s going on in the copy room, and a jolt of panic slides through me as I jerk my head into a nod. “Yes. Sorry for bumping into you.”
“It’s not a problem.”
When his grip tightens, I clear my throat before pushing out the words. “You should probably let me go.”
His gaze bores into mine. “Is that really what you want?”
No.
But I can’t say that.
“Yes.”
As soon as the soft word escapes from me, his hands loosen before falling away. It’s both a relief and devastating all at the same time. I don’t understand how it’s possible to feel so strongly about someone I barely know.
Once I’ve been set free, I slowly back away.
With a tilt to his head, he watches me. “There’s only so long that you can run.”
Goosebumps ripple across my flesh like a wave.
What does he mean?
From him?
Or Jasper?
I gulp. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
He takes a step toward me, eating up the distance between us. “Isn’t it?”
“No.”
“If you say so.”
I straighten my spine. “I do.”
“Seems like you’re running from what you feel.”
My step falters and my eyes widen. There are times when Austin stares at me that it feels like he can see straight down to my soul. I don’t understand it. And if I’m being truthful with myself, he’s right. It’s why I’ve gone to such lengths to steer clear of him. He sees things that I’m not necessarily comfortable with.
I hold Jasper at a distance, but this is the boy I run from.
Instead of responding to the comment, I say, “I have to go.”
With that, I flee down the corridor, putting as much space between what I witnessed in the copy room and the boy who makes me want things that aren’t possible.
DELILAH
Achilly breeze whips through the football stadium as I climb the bleacher steps with a bottle of water from the concession stand. It’s halftime and the Hawthorne Hawks are down by seven. You can feel the intensity of the cheering crowd as it rachets up with each second that ticks by on the clock.
Jasper is off his game. On the last play before the second quarter ended, he was sacked by a defensive end.
“Delilah!”
I rip my gaze away from the field as the team returns from the locker room for the second half and find Summer Hawthorne waving me down. She’s sitting next to Everly Donahue. Much like the Hawthorne twins, Everly moved here at the beginning of the academic year. My guess is that these two have bonded over their newbie status. I know exactly what it’s like to be an outsider at HP, so I’m glad they have each other.
Both are nice and seem down to earth. They’re a breath of fresh air when compared to the other girls at this school. My gaze unconsciously slides to Sloane and her crew. I arrived at the same time as the girl gang and ended up getting swept along with them.