Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Fuck. See? I’m even shown up by my brother.”
“Well, Thomas is my best friend,” I laugh. “If he forgot my birthday, I’d never speak to him again.”
“We’re friends.”
“Yeah, but I we don’t talk a lot. Mattie is your best friend. You never forget his, even if he doesn’t like to celebrate his birthday.”
“True. He also hates being called Mattie. I think you’re the only one who can get away with it. Even Skylar calls him Breaker.”
I laugh, thinking of my younger sister. “Yeah, that’s because my sister kisses up to him. He’s wrapped around her finger, and she knows it.”
“I think he’s starting to realize it. Her last temper tantrum didn’t exactly go her way.”
“I heard,” I mutter, trying to conceal my joy at the fact. It’s not that I don’t love Skylar, I do. It’s just that she needs to stop relying on others to do everything for her.
“Okay, so what can I get for your birthday? There has to be something you haven’t received yet,” Dom says.
My heartbeat speeds up and my entire body flushes with a mixture of embarrassment and want. I know what I want. I’m just not sure I’m brave enough to ask for it. “Um …”
“Thea?”
The concern in his voice is my undoing. Dom has always been so sweet to me. Yet I know he only sees me as a younger sister. He thinks because that’s what I am to Mattie, that’s what I should be to him, too. That’s not what I want, though. Not from Dom …
“I …”
“What is it, Thea?” he asks, when I can’t manage to get the words out again. He brings his hand up, sliding a couple of fingers under my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“I want you to kiss me, Dom. I want you to be my first kiss.”
It takes so much courage to admit that, but I am sure that Dom feels something for me too. He is always so sweet, so caring. Sure, I know he and Gabby like each other. That has to be cooling down, though. I’ve seen her hanging around Thomas out in town, and she hasn’t been around the clubhouse in months. This is my opportunity. I might be a little younger than Dom, but I am old enough to kiss.
“Thea, I can’t do that.”
I blink as all my hopes and dreams come crashing around me, like ash from a house engulfed in flames.
“It’s okay, Dom. I want you to kiss me. No one has to know. I like you and I know you like me.”
“I do like you, Thea—”
“See, we can—”
“But not like that.”
It is only four words, but they stab through me like a dull butcher knife, leaving deep, jagged incisions to my heart in their wake.
“I have to go,” I whisper, not really looking at him, not looking anywhere. Pain and humiliation are mingling inside of me, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
“Thea, listen to me. I don’t feel that way about you. You’re like my kid sister.”
If words could kill, I’d be dead.
“I’m not, though. I’m not your sister. If you could give me a chance…”
“That can never happen. You’re just my kid sister. Thea, I’m in love with Gabby.”
“But I thought she and Thomas…”
“No, Gabby cares for Thomas like a brother. That’s all. It’s just, we both know that Thomas is in love with her. We have to be careful.”
I look at him like he’s crazy. I think he has to be. I can’t be the only one that knows about Gabby and Thomas. Can I???
“I’ve seen her kissing him.”
“Thea, I know you’re upset, but don’t tell lies. You’re old enough now to not be childish.”
“You … You think I’m childish?”
“Yes, and you’re definitely acting it now.”
“I’m not a child!” I argue loudly. I step away from him, my heart hurting, but my pride wounded in a way that I never expected.
“You’re sure as hell not an adult. Adults don’t tell lies about an innocent woman just because they can’t have what they want.”
“You solved that. There’s no way I’d have you now.”
“Thea, you’re not old enough to have—”
“One day, Dom, I want you to think back to this conversation. I want you to remember I’m the one that told you the truth, not your so-called innocent Gabby. Only, don’t try to tell me you’re sorry. I don’t want to hear it. You aren’t worth it.”
“Thea?” Mom asks.
“Sorry, I was remembering all the reasons I’m stupid for still being in love with someone who doesn’t know I’m alive.”
“Honey—”
“Let me go, Mom. The modeling agency wants me, and I need distance. Please?”
“Are you sure, Thea? This is a big decision. You’ll be so far away from your father and I…”
“I know, and I’ll miss you, but I need this. Since I hurt my leg, I’ve had issues with my body. I think this will help me get back to who I used to be. I know it will help me put Dominic West in my past.”