Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75539 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I also don’t want to get distracted around him,” I said, swirling my beer bottle and watching the light gold liquid spin. “That’s another big reason I’m trying to hold back on the emotions.”
“I guess, but… I don’t know. Wouldn’t you just protect him all that much harder?”
I shook my head and tossed a pillow in my brother’s direction. “You talk too much sometimes.”
“Yeah, too much sense.” He chuckled and played with one of the tassels on the pillow. “You’re going to have to figure it out, especially now that we’re all working together to find that dagger.”
“You were really insistent on taking the job back there.”
“I was,” Warrick said. He ran a hand through his loose brown curls. He normally kept his hair short but must have decided to try something different. “I’ve learned that saying yes is almost always the best answer. You know the one thing I remember most when I was dying from the Dragonfall? The sadness mixed with regret I felt laying on that bed. It was worse than the pain. I wanted your powers, X, so bad. I wanted to turn back time. Wanted to experience everything I was too scared of experiencing. I wanted to say ‘I love you’ more, I wanted to erase all that self-doubt that held me back from truly living. All those times I beat myself up or worried over things that didn’t matter or never ended up happening.
“That’s why I fought for this so hard. I knew that when we were all on our deathbeds, we’d look back on that moment with regret.”
Warrick, Warrick, Warrick. He always knew how to deliver some life lessons when they were the most needed. He was the youngest of us but definitely one of the wisest.
“And with me hopefully leaving to Wynwood Academy next year, I want to make sure I have as many moments with family as possible. Even if it means risking our lives to save the world.”
“I’m not sure you’re considering what kind of moments the hunt for this dagger might bring.”
“Listen, I’ve seen the worst happen. I’m at least going to try and stop it from happening again.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “You’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” He reached out and ran his finger under one of the fig tree’s leaves. It perked up, turned a shade brighter, and another leaf sprouted nearby.
A buzz at my thigh drew my attention. Blake was calling me. “Hello? Everything alright?” I jumped to my feet.
“Hi, yeah, everything’s alright except for the fact that you know the world might end soon, and we wouldn’t even know it happened. But yeah, other than that, totally fine.”
That drew a genuine laugh from me. He had that superpower over me.
“I was calling to see if you wanted to watch The Wedding Invite with me. I, uh, know it’s your favorite.”
I couldn’t tamp down my grin. “You sure? If you need more space—”
“No more space. Forget I even said that.”
“Alright, I’ll be there in a minute.”
We hung up. “He wants me to go over to watch a movie.”
Warrick looked at me, his concerned face quickly turning into a gloating one.
“I knew it. You’re so into him, it’s wild. Look at that smile!”
I couldn’t even argue with him. I turned so he couldn’t see my face anymore, waved over my shoulder, and closed the door.
Chapter 12
Movie Night
Blake
Fuck, today had been a long day.
I sat down with a bucket of popcorn in the cozy living room. My mom enjoyed having an abundance of flowering plants in every room, which made the space feel like a sanctuary. Pink and purple orchids rose up from a bouquet of white roses, their sweet scent drifting my way. Every muscle in my body was sore from how tense I’d been. My jaw hurt, my back hurt, my head hurt. I no longer tasted the ironlike, metallic tang from the blood, although the conflicting swell of emotions was still there.
I thought watching a classic with my mom would help clear my head, but she thought two glasses of wine and a night’s long rest would help hers. She excused herself, which was when I got the smart idea of texting Xavier.
He strutted in through the soft arching doorway. The room was lit by two floor lamps and a few candles my mom had lit. Shit. I didn’t realize how romantic this looked.
I leaned forward and blew out one of the candles. It only worked to make the space more intimate.
“Did you make a wish?” Xavier asked. His laid-back look—black shorts, gray T-shirt, and a backward white baseball cap—contrasted sharply with the suit I’d seen him in hours earlier. I had a hard time figuring out which one I liked more.
“Yes.” I stuffed my mouth with popcorn. “Wished for the world not to end.”