Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“I feel like he has the same crowd every time,” she said.
“It’s better that way. It means he trusts everyone here.”
“I guess.” She sighed as we beelined to the kitchen.
We found Prescott and Drew pouring themselves drinks. I looked around for Lach but didn’t see him and didn’t ask. I said hello and let Pres pour me a shot. I looked outside. His favorite wall wasn’t here, so he couldn’t be guarding it. There was a beer pong table and a keg set up, so maybe he was outside.
“You look. . .” Drew’s eyes went up and down my body, then he shook his head.
“Naked?” I supplied.
“I know you’re wearing a bathing suit, but yeah, you look naked.” He chuckled. “Regardless, you look hot as fuck.”
“Thanks,” I muttered quietly.
“I’m also here, asshole,” Marissa said.
“Yeah, but you always dress like that, and you know you always look good.” He smirked and pointed at me. “This one hides it.”
“No one will think you’re naked,” Prescott said, knowing that might freak me out. He took a sip of his beer. “And you look hot, so who cares?”
“You’re right.” I nodded. “We’re out of here in a few days, so fuck it.”
I finally let myself relax and forget what I was wearing. We talked about where everyone was going next week after we got out of college for good. Drew was saying he was also going to med school, and we started talking about that. He wanted to be a surgeon, and I wanted to be a sports medicine specialist — a completely different career path — but the first three years of school would be the same.
“You’re done in three years, though, right?” Drew asked.
“I am. I mean, as soon as I figure out where I’m going to school,” I said.
“You still don’t know?”
“Nope.”
“She was accepted into all the ones she applied to,” Pres supplied.
“She’s going to pick while we’re in California,” Marissa added.
“What are you going to do?” Drew asked her.
“Probably open up my own business,” she said and went into all the details.
Our parents had set up bank accounts for us when we were kids, but graduating college meant we’d have full access to them. Marissa would use her money to open up a healthy cafe featuring smoothies or bowls; she hadn’t decided. While she spoke about it, I heard someone behind me shout my name.
“Lyles!” he said again, closer now.
I turned around to see Banks standing there with a dart in his hand. His eyes returned to mine after he quickly took in my outfit.
“Uhhh. . .hi, and what the fuck?” I said, nodding at the dart in his hand.
“Oh.” He laughed and pointed at the dart board behind him. “I’m practicing.”
“Is this new?” I looked at Prescott.
“Not really. You just haven’t been here in ages.”
“True.” I turned and walked over to Banks and the board.
“I heard you kick ass in beer pong,” he said.
“Wow, people actually talked about that?” I shook my head.
“Mason did, since he won,” he said. “People were talking about your heated exchange with Lachlan.”
“Oh, God.” I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“Who cares?” Banks shrugged. “Fuck them. You can do whatever the hell you want.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I laughed at the way he said it.
I didn’t bother to point out that I didn’t give a shit what people said about it. I just didn’t want word to spread too much. I watched Banks for a while, laughing each time he cursed when he hit the outermost part of the board.
“I think you need to tilt your elbow a bit,” I said, studying the board. “All of your darts go right.”
He lowered his arm and looked at me. “Don’t fucking tell me you’re good at this too.”
“Okay, I’m not.” I shrugged, but I was smiling a little.
“How the fuck are you good at everything?”
“Trust me, I’m not, but I am good with my aim.” I put out my hand so he could give me one of his darts. “Pay attention to my elbow. If you throw it like this.” I threw it to demonstrate. “You’re going to go that way.” I lowered my arms. “If you center your elbow, you can hit your target.”
“Show me.” He put the rest of the darts in my hand.
I started to throw them — I hit the inner circle, the inner circle again, the bullseye, and the bullseye again. Drew and Prescott clapped and cheered, inspiring the few random people who must have already been drunk to clap and cheer. Banks was too stunned to say anything, and I was too mortified by the attention to move. I did a little bow, a 180 to get out of there, and ran into Lachlan. He was wearing a gray V-neck t-shirt and jeans. So simple, but he looked so fucking hot, as usual. I looked at his face and studied it, committing it to memory. I wasn’t sure why I did that so often since I saw him every day and at all hours unless he was at hockey practice or a game. Our eyes locked, and I felt the breath go out of my lungs.