Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
That was what we had to figure out.
And I was more than ready to do that.
Two hours into my graduation party, and I was ready to leave.
Unfortunately, I was the guest of honor.
Even though more people were congratulating Whitt and Eve on their engagement than paying attention to me. Not that I minded. I’d helped plan the proposal to get them together without Eve knowing a thing. But it was hard enough that West and Nora were getting married in a month, which was insane with his current schedule, without a second wedding to plan.
“You look ready to run,” my mom said, passing me her signature cannoli.
I took a bite of the dessert. “God, these are amazing. I miss your cooking so much. Move down here?”
She laughed. “Just as you leave? You know I need to stay in Seattle for Grandma and Grandpa.”
I did know. Aging parents was its own challenge.
“So,” she said with a raised eyebrow, “I saw your young man at graduation.”
“Oh, well, yeah.”
“Is that still happening?”
“Well, no. We haven’t been together, but…maybe we will be?” I offered with a hitch in my voice.
“While you’re at Harvard?”
I shrugged. “See how it goes.”
“I liked him,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Me too.”
She nudged me toward the side exit from Whitt’s backyard. “Go see him.”
“What? Mom, it’s my party.”
“And? You’re only half present. I know the look.”
I bit my lip. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll cover for you,” she insisted. “If anyone asks, I can gesture wildly about feminine hygiene products and blood.”
“Oh my God, Mom!”
She laughed and pushed me toward the door. “Go on. Get out of here.”
I kissed her cheek and did as she’d commanded. I texted Chase on the way out.
My mom did a jail break. Your place or mine?
Yours.
I smiled. He’d never been to my place. This year, Bailey and I had rented a house only a ten-minute walk from campus. It was tiny, and parking was shit, but it was worth it for the location.
When I got home, my eyes roamed the very small first floor, checking to make sure there wasn’t anything embarrassing still out. When I was satisfied, I did the same with my room. At least my bed was a very comfortable queen that I’d bought off of the previous owners. I had a feeling we were going to use it today.
Ten minutes later, a knock came on the door.
I opened it, and there he was. Still in the crisp navy-blue suit he’d worn to my graduation. But this time, he had a bouquet of black and wine-colored flowers in his grip. My mouth dropped at the display. My brothers and cousins had gotten me festive flowers that now filled my living room. Even my father had sent congratulatory pink roses—because he couldn’t know me less than to send pink roses.
But these...
These were so me. Dark and moody with a touch of Halloween and as black as my heart.
“Wow,” I breathed, taking them from him. “You did good.”
“They looked like you.”
“They’re amazing. I’ve never seen flowers like this.”
“I mean, they don’t do black hollyhock bouquets around here.”
My eyes lit up. “My favorite flower.”
“So purple that it’s almost black. Like a bruise.”
I was half ready to toss the entire bouquet and mount him properly for that answer. He must have seen it on my face because he smirked and drew me in for a kiss.
I melted into him. Mine. He was going to be mine. All mine. Finally. Finally fucking mine. That was the mantra my mind was playing over and over and over again as his tongue roved my mouth, and our lips moved against each other, and I felt all the tension evaporate from my body.
“I missed you,” I whispered.
He rested his forehead against mine. “So fucking much.”
“Let’s never do that again.”
“You’ve convinced me. Even when I tried to stay away from you, it was impossible.”
“I’m pretty irresistible,” I teased.
He slid his hands down and grasped my ass. “That you are.”
“I should show you the rest of the house.” I turned in place. “Here’s the whole thing.”
He snorted. “I haven’t seen your room yet.”
My head was fuzzy with need at those words. “Well, I could show you, but we have to talk first.”
“Do we?”
“Ye-yes,” I stammered out as he backed me toward a wall.
“Bailey going to be home soon?”
“She…she said she’d stay elsewhere tonight,” I murmured.
“Good.”
My back hit the wall with a thud. His eyes were molten with desire. My mouth went dry.
“But…”
“Need to fuck my girlfriend.”
He pushed his hands up the black minidress I’d worn to graduation, moving it over my hips.
“Girlfriend,” I whispered.
“That’s what you are, right?”
“Does that make you my boyfriend?”
The words tasted delicious on my tongue.
“Baby girl,” he said, his blue eyes so vibrant, “I will be whatever you want me to be. I waited all this time for you.”