Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
I glared at him. “Don’t be an ass.”
“Did I miss something? Why is that a bad thing?” Madelyn asked.
“It’s not,” I said, dragging a hand through my hair. “It’s just… there’s a new cheerleader who just made the squad and she’s kind of a pain in my ass.”
That was one way to put it. How else did I explain that she both intrigued me and infuriated me, all within the first hour of knowing she existed?
“How have you already met her?” Kyle asked.
“I volunteered to be there on finals day, when the squad was selected. I don’t know. I was bored,” I said instantly, knowing Kyle would ask why. “Plus, you know how Miss Woodrow can be. It was more of a voluntold than anything.”
Kyle nodded, knowing the truth in that statement.
“Anyway, this cheerleader is just… she’s trouble. One of those girls who learns the rules only so she can figure out how to break them.”
“I like her already,” Madelyn mused.
“I have a feeling you like her, too,” Kyle added. “Which is why you’re all weird about the event.”
“I’m not weird about it,” I defended, standing and tucking my phone away. I regretted saying anything about it — because now, I had yet another teammate to add to the list of people giving me shit right now. “I’m going. And I don’t like her. I’m annoyed by her.”
“I think you could use someone to ruffle your feathers a bit,” Kyle said. “Someone to get you off your yoga mat and out causing a ruckus.”
“Did you just say ruckus?” I asked.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“There’s nothing more to talk about,” I said, and I walked over to clap hands with Kyle before nodding at Madelyn. “I gotta run, but please don’t hesitate to call if you want me to get Sebastian out of the house or take him for a night or two. He’s always welcome at mine.”
“You’re the best,” Mads said. “Thank you for today.”
“Can’t wait to hear about the flag football event,” Kyle chimed in with a grin.
I flipped him off, and then I left.
And I definitely did not think about the fact that I’d be seeing Emily Huxley again in just two short weeks as I drove home.
Emily
“Oh, my God! This is the best day of my life!”
Darcy Meyers squealed those words loud enough to nearly be heard over the pulsing bass and the roar of the crowd around us. The drag brunch venue was packed wall to wall, every table crammed with glittering cocktails and half-eaten stacks of pancakes, the air thick with the scent of syrup, citrus, and bacon. We’d snagged a small round table just a few feet from the stage — close enough that when the queens performed, it felt like they were dancing for us.
Darcy had officially accepted my roommate proposal, and since then, Marcus and I had been delighting in showing her all Seattle had to offer before our season really swung into full gear.
Darcy was an adorable little thing — five foot two and tan with bleached-blonde hair that fell down to the middle of her back in soft, straight strands. A twenty-two-year-old from South Dakota, she had lived a pretty sheltered life up to this point.
And then Marcus and I entered the picture.
Marcus smirked from beside me, tilting his mimosa to his lips. “See? Drag brunch is magic.”
“It’s incredible,” Darcy said with reverence, her eyes as wide as coasters.
The lights shifted in washes of pink and gold, catching on sequins and rhinestones as the current performer — Ivana Adore — spun and twirled beneath them, the DJ shouting her name over the speakers while the crowd whooped and whistled.
“I have never seen anyone move like this,” Darcy exclaimed.
Marcus grimaced a bit at that. “You poor thing.”
“You act like she’s a feral cat with her tail missing,” I teased.
“I mean, are they that far off?”
“Do you think she could teach me how to twerk?” Darcy asked, her eyes still filled with stars.
“Twerk what, exactly?” Marcus teased affectionately. “Love you, babe, but that ass is as flat as the pancakes this place serves.”
“Hey!” Darcy laughed, swatting his arm before she stood up and offered her cute little ass for us to assess. “It’s at least a fluffy pancake. Maybe even a waffle.”
“Come to the gym with me,” I said. “Some hip thrusts and split squats will get you firmly in the scone category.”
“Only if you seriously promise to teach me how to shake this ass once you help me build it.”
“And you teach us how you do five backflips in a row without breaking a sweat,” I said, pointing at her.
“Deal!”
Darcy plopped back down into her chair with an excited clap just as Ivana Adore leapt up and held fast to the rafters above us, dazzling the crowd with magnificent body waves and fan kicks. She waited for the beat drop and promptly let go, falling all the way to the floor and landing in a perfect split.