Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
I stroked the H and then looked back at him over my shoulder. “You’re going to give this to a girl and not get in bed?”
“I’ll get in bed,” he finally conceded. “But just to sleep.”
“Okay,” I relented.
“Let me get you something to sleep in.” He walked into his closet and came out with an oversize T-shirt and shorts. “Here.”
I took the clothes out of his hands and arched an eyebrow. “Are you going to watch?”
“Oh, uh…I’ll just…”
Then, he returned to the closet.
I giggled and tugged on the T-shirt. It came down to my knees, so I opted out of the shorts and crawled into bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, the entire night came back to me in a head-pulsing mess.
Oh no.
Oh no, no, no…
“You ready?” Chase asked, stepping back into the room, shirtless.
“Um…”
Then, I hurried past him and hurled the entire contents of my stomach into his toilet. I groaned as I continued to bring up more and more alcohol. When I thought I was finally done, I flushed and staggered away from the toilet. Chase had a spare toothbrush waiting for me next to a bottle of Gatorade and two Tylenol.
“My hero,” I whispered.
I downed the Tylenol and brushed my teeth. Then, I found a washcloth and removed as much of my makeup as I could manage. After, I carried the Gatorade to bed, hugging it to my chest like a life raft. “I feel awful.”
“Based on the marks on your arm, I’d assumed you would.”
He took the Gatorade from me, set it down, and pulled back the covers. I sank onto the bed with a groan. Then, with a gentleness I barely knew how to process, he removed the hair ties from my hair, letting my locks fall to my shoulders, tucked my legs up into the bed, and pulled the covers over me.
“You’re being so nice.”
His expression softened. “Believe it or not, I care about you.”
“Yeah, but…”
“No but,” he said. “Just get some rest.”
“Wait,” I said as he crossed the room. “Where are you going?”
He grinned. “To get the lights. I’m coming back.”
I relaxed back at that pronouncement. He flipped the lights off and got into the bed. His hand rubbed my back, soothing me toward unconsciousness. I felt blackout approaching.
“Chase,” I murmured.
“Hmm?”
“Graduation, right?”
He was silent, his hand stilling on my back. “I don’t expect you to wait, Harley. I want you to live your life.”
“I’m studying abroad in London next semester.”
“Good,” he said without hesitation.
“But you’ll wait?” I whispered.
He was silent for long enough that I thought he might have fallen asleep.
“I’ll wait,” he confirmed.
And then I fell into oblivion.
16
Harley
June
“Mom, it’s not a date,” I insisted.
“You’re wearing eyeliner. You blew out your hair. You’re in a dress,” Mom pointed out, leaning against the doorframe to my childhood bedroom.
“And?”
“And you don’t do those things for just anyone. You’ve been back from London for three weeks, and I haven’t seen you in anything but lounge clothes or a suit for that law office.”
I shrugged. “It’s just a friend.”
“A friend who is a boy.”
“Yes.”
“Who is coming all the way to Seattle to see you.”
“Well, no. He’s visiting friends in town.”
“You’re his friend, and he’s visiting you.”
I rolled my eyes. “It isn’t a date. I’m going to show him around downtown. We’re getting lunch. It’s no big deal.”
“Do I get to meet Mr. No Big Deal?”
I stalled at that thought. What would my mom think if she saw Chase Sinclair? No one knew we were even friends. Let alone anything else that had happened. Mom probably wouldn’t be happy that he was so much older than me. But I hadn’t been lying when I said it wasn’t a date. He wasn’t in Seattle for me. But…I didn’t mind seeing him.
It had been a long semester abroad with the time difference. I’d had my fun, like he’d insisted I should have. I’d lived my life. But still…my heart remembered that graduation was only around the corner.
“If he’s just a friend, then I can meet him.”
“Fine,” I said on a laugh. I put on the H necklace Chase had given me for my birthday, clasping it behind my neck and letting the pendant dangle low. “If you want to meet him, Mom.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Have fun, sweetheart.”
My phone dinged, and I saw the text from Chase, saying he was outside. “Okay. He’s here. I’ll see you later, Mom.”
My mom shot me a look of amusement, but I ignored it and headed outside. Chase was idling in a blue Porsche that matched the red one he had at home. Only he would spend the money on a rental this fancy.
“Nice car,” I said, slipping into the passenger seat.
“You know I like my cars.”
“I do.”
He smiled down at me. “Good to see you.”