Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 50770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
But Chloe? She was free.
And she was mine.
The only thing that has been mine in a very long time, like a secret I keep between just us and don’t have to feel guilty about.
“Hey.” I grab her hand, then slap her ass. “Go into my room, first door on the right in the hallway, and I’ll grab us some snacks.”
She smiles, but it feels like a different sort of smile, maybe she’s nervous, I don’t know, but it just feels off.
I ignore it as she walks by because I know it’s her birthday and maybe she’s just sad and I want to make her feel special. It’s important she knows that it wasn’t a one-night stand, that it was us, her, together. I’ve been through a lot with my past and I’m just so done and while I don’t know her entire history, I feel like she’s the same way.
I smile as I walk to the fridge and grab two cokes.
This is it, right?
When you find someone and you’re at peace.
When you feel for someone else but know they will only ever be a friend and when you find someone you know will be more than that or could be?
I don’t want to stress Ambrose out because hello apparently MB is pregnant which is a whole different thing I refuse to even think about, but also, I can’t be angry, they’re in this for the long run and if that means they have a baby before they planned, I’m good with that, it was just a huge shock, but I’m good, I have other things to look forward to and I’m finally moving past everything and it’s all because she makes me feel like I never had my heart broken, which is just… huge for me.
I smile as I grab some Twizzlers, a few cans of Trulys, and make my way back to the room I’m staying in. She’s already on the bed, her hair is spread across a pillow. “Why is this so comfy?”
“Because it’s my room.” I answer. “Any other questions, or do you want to watch something epic?”
“Yes, because watching suspense always works for us. Oh no, is this our porn?”
I laugh so hard I nearly fall off the bed I just climbed onto. “No, that would be weird, imagine Jason Statham, never mind, it just got weird, eat a Twizzler.”
She laughs and grabs the pack from me, opening it and tugging one out, her smile is wide and free. I want to think I did that to her, I want to think I can do more to her, again and again.
I really like her.
I finally feel like I’m on a different journey.
One that wasn’t pushed for me, but one I chose.
Finally.
Her teeth tug into the Twizzler, she moans, I moan internally and watch as she tucks her hair behind her one ear with her left hand like she needs more space to chew or maybe to experience.
I say nothing.
It’s so good.
I feel it.
She keeps chewing and finally finishes the Twizzler with her eyes closed, then opens them and looks at me. “What?”
“Nah, just sexy watching you eat.”
She blushes, then looks away. “Sorry, was way too hungry.”
“Same.” But not for Twizzlers. “What do you want to watch?”
Her blue eyes turn to me… they focus then unfocus like she’s thinking about something serious before responding, like she’s uncertain before she clears her throat reaches for another Twizzler and points to the TV and says, “A documentary, like something very tragic, that’s perfect.”
“Yeah, okay, so setting the mood, I feel you.”
Chloe shoves my face with her hand. “Hey, I like those kinds of shows.”
“Yes, they are extremely uplifting and sexy on your birthday, oh look death, destruction, drugs, cheating, tell me more!”
Her laugh is impossible to miss as she climbs onto me and straddles my lap. “I like learning.”
I sigh when I put my hands on her shoulders and run them down her arms. “Yes, I also like exploring.”
“Wow.” She breathes, and again her eyes seem unfocused, uncertain maybe is a better word, like she’s either dreaming or experiencing a nightmare, I can’t tell which so I start to pull back but then she grabs my wrists.
I stay midair with her gripping them tight.
Her chest rises and falls.
“You okay?” I ask. I mean, I want to add, it was only a movie, but she’s looking like this is life or death. “What’s going on?”
“You like me?” she asks, licking her bottom lip and taking a deep breath. “Right?”
I almost snort. “Yeah, obviously. I mean, my time is extremely valuable. Why would I waste time with someone I don’t like, but also, you’re funny and amazing, except for when we had ice cream, and you just bounced.”
She flinches.
“You good?” I ask.
She nods her head slowly. “So it’s me, only me?”
“It’s only ever been you for two straight weird days of insta-love and sex, why do you ask? Then again, we are young, damn, are we like the Top Gun of Seaside just jumping into things and going a million miles a minute? I’m here for it, I swear I am just—“