Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Did he like my dress?
My hair?
My makeup?
Most importantly, why did I care?
Suddenly, Jason Mraz’s song “I Won’t Give Up” blared through the speakers and he started walkin’ toward me.
“I can see your wheels spinnin’, Harley. What’s got your mouse runnin’?”
My eyes snapped to Cash, but I was too late. He was already followin’ my gaze to what held me captive.
Causin’ him to jerk back. “Jackson?”
“What?”
Jackson had stopped dead in his tracks, givin’ me time to recover.
“No. I was lookin’ at the cake behind him.”
Cash eyed me skeptically, though he didn’t call me out on it. Instead, he reached out his hand and simply said, “Dance wit’ me, Harley.”
I bit my lip, wantin’ to look back at Jackson but aware Cash would know somethin’ was up.
What was happenin’ between us?
Pushin’ the thought away from my mind, I stated the truth, “I’ve never slow danced with a boy before. My daddy might kill you.”
“I can handle your old man.”
I smirked, givin’ into his request. I grabbed his hand. “In that case, I’d love to.”
He led us to the dance floor and molded me close to his body, pullin’ me tighter into his strong chest.
“Look at you, Cash. Is this how you score with all the girls at our school?”
He winked, guidin’ my arms up around his neck.
I squealed like a girl, impressed with his moves. “You lead?”
Ignorin’ my question, he chose that second to spin me around, and it was then I realized we’d grabbed the attention of the whole room. Momma was holdin’ Daddy back and Aunt Skyler was doin’ the same with Uncle Noah. Allowin’ me to have this moment with my best friend.
Content, I leaned my face into his chest and slow danced with him. It was around the chorus of the song when something felt different.
He felt different.
And I wasn’t referrin’ to the boy I was dancin’ with.
I swear I felt him starin’ at us, burnin’ a hole into my heart. All the conflictin’ emotions came tumblin’ down on me the further the lyrics of the melody intensified. Feelin’ like Jackson was singin’ them to me.
“We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in on us.”
Cash spun me again.
“I had to learn what I got, and what I’m not and who I am without you in my life.”
We swayed to the beat, in sync with one another. The room closin’ in on us. It wasn’t until the last chorus when the lyrics really hit home.
“Giving you all my love, I’m still holding on. Cause God you’re worth it.”
I wasn’t just imaginin’ things, it was clear as day. Fuelin’ all these emotions I couldn’t describe, or even begin to understand.
Jackson’s vicious bullyin’.
His lost eyes.
His sad soul.
His, his, his...
What the hell was goin’ on?
“Thanks for the dance, Harley.”
When I opened my eyes, I stared straight in the direction where I felt Jackson’s presence.
Thinkin’.
Hopin’.
Waitin’.
For him to be right there.
Except I was wrong, cuz...
He wasn’t.
Chapter 24
<>Jackson<>
I took an Uber back home, leaving the party early. Lying my ass off to Noah and Skyler I wasn’t feeling well, but it was complete bullshit. I couldn’t stay there for another fuckin’ second. I was livid, pissed beyond belief, and I couldn’t even tell you why.
I just was.
Harley looked so different, nothing like the girl I’d known all my life. Between her hair, makeup, heels, and stupid strapless dress, she was almost unrecognizable. It was the first time her appearance caught my attention for a completely different reason.
The Gremlin made my cock twitch.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was snapping photos of her with my phone. Unable to stop myself.
Giving the word creeper a whole new definition.
Yet there I was, staring at the images I took of her on the drive home. I couldn’t help myself.
What the fuck is going on with me?
For a moment tonight, she had me. Like really fuckin’ had me. I was making my way toward her when Cash cock blocked me like the little bitch he was.
Every time I pictured his arms around her.
Touching her skin.
Feeling her warmth.
Her head on his chest.
The way they moved together as if they were made for each other...
Fucked with me until I saw nothing but red.
I wanted to punch his lights out, bury him alive. The irrational thoughts were taking me hostage, and I was right there along for the ride. Hanging on by an extremely thin thread. Ready for it to snap any second.
My blood was boiling, feeling fury in every inch of my skin in a way I’d never experienced before. I wanted to hurt somebody.
Him.
Cash ‘fuckin’ McGraw.
I hated him more than I hated Harley.
Once the driver announced, “We’re here.” I realized I’d spent the last thirty minutes thinking only of them.
They consumed my mind, and it felt like it’d only just started.
Stepping out of the car, I walked inside my house.