Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Me: Sorry for the past couple of weeks. Been kind of depressed. I didn’t intend on hurting you.
She replies back immediately.
Gemma: Want to talk about it?
Me: It was a lot of things. My family, getting pulled in by the cops, and then breaking up with my boyfriend.
Gemma: I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend. Do I know him? Tell me it wasn’t my brother. Ick. Dempsey is a manwhore and you’re better off not dating him.
I can’t help but grin. I’ve been an idiot for not texting her sooner. She’s obviously a good friend and deserves to be treated that way.
Me: Not Dempsey. Or Spencer. We got back together, though. He’s older than me. People wouldn’t approve. Did you get in trouble that night?
Gemma: Older? Do you call him Daddy?
Giggling, I tap out a few eye roll emojis, even if the thought does give me butterflies in my stomach. I might tease Callum about it later.
Me: Ha. No, perv. And you never answered my question.
Gemma: I stayed at Spencer’s. Dad knows some kids were involved but he assumed it was Dempsey. We never told him it was me too.
Me: I miss you.
Gemma: I miss you too. Want to come over this weekend to hang out?
Me: I have plans with my boyfriend, but maybe I could escape for a little while.
Gemma: Do I know him?
Me: I shouldn’t say.
Gemma: You know I won’t say anything to anyone!
Guilt twists in my gut. Of all people, Gemma wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt her brother. Maybe it’s safe to tell her. Eventually, people will find out, especially after the school year is over. If she finds out then, she’ll be hurt.
Me: You can’t tell a soul….for reasons.
Gemma: I’m intrigued. Is he married?
Me: No. But…you know him.
The dots move and stop.
Gemma: It’s not Spencer or Dempsey?
Gemma: Oh. My. God.
Me: What?
Gemma: Is he a teacher at our school?
Me: Yes.
Gemma: I knew it! I could tell something was off with the way he looked at you. You slut, you’re fucking my brother!
I can’t tell if she’s angry or shocked, so I chew on my bottom lip, wondering how I’ll reply. Luckily, she’s already texting again.
Gemma: He could get in serious trouble for this.
Me: I know. It’s why you can’t tell a soul.
Gemma: I can’t process this. This is craziness.
Me: I love him.
Gemma: It’s about time he found someone to love him. How do you put up with his grouchy attitude? If that’s some weird kind of kink…ewwww.
Me: Don’t kink shame me! LOL!
She then proceeds to send me GIF after GIF of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. It makes me laugh. Texting with Gemma certainly helps the time pass. I’m about to reply when I hear a thud at my bedroom door.
The nightstand is pushed in front of the door—a habit I never fail to do—and blocks Levi from entering. I jump to my feet, glowering at the door.
“Willa, let me in.”
His voice sends chills running down my spine.
“Leave me alone,” I bite out. “Leave or I’ll call the cops.”
He laughs. “I live here, stupid. What are they going to do?”
Though he’s right, I don’t feel any better. I dial Callum’s number, but he doesn’t answer. I’m in the middle of typing out a text when Levi kicks the door hard. I cry out in surprise, nearly dropping my phone.
“I just want to talk to you,” Levi growls. “Let me in or I’ll come through the window like your boyfriend does.”
My heart stutters to a stop inside my chest. He knows about Callum? Oh God. This is bad. This is really bad.
“It’s locked,” I lie. “And I don’t have a boyfriend.” Another lie.
Silence.
Panic swells up inside me. I stumble over my own feet as I race to the window. As soon as I reach it, a shadow appears. I wish it were Callum, but the terrible feeling in my gut tells me it’s not. Levi presses his forehead to the glass and his lips curl into a sinister grin.
“Let me in.” His fingers drum on the glass in a slow, taunting way that has every hair on my arms standing on end.
“N-No.” I try to keep my eye on Levi, who’s thankfully safely locked out, as I also text Callum.
Me: Please hurry. Levi’s trying to get into my room and he’s scaring me.
“Who are you texting?” Levi barks out. “Me and Mr. Park came to an agreement about you. He won’t be saving you.”
I snap my head up and gape at him. “What?”
His evil grin is back. “I know you fucked him at school today.”
Bile creeps up my throat. How could he possibly know this? And of all people to find out, why him? He’s the one person who can use it against me in the worst possible way. The only person who would want to.