Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
“Oh my God! Why is he even here?”
I pull my phone out and text Everett.
Me: Can you come get us? Mr. Polk is here with Lacy. I don’t want to be here at this party with him.
He responds right away.
Coach: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Text me the address.
Once I’ve responded, I look up at Olivia. “Should we call the cops?”
“I don’t know,” she says and crosses her arms over her ample chest. “Is Coach coming to get you?”
“And you too.”
We start back for the stairwell when the door opens and Mr. Polk steps into the hallway wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. His features are screwed into a murderous scowl.
“Well,” he snarls, “if it isn’t the two little tattletales.”
I step in front of Olivia as if to protect her. Not that Mr. Polk couldn’t swat me away without effort. Regardless, I try.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Olivia chokes out.
He charges forward so I lunge at him. And just like I knew he would, he shoves me away to get to Olivia.
“You little bitch,” he grits out. “You told them I penetrated you with my fingers. Little liar. If I penetrated you, you’d know it.” He pushes her against the wall, with one hand on her throat and the other pushing up her skirt. I scramble to my feet and I’m about to throw myself at him, when two large males shove past me.
Mr. Polk is torn from Olivia and body slammed to the floor by…Mr. Reynolds? Caleb’s dad smashes his fist into Mr. Polk’s face three times before his friend urges him away. Once he’s back on his feet, his gaze sweeps over me before finding Olivia.
“My son’s girlfriend,” he explains to his friend before stalking toward her.
His friend’s mouth parts open. “Ahhh, okay.”
I’m not sure what their exchange is about but I’m curious. Mr. Reynolds cradles Olivia’s face in his palms and murmurs out what seems like soft questions to her. She nods and then he releases her.
“Come on,” I tell her. “Let’s get out of here.”
On the bottom floor, the music is blasting. We find Jake and Caleb sharing a bromance hug as they laugh about dumb football crap. But as soon as Caleb sees Olivia so upset and disheveled, he throws his arms around her. His dad shows up behind us a moment later.
“You got her?” he asks Caleb.
Caleb gives him a clipped nod. “I do.”
Mr. Reynolds’s already scary face contorts into something wild and ferocious. “I have to take care of some asshole upstairs.” He disappears without another word.
“Come with me to Ev—”
“I’ll be fine here with Caleb,” Olivia blurts out, interrupting me.
I cover my mouth upon realizing I almost called Coach Everett in front of Caleb. Olivia gives me a quick smile and a nod.
Everett was right. Parties are lame. I’d much rather be naked and in his bed. With Dad out of town this weekend, we can spend the entire weekend together. The thought elates me.
Once outside, I suppress a shiver. The nights have been getting cooler the further into fall we get. I’m just running my palms up over my chilled arms when I notice a car barreling down the street, heading this way. It screeches to a stop in front of the house. Then, a giant pops out and charges for me. My giant.
“Are you okay?” he demands as soon as he’s pulled me into his arms. He presses kisses to the top of my head as he crushes me in an embrace.
“I’m fine. Olivia is fine too. Mr. Reynolds and his friend are dealing with Mr. Polk.”
He relaxes and pulls away to look at me. “You ready to go, Emo?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Where are we going?”
He smirks from the driver’s side and takes my hand in his before kissing it. “Somewhere special.”
A smile plays at my lips. I’d thought we’d go back to his place straight away but the night is still young. It’s not even eight yet.
Everett is quiet as we drive. We cross some train tracks and enter a rundown, older part of town. I remember when we first rolled in, my mom practically hissed out the window when we passed through. He pulls into a trailer park and follows the old worn streets to the back of the small neighborhood.
“I want you to meet someone,” he says with a shy smile. “You’re mine now, River. So now I want you in every part of my life.”
My heart leaps at his words. He climbs out and then is at my door, offering his hand. I grab it and beam at him. Everett doesn’t do charming often but when he does, I melt.
“This is my childhood home.” His voice is full of pride. “I was on the phone with Mom when you texted and had planned to drop by to visit. Now you get to come too.”