Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
A natural beauty.
The kind that makes me forget that she hates my guts until she opens her mouth, and I have no choice but to remember.
It’s like the world is out to get me because she chooses this exact minute—when I’m practically undressing her with my eyes—to look up and catch me.
Her jaw locks, and she narrows her eyes. “What?” she mouths.
Great, I’m busted. Fan-fucking-tastic. Can’t wait to hear what she has to say.
Guess we know how Molly’s mood is today.
Ironically, I’ve watched when she hasn’t seen me watching, and she’s practically the life of the party.
Always smiling. Always laughing. It’s infuriating.
But when she’s near me? Nope. It’s Hate on Hudson Day.
“Nothing.”
She fixes her gaze on me with a glare so icy it could create a larger rink.
“You know, I did you a favor again.”
“How do you figure?” Because clearly, I’ve missed this riveting tale of martyrdom.
“Who do you think took your spot when you decided yet again to be late?”
“If you remember correctly, it hasn’t always been my fault I’ve been late.”
“Whatever.”
“Can’t you just say . . . morning, and then I’d say the same?” I smile broadly, and she practically snarls back. “I can tell you missed me on your trip.”
“I didn’t. I enjoyed Europe immensely. I did miss Cassidy, but you? Nope.”
“Harsh.” I look around the room, then lift my wrist to check the time.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are we keeping you? More pressing plans? ’Cause the way I see it, Dane saved your ass by coming in early.”
“It’s not the end of the world. Dane was already here, right?”
“You screwed my schedule. It’s hard enough getting Dane to work after he sent me away all summer. He’s extra grumpy these days, probably because of the new intern, Josie, poor girl, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is—”
“Oh, is there a point? I thought you were just rambling.” This earns me “the look.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead.
“There’s a point.”
“And that is . . . ?”
She throws her hands in the air. “I forget.”
“Maybe Josie. Have you met her? She’s ho—”
“Don’t even go there. I don’t want to sic human resources on you. Actually . . .”
“I missed you when you were on your Euro tour. I can already tell this season’s going to be fun.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Again, have you seen the new girl?”
“Hudson.”
“Relax, Hex, not for me. But something tells me she might be right up your brother’s alley. I might talk to Coach and see if you could work for me, so Josie can help Dane a little longer.” I wink. “If you know what I mean.”
Molly’s jaw locks. Her mouth opens and shuts, and it makes me grin.
I walk closer to her, leaning down slightly so only she can hear me. “You know, it’s kind of refreshing. For once, you’re the one who looks a little . . . what’s the word? Incompetent.”
Her eyes flash, a mix of fury and something else—something more dangerous. Possibly murder, but we’ll see.
“Screw you, Hudson.”
“Any day, Hex. Just name the time and the place. I’d love a redo.”
Her cheeks flush, and she takes a step back, her composure snapping back into place like a shield.
“You are not worth it.” Her ice-cold voice stabs me in the chest. I watch as she goes. I won this round, yet it feels bittersweet.
Even though I’ve provoked her, I don’t enjoy hurting her. It’s just better than the alternative. That’s dangerous territory because I’m already in too deep.
17
Molly
“You’re firing me again?” I cross my arms and glare at Dane from across his kitchen table.
He shrugs, leaning back in his chair with that same infuriating calm he always uses to deliver bad news. “You need to find something for yourself, Moll. You can’t keep running your life around me.”
I roll my eyes, clenching my coffee mug tighter. “And you think firing me is the solution? I have a secret for you; it’s not. You’ve tried this before, and it didn’t stick.”
“Yeah, because you refused to stay fired.” He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my resistance. “This time, I mean it. You’re out.”
“Oh, please.” I scoff, setting my mug down with a loud clank. “What are you going to do without me? Forget your schedule? Wear mismatched socks to practice? You wouldn’t survive a week.”
“That’s what Mason’s for,” Dane counters, smirking.
“Mason can’t even remember what day it is, let alone manage your life,” I fire back. For a second, he’s silent. He knows I’m right.
He might want me gone, not for any other reason but his desire to have me live my own life, but without me, he’s a mess. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Running his life is easier than having to deal with my own.
Dane sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“No, I’m indispensable,” I correct, narrowing my eyes. “And you know it.”