Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Tears flow freely from his eyes, and there’s relief in seeing them. I prefer this to when he feels like he has to be strong or tough.
I kiss his cheek, his warm tears pushing up against my flesh.
As I pull away, he turns to me, really looking at me for the first time since we came out here. “If anything happens to me tonight, promise me you’ll meet him. He’s a great guy. I think you’d really like him.”
And now he’s got the waterworks going for me.
“Luke—”
“Please just say you will. I want you guys to meet.”
Again, I’m tempted to tell him nothing will fucking happen and that he shouldn’t think like that. But that won’t do any good. Not now.
I press my lips together, stifling words I know won’t help. “Of course I will. And when things turn out all right, maybe you can invite him to come with you to Thanksgiving, to meet my mom.”
Despite how forlorn he looks, a gentle smile tugs at his lips. “I’d like that.”
There’s a light in his eyes—it’s the first time since the vision we shared that I see hope in them. I take his hand, interlocking our fingers, gripping gently. He grips back.
“Thanks for listening to me…boyfriend,” he says, stressing the word in a way that gets my pulse racing with excitement.
“That’s what a boyfriend’s for,” I assure him.
He chuckles, and I lean in to take another kiss.
He closes his eyes as he’s about to receive me, when an unusual sound catches my attention—
I jump into action, readying my bat, before I realize it was just his phone vibrating.
“Fuck,” he mutters.
My heart’s racing, muscles tense, nerves on edge.
I settle back on the fallen tree as Luke checks the message. “Alexei’s asking if I’m coming to the party. I’ll say I’m not so he won’t look for me.” He replies to Alexei, puts his phone on silent, and returns it to the night-vision mode.
As the night wears on, more of the guests head out to the back.
Drinking. Loud laughter. Loud music.
Kids celebrating life, blissfully unaware of the danger awaiting them.
My anxiety’s already high enough, when I notice two guys heading out the gate, which clangs behind them.
“Looks like we have company,” I mutter. I’m hoping they’ll stay along the trail, where we intentionally didn’t set any traps, but they move toward Cody and Seth.
Fuckin’ A.
Luke and I tuck our bats down near the tree, and then I flash on my phone light and start toward them. As I near, I recognize Preston Wade and Finnegan Holmes, both members of Alpha Alpha Mu.
Preston flashes his signature charming-ass smile. “Hey, stud,” he says with a wink. “You’re missing a hell of a party.”
“I kind of got distracted out here,” I say, indicating Luke.
Preston glances between us, and I can tell the moment he understands what I’m suggesting.
“Oh, is this your plaything for the night?”
A low growl escapes my lips. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? Oh, really?” Preston says. “Now I’m intrigued. Word’s gotten around that you kept hanging with a guy. Breaking a lot of hearts, you know?”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“Uh…is your boyfriend okay?” Finnegan asks.
I turn to Luke.
He isn’t exactly being discreet as he continues searching around, holding his phone high, like he’s waiting for that monster to jump out and grab us at any moment.
“Sorry,” Luke says. “I was just thinking I might have forgotten something back at the dorms. I was debating with Brad if we should head back.”
“We’d offer to walk with you, but we’re heading the other way.” Preston and Finnegan start to go around me, but I block their path.
“Really? Where are you guys off to?”
Preston’s forehead creases. “Not really any of your business, is it, stud?” He pats my shoulder, then tries to get around me again.
“Where’s this attitude coming from?” I ask.
I notice Luke texting, I assume to get backup. I just need to buy some goddamn time.
“Back off,” Preston says. “It’s none of your business.”
“I’m only curious.”
“We’re gonna go to the pond and smoke some weed. Why? Did you want to come with?”
“Uh, no. We really want to hit the party, but you guys should stay. We can all do shots.”
Preston winces. “How about you meet us in there when we get back?”
He tries to get around me yet again, but I block him.
Preston sneers. “Brad, what is this weird-ass game you’re playing? Step the fuck out of our way and enjoy the party.”
“Why are you being such an ass tonight?”
“Me? I only want you to get off our fucking backs.” He gives me a shove.
God, this is gonna get real messy, real fast.
He and Finnegan start to head on, right toward one of our traps, so I throw myself at Preston, giving him a shove that sends him tumbling to the ground.
“The fuck, man?” Finnegan calls out, and as I turn to the yard, I notice some gazes shifting toward the woods.