Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Molly pushed herself up and sat cross-legged on her bed, facing Keira. “I saw how happy you were. For as long as I’ve known you, there has never been a time when you were like that. You always use your head, Keira, but this time you went with your heart.” Molly gave her a smile, but when her phone chimed with a text, and after she read it, she got off the bed and grabbed her purse and keys.
“I have to meet my mom for lunch. She’s going through a breakdown with the idea of me going off to school.” Molly gave her another small smile. “Just remember what you could have, and not what might happen if you gave yourself a chance with Reese. You’re stubborn, and it’s clear so is he.”
Keira sat up, gave Molly a hug, and really let her words sink in.
After Molly left, Keira played her best friend’s words over and over again in her head. She needed to talk to Reese, to corner him, make him look at her, listen to her.
She felt a renewed sense of hope at what she planned on doing. It may not solve anything, but they both needed to hash this out.
A knock on her bedroom door sounded before it was pushed open. Alex stuck his head inside and said, “Is it okay if we talk?”
She nodded and watched as Alex stepped into the room before sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. He’d come back since the last time, which was unheard of since he’d started college. And she knew it was because he was worried about her and how things had gone down with Reese.
The room grew quiet as they sat side-by-side.
“You’ve been so sad, princess,” he finally said and glanced at her. “I can feel it around you all the time.”
She whispered, “I know.”
Alex nodded and dropped his head again. He stared at his hands, and she followed his gaze. They were big and tanned, like their father’s. After a moment, he exhaled and lifted his head to look at her.
“That day he came over,” he said and cleared his throat, “he said some things to me.”
She felt her brows pull low. “Said some things? Like what?”
He lifted a hand and rubbed his nape. “I told him that if he ever came near you again, I’d kill him, that even though I didn’t know what he did, I didn’t give a shit how minor or big it was. I’d kill him.” Alex took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“That was extreme, Alex,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Yeah. I know.” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen you like that, and I guess it sent me off the deep end. I was so pissed, Keira. All I wanted was him to hurt the way you were hurting.” He stared deeply into her eyes, this strange expression covering his face. “He told me he loved you, that you were the only thing in his life worth something.”
Her heart raced wildly at those words.
“I wanted to believe that he just said those things because I was going to kick his ass, but then he just kept saying it as I pounded the fuck out of him. And he wouldn't fight back, just took every hit.”
Her brother's words had everything around her disappearing until she couldn’t focus on anything but what he said. “W-What?” she stuttered out. “He said that? He told you he loved me?”
Alex shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, the stupid bastard.” He chuckled then, an honest one filled with amusement. “I don’t know what he did, but you’re a smart girl, the smartest one I’ve ever met, princess. Here I was, letting him have it, and the asshole was telling me he was in love with my little sister over and over again.” Alex chucked her under the chin. “And as I look at you, as I remember how you were when you were hurt, I knew you felt the same too. You love him too.”
She nodded, unable to lie about her true feelings.
The tears came fast and strong, but this time she didn’t brush them away. Then the flood gate opened up, and she told Alex everything.
She told him about their relationship and how fast and consuming it was.
She told him about how much she loved him.
Then Keira told him about the pictures, the misunderstanding, how she believed Reese with everything in her.
Things had gone downhill so fast, and she shouldn’t have told him she needed time and pushed him away. It had been erratic, made from emotions. He was doing what she wanted, and she hadn’t told him how she felt before he was gone.
“I may not like that my baby sister is in love with a guy, that he’s rough around the edges, and how I didn't miss the scuffed-up knuckles he sported. But I can’t stand to see you like this. The guy loves you, and you love him.” He grimaced after he said that, and she chuckled. “I only want what makes you happy.” He held her face in his hands and leaned forward to press a light kiss in the center of her forehead. “But if he ever makes you cry again, I will break his arms and legs.”