Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Mmmhmm.”
Really? A minivan? I scrunch up my nose as I end the call. I guess it’s better than Ubering everywhere, but still. Slipping my phone back into my pocket, the cool floor amongst my bare feet is refreshing than the smoldering concrete outside. Heading into the living room, I see Paige sitting on the edge of the couch with her phone in her hand and the charging cord strung across the room in the wall plug.
“Miss any calls from your boyfriend?” I tease, earning me a scoff. I’ve never heard Paige talk about boys. Well, beside some guy from BTS.
“I don’t know any guys here. Remember we upped and moved? I’m the new kid.” Her voice takes on an edge of sarcasm, but anything revolving around school has made her testy since I told her we were moving. I mean, she had a couple friends but no one super close. Maybe she’ll get a shot at that kind of friendship here.
Walking past her, I pat the top of her head and go to put the dishes in the dishwasher. An hour later, sitting on the couch next to Paige, the familiar sound of Heston’s truck has butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I stand up with a little too much excitement, earning a crooked eye from Paige.
“Really? He’s coming over again?” She raises her left brow, sounding angry.
“Yeah, why? Do you not like him?”
Dropping her phone in her lap, she finally focuses on me.
“I mean, he’s nice. Are you dating him?” I feel like that’s a trick question. We have been on a date, but I wouldn’t say we’re together, but I don’t know what makes a couple have that official status.
“I guess so.” I shrug.
Picking up her phone, her focus back on TikTok, she sighs in a way that conveys she’s not sure about me dating. This would be new for her. Hell, it’s new to me.
The doorbell rings, and I’m there in seconds. Opening the door, Heston stands in blue jeans snug on his backside, and a black simple Hanes shirt that clings to his chest. His eyes light up when he sees me and I hug him hard. I should take it down a notch. I’m acting like we’ve been together for months. But I can’t help it, having someone who wants to be with me and touch me is foreign. His smell alone causes me to involuntarily dig my nose in the crook of his neck and inhale.
“Damn I missed you,” he whispers into the side of my head. Maybe I’m not being clingy. He’s as excited to be here as I am to have him. If a neighbor happened to look through their window right now, you would think we were a thing for a while now.
“Me too,” I finally reply, forcing myself to take a step back and slip my hands in my back pockets to keep from touching him. He looks around me and sees Paige.
“Hey, you.” He gives a wave and smile.
“Hey, YOU,” she responds, a little smirk at the corner of her mouth. She likes him which makes me happier about being with him. We all still before deafening silence falls between us, making me feel awkward.
“So, did you have anything in mind to do today?” I ask, gaining his attention and receiving a smoldering look.
“Well, we could finish what we started yesterday.” He grips my waist with one hand and pulls me closer. Goosebumps rise along my arms, remembering how amazing last night was.
“Ew!” Paige interrupts. I remind myself we have an audience and that this is new for her, so I take a step back. “Or you could go get some flowers for the yard,” Paige interjects, now standing behind us to head upstairs. Cam and I weren’t very intimate the last few years we were together. We met at such a young age that by the time we were married, things started to become cold. Our flame slowly burned out and we did nothing to try and rekindle that spark. The only feeling I got from him touching me in the end were butterflies of fear. There wasn’t much to love near the end.
Heston steps back outside and looks at the yard. Crossing his arms, he glances across the street, taking in Tenly’s amazing yard. She probably had someone do it for her.
“Everyone has flowers that match their front door. See?” I point to Flynn and Owen’s door. But then the house at the end of the block catches my attention. It’s empty and darker than the other houses on the block and puts off an eerie vibe. I wonder why a family hasn’t moved in and made it a home? Added some pretty flowers, and painted it something more inviting.
“Hmm, they do match. That’s weird.” He looks over his shoulder at my house. “You have a black door.” His nose scrunches.