Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
“Flip, shh,” I whisper. I don’t want to be the first one found.
“Talls?” He bangs his arm against something.
“Shh. Yeah.” I tap the rod with my nail. “You have to duck to get under this.” His silky hair brushes my fingers as he does.
The hangers tinkle loudly. He mutters more profanity.
The space was cramped with just me, but now it’s impossible to move without touching him. My stomach twists with fresh nerves and anticipation.
“Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to steal your spot.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You’re here now. Let’s just stay quiet.” I try to calm my breathing, but it sounds loud in my ears.
Tension sparks like a live wire between us as his fingers skim my arm. “You okay?”
I nod, then realize he can’t see the movement in the dark. “Yeah,” I breathe.
His fingers continue to drift up my arm, sending a hot shiver down my spine. They sweep over my shoulder and brush my neck. I don’t know what’s happening, but I don’t want it to stop.
He drops his head, and his cheek brushes mine until his lips are at my ear. I exhale a shuddery breath at the closeness and the contact.
His voice is a barely audible whisper, warm minty breath breaking across my skin. “Feels karmic to end up in here with you.”
“You can’t escape me today, can you?” I murmur.
“Or maybe you can’t escape me,” he counters.
He cups my cheek in his palm, the tension between us visceral.
“Maybe it’s me who keeps seeking you out,” he whispers. “Even though I shouldn’t.”
“I don’t mind being trapped in here with you,” I whisper.
“Fuck, Talls.” His voice is a pained whisper as his thumb sweeps along the edge of my jaw. “You’re breaking me down.”
I suck in a breath as my heart gallops and races. “I’m not trying to.”
“Not even with that bikini today?”
“That was an accident. I packed the wrong bottoms.”
He chuckles darkly, his lips brushing my hot cheek. “I believe you, your blush is your truth serum.”
His other hand finds mine and he laces our fingers. All I want is to feel his lips on mine.
I tip my chin up.
His warm, minty breath breaks across my mouth.
Will he kiss me?
Please kiss me.
“I’ve been trying to see you the way I used to.” His admission is full of the same longing that makes my chest ache. “But I can’t anymore.” He raises our clasped hands and presses mine against his cheek.
“How do you see me now?” My voice wavers with nerves and excitement.
“In ways I shouldn’t.” His lips touch the corner of my mouth. “Please, Talls, tell me not to do this.”
“But I don’t want to.” I hold my breath. Will he crack or run?
“Fuck, kitten.” His hot palm curves around the back of my neck. “Why can’t I stay away from you?” His lips hover over mine, and time suspends.
I skim the shell of his ear. “Maybe you’re not supposed to.”
His groan is pained, but before his lips touch mine, the closet door swings open. Flip shoves away from me as the robes part.
“Found you!” Connor’s gleeful grin drops as his eyes flit between us.
“Fuck.” Guilt laces the word and Flip’s expression as he pushes past Connor and disappears down the hall.
“I’m sorry, Tally,” Connor says, looking after him.
I shrug and smile, though it feels like my heart just took a right hook. “Curse of the coach’s daughter.”
CHAPTER 11
TALLY
I’ve replayed the almost kiss a thousand times over the past week and envisioned endless scenarios where it didn’t end with Flip guilt-riddled and me sad. I’m unsure what’s worse, knowing the attraction isn’t one-sided or that we’ll never be more than friends. And now I don’t even know if we can be that.
Flip left the following morning before anyone else woke up, and I haven’t heard from him since.
My final semester has started, and I’m throwing myself headfirst into coursework. I’m focused on dance, getting through the semester, and not fixating on how Flip almost kissed me, or the way my family is in shambles.
I have nearly daily phone calls with my sister, who vacillates between tears of anger and confusion. I hate that I’m relieved that I don’t have to manage her feelings for more than half an hour. Ties is coping by spending all his spare time with his robotics team.
The subway stops, pulling me back to the present. I exit the train and join the sea of people heading home from work. I haven’t seen my dad since Christmas, and he begged me to have dinner with him. I can’t get out from under this anger blanket if we don’t talk. I’m also worried about the team and Lexi and Hammer and Hemi, who work in the front office with him. It’s not my job to manage everything for everyone else, but I also don’t want to make the problem worse. So I’m on my way to the Terror office.