Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
It’s possibly his default, and considering his categorical refusal of being gay, he’ll never start something with another dude, hence the girl.
He can try with a thousand girls, but he’ll never get over what we have.
“Anytime.” He ruffles her hair—why the fuck is he touching her hair? “I’m the big, bad wolf everyone is scared of. Woo. Stay away if you don’t have a death wish and a need for a few broken face bones.”
She looks up at him with a kind of wonder, and I’m seconds away from ripping her eyeballs from their sockets. “Are you guys all this violent?”
“Sometimes? I’m still the prettiest, though.”
She smiles, and he grins. “There. Made you smile.”
Her expression brightens even more.
Why the fuck would he want to make her smile?
I tap my thumb against my middle finger, considering all the options to make this nuisance disappear, but then Preston speaks again, dimples on full display for the fucking ginger.
He doesn’t even smile like that at me.
“What did you think of my game tonight?” he asks.
“You were great.”
“More passion, Vee. I know you only came to watch Jude, but give more importance to my godly energy on the ice.”
Vee. He calls her Vee.
Veronica? Vanessa? Doesn’t matter—the name would still look ugly on her fucking tombstone.
“Are you one of those girls who gets blind to everyone but their boyfriend?” he asks.
“Jude’s not my boyfriend.”
“Oh? Then what is he?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.”
“Want me to ask on your behalf? Tell him to fuck off while I’m at it?”
“You don’t have to…”
“Well, fuck me all the way to Sunday. You like him that much?”
“I d-do not.”
So she’s Jude’s girl.
In that case, why the fuck is he now hitting her shoulder with his? “Is that why you look pretty tonight? Because you totally don’t like him and didn’t come to the game and club for him?”
Pretty. He called her pretty.
Not that I’m petty or anything, but he’s never called me pretty.
“Just…” She pushes at his arm. “Stop teasing me.”
He laughs, and that fire ignites deeper.
Kill her. Erase the problem from his surroundings forever.
“No clue what you see in the man,” he muses. “He barely knows how to talk to a girl. He’s so closed off, he gives me a bad name.”
“Were you also close with his previous girlfriends?”
“What girlfriends? He’s never had one of those. Don’t get me wrong, he’s my best friend, but he’s too brutish. If he gives you trouble, let me know.”
“What will you do? Punch him for me?”
“Hell yeah. I’ll be punched back ten times worse, but I’ll survive. It’ll be worth it for your beautiful smile.”
That’s it.
I stalk from my hiding spot, trying as hard as hell to remain composed as I say in a low voice, “What would be worth it for her beautiful smile?”
The girl pauses, but Preston…Preston does the exact opposite.
His smile that he was flashing to someone other than me disappears and he snarls.
I let my lips curl in a smirk as I size this Vee up. What’s the best way to make her vanish? Preferably this instant.
“Go ahead.” I stare at her, my voice emotionless. “Show me the beautiful smile so I can decide what’s worth it or if it’s worth anything at all.”
“The fuck are you doing here?” Preston growls, losing his control bit by fucking bit.
“Aw. Why so cold?” I tilt my head in his direction. “Came to celebrate your win. Aren’t I supportive?”
“You—” Preston cuts himself off, then forces a smile so fake, it pisses me off. “Wrong timing. As you can see, I’m busy with Vee.”
“Vee.” I slowly cock my head in her direction. “Why don’t you smile for me, Vee? I’m trying to figure out if Armstrong has a fucking death wish on this fine night.”
“Leave her the fuck alone.” Preston’s fist connects with my chest. “And you’re the one who seems to have a goddamn death wish, Osborn.”
Just as he’s about to remove his hand, I drape my palm over it, relishing the small shiver that crawls on his skin. “My oh my. Are you angry, my prince?”
Preston shoves me away and holds her by the shoulders, painting a grin on his lips. “Let’s go inside, Vee. Some fly is polluting my air with its constant buzzing.”
“I haven’t finished talking. Also, this needs to go.” I snatch Preston’s wrist from her shoulder and twist it in the opposite direction.
Preston releases himself and kicks me in the stomach.
“Motherfucking bitch! You just never know when to back the fuck off.” Preston kicks me again and again, but hey, I’m making him lose control in his beloved public.
In front of not-my-replacement.
Laughter rips out of me as he keeps kicking me.
Breaking apart for me.
Then, all of a sudden, he releases a long breath. “You got your five minutes of attention. Now, shoo and stop disturbing us.”