Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“There’s enough of them,” a woman said dryly.
“He’ll be running through here with a pack of them in no time,” Heather said, squeezing my hand. “Okay, I know you know some of these people, but I’ll introduce everyone anyway. That’s Trix on the couch, then Lily, Brenna, Molly and Rose you already remember, of course, and Kara.”
“Hey,” I said, awkwardly waving.
“Welcome, honey,” Brenna said kindly. “Don’t worry, you’ll keep us all straight eventually.”
“Hey you works too,” Lily joked.
“Emilia,” a voice boomed behind me. I didn’t have time to turn before strong arms picked wrapped around my waist and lifted me off my feet.
“Rumi,” Heather said in exasperation as Rumi carried me away. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
“She’s my friend,” he argued, not even pausing. “She doesn’t wanna hang with a bunch of girls.”
I snorted as he continued to carry me toward the front door.
“You’re welcome,” he said, dropping me to my feet as I reached it. He didn’t let me go, his arm heavy on my shoulders as we walked outside.
“For what?” I asked dryly. “Your mom had just introduced me to everyone.”
“Those are the nosiest women on the face of the planet,” he said, dragging me toward a picnic table. “I saved you.”
“If you say so.” I scanned the yard for Michael and found him talking with a group of men over by the barbecues.
“Emmy Lou,” Rumi said, pulling my attention back. “This is Nova—”
“We’ve met,” Nova said with a smile. My stomach lurched with guilt even as I smiled back.
“Gray and Olive,” Rumi continued. “Charlie, you must know, since you’re wearing her jacket.”
The speed at which my face flamed a deep red only increased my embarrassment.
“You’re an ass,” Charlie said, rolling her eyes. “Jesus, Rumi.”
“Huh,” Rumi joked, throwing his leg over the bench so he could sit down. “Mom just said the same thing.”
“It looks better on you than it ever did on me,” Charlie said generously. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Nice to meet you Olive and Gray.”
“Hey,” Gray returned, lighting a cigarette.
“You too,” Olive said with a grin. “and Don’t worry, clothes get passed around like crazy around here. It’s no big deal.”
“Barely anyone wants my shit, though,” Charlie said with a laugh.
“That’s because it won’t fit any of us,” Nova pointed out. She looked at me. “You’re lucky. Charlie always has the best stuff and none of us can fit our asses into it.”
“It’s not the ass you have to worry about,” Olive argued. “Everything is too short.”
“Can we stop talking about clothes?” Rumi asked, scooting over so I could sit next to him.
“You brought it up, Einstein,” I said, elbowing him in the side.
“The only reason you even recognized that coat is because you’re the one that dropped a lit joint on the sleeve and left that mark,” Charlie said, pointing at my arm.
I hadn’t even noticed the small hole with blackened edges on the shoulder.
“Guilty.” Rumi stretched his arms above his head, and tattoos peeked from the edges of his sleeves. “Shouldn’t have have bumped into me.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “Where’s Rhett?” she asked me.
“Casper took him to meet all the kids,” I said, curling my fingers together in my lap. I couldn’t see him anywhere outside, so he must’ve still been in the building. I knew that there were at least twenty adults keeping an eye on the pack of kids but it still felt weird not to know exactly where he was and what he was doing.
“Oh, cool,” Charlie said, nodding. “My pop will make sure he’s good before he leaves him to it. Don’t worry, he’ll fit right in.”
I nodded, my eyes unintentionally straying back to where Michael was standing. I hadn’t really had time to look at him properly before we’d left the house, and it probably wasn’t the most intelligent idea to let my eyes roam over him in a crowd full of people, but I didn’t let that stop me. He was wearing jeans that hung low on his hips but were somehow still tight enough to show off his muscular ass and thighs, and a dark gray hoodie that he’d pushed up his forearms. I wasn’t sure why that part of his body made my mouth water the way it did, but I wasn’t sad about it. Something about the muscles there, tapering into thick wrists and big hands… yeah, I needed to think of something else. On top of his hoodie was the leather vest that he never left the house without.
“That’s my brother,” Rumi said, jabbing me in the side. “Could you not?”
“What?” I snapped, looking back at the table.
“It’s like ten degrees warmer out here,” Charlie joked, pulling at the neck of her sweater. “Damn.”
“So,” Olive teased. “Living together must be going pretty well.”
“I don’t wanna be a part of this conversation,” Charlie said, getting up from the table. “Call me and we’ll figure out some shifts for you.”