Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“How much have you had to drink tonight?”
I laughed. “Not enough.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid. Don’t think with your dick; that’s my MO, and don’t fool yourself into thinking there’s even a tiny chance that her dad will give the two of you his blessing. Are we clear?”
“We’re clear,” I sighed as something moved to my left.
Eve sauntered toward the stairs in baggy gray sweats, a pink hoodie, and a bottle of booze in her hand.
“I gotta go,” I said.
“Alright. Later, man,” Adam said.
I stood, eyeing Eve as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, taking a drink of clear liquid from a glass bottle. I set the dog on his feet to go to her before I quietly opened the back door, set the phone on the counter, and returned to the deck.
“It’s past your curfew,” I said.
“I know. That’s why I had to sneak out.” She wasn’t slurring her words, so she was only one or two sheets to the wind.
“Where did you get this?” I sat on the steps and leaned forward, taking her bottle of tequila as the dog jumped to sniff it.
“In the old milk box by the garage.” She grinned, picking up Clifford. “In plain sight. It’s where my mom keeps a planter, but no one ever looks inside.”
“Is this leftover from Drew’s dad’s place?”
Her lips pursed into duck lips. “No. I have a new supplier.”
“Who?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Can’t tell you, Mr. Collins. You can’t be trusted.”
I narrowed my eyes and tried not to laugh. “I can’t be trusted?”
“You’re a mandatory reporter.”
I laughed. “I’m not sure that applies. And you’re not my student or a minor.”
She let the squirmy dog down and reached for the bottle as I held it just out of reach.
“Can I ask why?” I stared at the bottle, wondering how often she drank.
“Why what?”
“Why do you drink this shit?” I took a swig. It was cheap tequila. Horse piss.
“Because it’s free.”
“So are STDs. I mean, why do you drink cheap alcohol all by yourself at eleven at night?”
She shrugged. “I like the buzz.”
“Do you like the headache in the morning?”
“Nothing two ibuprofen can’t handle.”
“You’re awfully small to drink hard liquor. A few ounces of this adds up to several cans of beer.”
“Must we do math tonight?” She stepped onto the bottom stair and reached for the bottle again.
I pulled it away.
“Hey!” She lunged at me as I emptied the bottle over the side of the railing.
“Shh!” I let the bottle fall to the ground so I could catch her.
“That was—”
I pressed my hand over her mouth so she didn’t wake anyone.
“I need you to be quiet so you don’t wake anyone who might tell your parents about your jailbreak tonight. Do you want to be grounded again?”
Kneeling on the step between my legs, eyes wide, she shook her head.
I removed my hand from her mouth and brushed the hair away from her eyes. “You can’t be here,” I whispered, not wanting her to leave, but I knew someone could wake up and open the door behind me without warning.
She frowned. “You don’t want me here.”
“Baby, I want you everywhere I am.” I stroked her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “But that’s not a good idea right now.”
She turned into my touch, kissing my palm. “You can’t call me ‘baby’ and send me home.” She closed her eyes as my hand slid down her neck. “You can’t touch me like you did today and send me home.”
“I’m sending you home because I’m scared of never getting to touch you like that again if we get caught.”
Eve opened her eyes. “Let’s be brave together and not care what anyone thinks.”
I smiled. “I’ll walk you home.”
She stuck out her bottom lip.
“I’m going to bite that lip if you insist on tempting me with it.” I stood, taking her hand and whistling at Clifford, who was eager to follow us toward the hill.
Eve hugged my arm while we meandered toward her property, taking unhurried steps.
“I had fun making caramel apples with Josh today. When he giggles, I feel it in my belly like someone’s tickling me, and I can’t help but laugh too. But nothing will ever compare to the look on his face when I gave him Clifford. I know everyone is upset that I got him a dog, but A, he was free. C, Josh is so in love with him. And D. Well, I don’t know what D is, but you can’t make me regret it.”
“A. No dog is free. I will have vet and food bills. You skipped B because you’re drunk. And, of course, Josh is in love with him. He doesn’t have any responsibility for the dog.”
She dropped her head, moping along beside me.
I squeezed her hand. “I’m not happy about the dog. But the way you care about Josh and see the innocence and pure joy in his laughter means a lot. I used to think the same about him cooing as a baby. And the soup was amazing. I bet your grandma is proud of you for taking everything she has to pass along to you and gracing your friends and family with culinary love.”