Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 107077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
I blink. Is this guy serious?
How the hell can he hand over his truck to me like it’s no big deal?
“Because…” Unsure how to answer that, my voice trails off.
He raises his brows. “Because why?”
“You don’t even know me.”
“Sure, I do. You’re friends with Demi and you work at Taco Loco. Are you planning on hightailing it out of town or something?”
I roll my eyes. As tempting as that thought is… “Of course not.”
“How many accidents have you been in?”
I point to my car. “Just one.”
“And that wasn’t your fault, which is exactly why that asshole took off.” There’s a beat of silence. “So…should I be concerned?”
“I guess not,” I mutter. But still, I’m not comfortable with this arrangement. Then again, it’s not like I have a ton of options. “What do you drive?”
He points a few rows over. “You see the white Escalade?”
I crane my neck and shift my body to get a better look. I wait for him to say ‘I’m parked next to it.’ If my eyes don’t deceive me, it’s an older model Chevy Blazer that isn’t in any better shape than my car, which actually makes me feel better about the situation. “Um, yeah.”
“That’s it.”
“Are you kidding me?” My eyes widen as my voice escalates. “I can’t drive that!”
“Why not?”
“It’s way too expensive.” It probably costs more than the house we live in. And if that’s not a sobering realization, I don’t know what is.
“Sure, you can.” He shrugs those impossibly wide shoulders. “It’s only money.”
Laughter gurgles up in my throat before attempting to burst free.
How do I even begin to respond to that statement?
The only people who would say something so ridiculous are the ones who actually have it.
All I can hope is that one day, I’ll be one of them.
8
ASHER
I grab a towel after my shower and dry my hair before wrapping it around my hips. Every muscle I have and a few that I didn’t realize were there are screaming bloody murder from being overworked on the field. If I weren’t heading straight to Taco Loco, I’d sit my ass in an ice bath.
But there’s no time for that, since I need to catch a ride to the restaurant. Even though I have zero interest working on this assignment, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m looking forward to seeing Lola.
It’s the strangest thing.
And it doesn’t make the least bit of sense, but every run-in with her leaves me jonesing for another. I’ve never met a girl like her. One who is so blatant about her dislike for me.
I give Crosby a bit of side-eye as he yanks his boxers up and grabs a T-shirt. Now here’s a guy who seems like he’s in a hurry. And I can imagine why. Ever since he and Brooke McAdams made their relationship official, they’ve been glued to each other’s hips.
It’s a little nauseating.
He used to spend all his time snarling at people. Now, he’s more like a tamed pussy cat.
I shake my head as my gaze flits over all the guys. Rowan is dating Coach’s daughter, Demi, who also happens to be one of the star players on the women’s soccer team. Brayden, Mr. Campus Heartthrob himself, is with Sydney, another feisty soccer player. She’s not one to put up with his shit. It’s kind of hilarious.
Easton is going out with his best friend, Sasha. A girl he’s known since they were in diapers. And Carson finally decided to take his life into his own hands by dating Brayden’s younger sister, Elle. I can’t help but snicker, remembering how he’d been sneaking around behind his best friend’s back. After Brayden found out what was going on beneath his nose, shit hit the fan. They’ve finally settled down, but they’re not as close as they once were.
I’m the last man standing.
Or the odd man out.
I guess it’s all about perspective.
Don’t these boneheads realize they’ve got the rest of their lives to be tied down? They should be enjoying their final college year by being free as a bird and doing whatever the hell they want. Instead, they’re sitting their asses at home, ordering in, and watching Netflix. For fuck’s sake, just the other day, Brooke posted a pic of them wearing matching charcoal face masks.
Let that visual sink in for a minute.
Once I’m done drying off, I haul my boxers up. “Rhodes, can I bum a ride?”
Crosby glances at me before jerking his shoulders. “You heading back to the house?”
I shake my head. “Nah. Taco Loco.”
“By yourself?” Before I can respond, he pops a brow. “Wait, wait. Let me guess.” He pretends to ponder the situation for a moment. “Does this have anything to do with that waitress? The one who’d rather claw her own eyes out than look at you sideways?”
I can’t help the slow smile that curls around the edges of my lips. “As it just so happens, I’m meeting up with her there.”