Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Crew: Working today?
I frown. I’ve been going to work every day this week. Is this the first time he noticed I wasn’t home?
Me: Just a short morning shift. You?
Three little dots appear at the bottom of the thread, disappearing twice before another message comes.
Crew: And now?
Way to ignore my question.
Me: I’m off.
My phone rings a second later, and I’m about to ignore it and text him back, since it’s far too loud to talk on the phone in here without being rude, but Xavier happens to lean over right then, spotting the image of Crew lighting up my screen.
“Ah, the side shot, got me one of those for someone too.” He winks, darts his hand out, grabs my phone, and answers, “Hello.” He tries using his best feminine voice, instantly making me laugh.
“That was terrible.” I shake my head, ready to pull it to my ear, but then Neo stretches over the back seat and puts the call on speaker.
Suppressing my smile, I lift it a little closer to my lips. “Hey. It’s kind of loud, can I—”
“Who was that?”
Xavier grins, leaning closer. “Your second favorite Sanchez brother.”
“Fuck are you doing with Davis?”
“Going to the water park con esta bellezza.”
I look to him. “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.”
“We all do.” He winks.
Neo takes the mic. “She’s gonna be my tube partner for the day, ain’t that right, gorgeous?”
“Sure, why not,” I tease, shaking my head as I pull the phone closer. “Can I call you back later?”
The line goes dead, and I frown at my screen, ignoring the laughter of the boys around me.
A little while later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of the water park, so while they shotgun a few beers because, college students will do that, I text Crew.
Me: Hey sorry. It was so loud in Jeremy’s Jeep I couldn’t really talk. Did you need something?
Crew: Who the fuck is Jeremy?
He responds instantly.
Me: Oh, I figured you knew all their friends, sorry. Someone from their baseball team, I think. I’m pretty sure all seven of them are.
The boys are tearing off their shirts and closing the doors, so I quickly try to end the conversation.
Me: I think you’ll be at work by the time we get home, but maybe I’ll come say hi, let you know how it goes.
Crew: How what goes?
Me: I figured this is the perfect time to try out some of your “lessons.”
I press send, assuming that’s what he’d suggest anyway, so I make sure to say it before he can, the perfectly prepared student that I am.
Turning my phone off, I toss it in the car with the pile of other phones, and off we go.
Sighing, I smile at the mountain of slides ahead.
Today is going to be a good day.
Three hours in, and we’re practically running our way out.
“Dude, I can’t believe they called you on the overhead,” Neo says, jumping around to try and avoid the burn under his bare feet.
“I told you to wear your slides in, dumbass, and, of fucking course, they did. I’d kick Willie’s ass if not.” He shakes his head. “Miss my niece’s birth. You crazy?”
“I thought she wasn’t due for a while?” I ask.
Maybe I heard wrong?
“She’s not, but my mom had us early, so I guess it’s all right.” He shrugs, but then his forehead caves into a frown.
“Hey.” I stop his speed walk, placing my hand on his arm, and he jerks to look at me. “I’m sure she’s fine. He just wants you there, that’s all.”
Xavier swallows, nods, and picks up the pace again. “Yeah, I’ll feel better when I get my phone out of the car.” He peeks at me, the corner of his mouth hiking up. “You know you don’t have to leave with us? Our wristbands are good for another four hours. The boys would be happy to have you sit on their laps the ride home.”
“Get fucking punched, X.”
All our heads snap straight, shock jolting us in place.
Crew stands at the back of Jeremy’s jeep, arms crossed over his chest.
It’s odd, how potent rage rang dark in his tone; yet, his face is a sheet of nothing.
“Layla’s fine,” he says, his eyes bolted on mine. “Go back inside if you want, but I need this car unlocked, so Davis can get her shit out.”
“Wait.” I shake my head, confused. “What?”
I turn to Xavier, but the worry and confusion is wiped from his attractive face, nothing but a sly grin written across it now, his best friends mirroring him, but not Jeremy.
Jeremy appears slightly uneasy as he unclips his key from the pocket of his board shorts, holds it out and up with a long stretch of his arm as if he’s afraid to accidentally touch his hand to mine.
I open my palm and he gently drops it inside, saying, “You can hide it by the gas tank when you’re done.”