Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
She dabs at her eyes and smiles. “Of course, my only friend would be someone I shouldn’t be friends with. At least I’m eighteen now. That makes it a little less dramatic.”
I’m grateful too.
I’m also a little sick in the head that her age never crossed my mind until she brought it up in this conversation. All those fantasies over this past weekend while I jerked off… I’m a fucking monster.
“We can be friends,” I assure her. “What happens in Greenhouse Club stays in Greenhouse Club.”
She giggles. “Is that a Fight Club reference? You’re such a dorky old man.”
“Thirty-seven isn’t that old.”
There it is. Out in the open. She’s eighteen and I’m old as fuck. No more pretending our age gap doesn’t exist. I also can’t ignore the desire to be close to her, hanging on every word that tumbles out of her pouty lips.
“Old enough to be my dad,” she teases.
When I gape at her, horrified, she cackles with laughter. Soon, I’m laughing too. She’s right. Sassy is her middle name. I’m happy to see this side of her. For the past week since I’ve known her, she’s been so sad and withdrawn. A victim.
Like you?
It hurts thinking of myself as a victim in Mary Ellen’s cruelty, but it’s true. And, until starting at Brown High, I’d been withdrawn. Lonely as hell, too.
“I’m sorry your dad didn’t believe you,” I say, bringing a serious note back to our conversation. “That pisses me off if we’re being honest here.”
She shrugs. “Dad means well. He’s a good father.”
I’m not sure if I agree with that statement.
“I know how it feels to be dismissed,” I admit. “My ex-wife treated me like my thoughts and concerns and problems didn’t matter. Eventually, I started to believe that.”
Her eyes water again but tears don’t fall this time. “Thank you. For believing me. My brother Cason was the only one.”
We fall into an easy routine as we prep containers for class tomorrow. Then, we make a list of all that needs to be done for the events planned for Greenhouse Club. When we finish up and pack up for the day, I have a hard time saying goodbye. Like a lost puppy, I follow her all the way back to her car.
After she sets her stuff inside the vehicle and gets the AC blasting, she turns to face me. There’s a smudge of dirt on her face. I reach forward and gently swipe it away, allowing my thumb to stroke softly and slowly over her flesh. Her eyes flutter closed and her lips part.
God, I want to kiss her.
Thank fuck I don’t, though.
She needs a friend. Not another person trying to exploit her.
It’s not exploiting her if you truly have feelings for her and she feels the same way…
I clear my throat and nod my head at her car. “See you tomorrow, Addison.”
“Bye, Theo. Thanks for today. It means more than you know.”
“…like you have an admirer.”
I nearly drop the bar full of weights. Thankfully, Everett guides the bar back to its resting place instead of on my face.
“What?” I ask as I sit up, swiping my towel over my face.
“Just an observation. That girl stares at you a lot.”
I bristle at Everett’s words. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
He snorts. “Listen. I’m not one to insert myself into another person’s business, but I’m also not blind. That new girl, Monahan, always has her eyes on you whenever you two are in the same vicinity.”
Refusing to meet his gaze for fear of giving my thoughts away, I motion for the bench. “Your turn. I’ll spot you. Where is Adam today anyway?”
“Wife is pregnant. Doctor’s appointment. Just us today.”
The mention of a pregnant wife makes me think of my ex. Mary Ellen is relentless. She keeps calling over and fucking over again. I ignore every call.
“Just be careful,” Everett warns as he easily lifts the weights I was just struggling with. “I’ve heard some things going around about her. Don’t want you getting yourself mixed up in more drama. I know you’re evading it with your ex-wife.”
Though I know his words are true and caring in nature, I can’t help but fixate on the rumor part.
“You know better than to believe these kids around here. They gossip,” I grumble. “Most of them are just dicks.”
He barks out a laugh and then hisses as he pushes through a few more reps. Once he replaces the bar where it goes, he sits up and shakes his head. “No argument there. I man the detention room, remember? I know all the dicks at this school.” He rises to his feet and then turns to look at me. “I also know Addison Monahan didn’t leave her cushy private school to come to Brown High her senior year just for the fun of it. There may be some truth in those rumors, and if they are, I worry for you.”