Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Sauntering inside, I let the door slam behind me, rattling the antique picture frames on the wall. The sconces, or whatever the fuck they are, rattle too. Looking ahead, I scan the floor. Bodies litter the main room in various states of undress, and I'm thankful I already gave the housekeeper the week off. Business as usual during our induction week, I guess.
She'd be appalled, not that she hasn't seen all of us who live in the house in some state of undress over the past couple of years. Those moments would pale in comparison to this shit. She's learned to ignore a good amount of stuff, and we've learned to make sure she gets a bonus on her paycheck at least once a quarter.
I contemplate my next move, trying to decide whether to wake these bastards up and throw them out or… A loud crash and glass breaking echo down the stairs and into my ears.
Since Sebastian is with Maybel, it has to be Aries or Lee. My money is on Lee since he's always been the more dramatic of my friends outside of Sebastian. I thought that sounded a lot like a body hitting the floor.
Another crash has me on alert, and I’m jogging up the stairs before I think better of it. I’ve just reached the top of the stairs, turning to walk into Lee’s room, when a crystal glass hurtles into the wall opposite Lee's open door.
What the fuck?
"Hey!" I shout.
There's a pause, and Lee pokes his head out the door with a glare. "I wasn’t throwing that at you, just in your direction."
I glare at him now. "Wow, great apology. Perfect cadence."
He ducks back into his room, and I follow. "What the hell? Why are you destroying the antique crystal?"
Not that I give a shit about the antique part. I’m more concerned with the cleaning aspect. Without the housekeeper, one of us is going to have to clean that shit up. And it sure as shit won't be me.
Lee sighs, the sound long and loud as the air escapes his mouth. Patience isn’t really my strong suit, but I do my best to give him a moment as he clutches a half-empty bottle of bourbon to his bare chest. One look at him, and you can see he’s unhinged. His hair is messy, and there are heavy-looking bags under his eyes. He looks like he’s been through the wringer.
His basketball shorts ride low on his hips, and I cringe, noticing his feet are bare. "My family thinks I'm getting married. Actually, not think. They’ve arranged my marriage. An arranged marriage? Are you fucking kidding me?!”
I sigh and sink to the edge of his bed to consider what he’s confessed. "Why?" It's the only thing I can think to ask. I kinda hate that I’m terrible at conversations and emotions. I could learn a few things from Maybel.
Tightening his grip on the bottle of bourbon, he brings it to his lips and takes a massive gulp before extending the bottle out to me. I should decline since it’s not even noon yet, but after the morning I’ve had, I could use a drink.
With his other hand, he wipes at his mouth. "I don't know. Maybe they think I'm running around, fucking men, destroying the family name. Maybe they want me married off to a meek little girl, someone they can control or use to control me."
I snatch the bottle out of his hands and watch as he takes a spot on the edge of the bed beside me. Then I bring the bottle to my lips and take a long pull from it. The rich brown liquid blazes a path of fire down my throat, coating my insides in warmth. I have to say this is so much better than the gin he had before.
"Shit, man."
He drops his head into his hands. "Why is everything so fucking awful right now? Seb is barely here. You're off doing whatever the fuck you're doing. And Aries is out there fucking his way through the cheerleading team.” He lifts his head, piercing me with a knowing look. “Which we need to do something about.”
Shit. Yeah, we do. Some of the most off-limit girls at the school are on the cheerleading team. Most of them are daughters or granddaughters of alumni. Too innocent, but I guess not as innocent as they like to portray if Aries has started plowing through them, both literally and figuratively. And if left to his own devices, every one of them will be looking to murder him once he's through with them. Fuck.
That’s a good enough reason for another drink. Bringing the bottle to my lips, I take another long swig. This time, the bourbon burns a little less. "We'll deal with Aries soon. He's not going to have all of them wanting to murder him in just a few days, right?"