Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Is Dunc capable of that? He can tend to be on the bossy side. He’s also pointed out multiple times that he can be an asshole. The funny thing is for as much as he proclaims he is one, I can only recall being on the end of his assholeness once. He doesn’t look the part as he’s lying next to me.
I watch him for a minute, taking all of his features in. It’s something that I don’t often get to do because his eyes are constantly on me. I run my fingers through his short hair. His eyes fly open. When they lock on mine, a smile tugs at his lips. It’s not something he does often. It makes my heart flutter.
“Morning,” I whisper, suddenly feeling shy.
“Morning, beautiful.” He snuggles into me.
“I like when you're sweet.”
“I like when you touch me.” I go back to running my fingers through his hair. “When was I not sweet to you?”
“That day at school.”
He lifts his head. “When?”
“When you were coming out of the school and I was going in.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” He really does seem confused.
“It was the day your dad kidnapped my mom.” His brows pull together.
“You said something like you’re not interested in me and then dropped the f bomb.” It still stings even now, remembering his words.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about, but if I did say that I wasn’t talking to you because I’ve always been interested.” I can’t help but smile at that. “Shit. I remember. I thought it was Rose that said hi to me.” I drop my hand at the name. “What?” He grabs my hand.
“Sadie.” A knock sounds at my door before it pushes open. “How are you feeling?” Mom asks, flipping my light on. Her eyes widen. I want to pull the blanket over my head.
“Morning,” Dunc says, not the least bit embarrassed. He sits up.
“Morning,” my mom mutters back, obviously at a loss for words because she’s still in shock.
“How’s your arm, babe?” Dunc re-asks my mom’s question.
“Better.” I manage to get one word out.
“Are you up for school?”
“Yeah.”
“All right. I’ll see you downstairs.” She turns, closing the door behind her.
“Oh my God,” I groan.
“So I guess we don’t need to hide anymore.”
I let out a huff. “Mom won’t say anything.” I try to sit up. Dunc helps me. “But it’s more about school.” I hate to burst his bubble, but it’s the truth. School is my main concern. I don’t want the negative attention a relationship with Dunc will bring. I hate that I even have to worry about it.
“School? Why school?”
“Just cause.” I turn to sit on the side of the bed, giving him my back. It’s embarrassing to admit to the bullying I experience. I feel silly that I can’t stand up for myself. Even though I want to. My words always get stuck in my throat. Van says I just don’t have it in me to be cruel. I bet Dunc has never been bullied a day in his life. He’d never understand.
Dunc mutters a few curses before getting up from the bed.
“You agreed,” I remind him.
“Right,” he mutters, sounding pissed. Guilt weighs on me. I don’t want to upset anyone. I spend most of my life trying to make sure that I never do. It’s because I have a stupid fear that I know comes from my egg donor that I’m easy to discard if I cause too much trouble.
“I’m going to get ready.” I get up from the bed.
“You need help?” Dunc offers, coming over to me.
“I think I got it.”
“All right.” Dunc surprises me by dropping a kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you downstairs.” I nod, watching him go. I start to get ready. It takes me longer with my arm not being fully functioning in its sling.
“Hey.” My mom knocks on my door again.
“Yeah,” I call back. She opens the door, slipping into my room.
“So.” She leans up against the door.
“Nothing happened.”
“Yet. Nothing happened yet.”
“Mom.” I know my face is getting redder by the second.
“Hey, I think you forgot I got myself knocked up by Cooper. I was your age once.”
“Well, you put me on birth control a year ago, so I don’t foresee that happening,” I remind her.
“I know. I’m just checking in.” She walks over, taking my brush from me. “Let me get it.”
“Like I said. Nothing has happened. It’s new.”
“New as in it just happened?”
“New as in I agreed that maybe we could be something, but I don’t want to tell anyone yet.” Mom snorts a laugh. “What?”
“I bet he’s taking that real well.” She puts the brush down to braid my hair.
“It’s fine.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
“He’s intense,” I admit.
“You like that?” I nod. Yeah, I kind of do. It gives me reassurance that he’s really into me.