Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“There has to be a way,” I muse.
I don’t just want to help her because I want her. She’s my friend and that shit is terrible. Kay and I will never get married if something doesn’t change.
I shiver at the thought. I couldn’t stomach being married to a version of my mama. Kay isn’t as bad, but was my mama the way she is now when my daddy married her? I doubt it.
I feel bad sometimes because I don’t think Daddy would still be with her if she didn’t have me and Cal. It’s not that he doesn’t love her. I’ve seen when he looks at her and the love is there.
I’ve also seen when she’s pissed him off and he looks like he wants to toss her overboard and tell everyone she slipped and there was nothing he could do. However, the days of wanting to toss her seem to have become more frequent than any.
I don’t want to live my life like that. I’ve been thinking a lot about all the things I do want. I’m starting to realize that while I love playing baseball, I’m not sure if I want to play in the majors.
I’ll do it for Cam, but if he doesn’t go, I don’t think I plan to try. I also don’t know if I ever want to get married. Not as soon as my Mama and Kay have planned for me.
I don’t know that I’ve experienced anything that I should have before jumping into all that. I’ve watched a hell of a lot of porn, but I’ve only ever been with one girl. Sure, I know what I like, but I don’t know if there are things I would like more or things I wouldn’t like at all.
At eighteen, I know I haven’t lived. I couldn’t imagine being married off to some stranger. Maribel is so strong for trying to deal with all of this on her own.
“Kay’s not a stranger, but aren’t you dealing with the same thing?” I mutter as I go to walk out of the bathroom.
When I step out, I freeze. My blood begins to boil. I don’t even think, I react.
My fists are flying before I can check myself. I start knocking motherfuckers out; I might ask questions later. What I’m not expecting is for my friend, who I think I’m protecting, to jump in.
Maribel
I can’t stop dancing as I cover the seat to be able to pee. I get it covered just in time. The conversation and laughter had been too good to interrupt to excuse myself to go to the restroom.
I was grateful when Cam said he had to go. I relieve myself and roll my eyes in my head as I do. God, this feels good.
I was going to burst if I didn’t go when I did. I smile as I go to finish my business. Cam is such a fun person. At first, I thought it was weird that his father got a box for just him and his brother.
I had reservations when he texted earlier, asking me to come along. However, not wanting to spend Christmas alone overrode all those thoughts. I’m glad it did.
Not thinking about all the other things going on in my life for the night has been good for me. I’ve laughed and smiled and felt joy just like you’re supposed to on the holidays. I wish my life was like this all the time.
When I step out of the bathroom, there are some guys in the box. I think nothing of it at first. Maybe Cam invited some of his other friends. That would make sense after that near kiss last night, or should I say early this morning.
“Hey, sugar. Don’t you look sweet,” one of the guys says.
I take a closer look at those guys, and I don’t think they’re friends of Cam’s at all. One is helping himself to the wings while another is sucking down beer like he’s just stepped out of the desert.
“I’m sorry, but were you invited in here?” I say as I look around at the four guys in our booth.
I’ve heard of box crashers in New York. I wouldn’t put it past folks here in Texas. People will people just about anywhere.
The guy scoffing down the wings looks me over. I glare back at him. However, it’s the one who spoke that moves to get right up in my face.
“Sure, we were. The Perrys told us to come right on in and have a bite. Didn’t know we were going to get a sweet thing like you too,” he purrs while one of the other guys goes to the door and locks it.
I remember Perry being printed outside the room when we arrived so it would be easy for them to know the name of the party renting this box tonight. I take a step back from the guy standing in front of me as I piece together what’s going on here. He reaches out and grabs me by the arm.