Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
I know her behavior and our relationship isn’t normal, but it’s all I know. It’s all she does too. Imagine growing up with addicted parents, being on your own since fourteen and pregnant at fifteen. She hasn’t had it easy.
Mom sniffles and nods. “Okay. Sorry.”
I hug her. “It’s fine.” I hate that I almost tell Rory I can’t go, that the guilt is mounting inside me over the fact that I’m leaving. I’m twenty-two years old. She can’t be my whole fucking life.
“Ollie is here,” Rory says. I get off the couch and pull my bag over my shoulder. Rory grabs my guitar. “Thank you, Kat. I want him, but I won’t take him away from you.”
It’s one thing to hear Rory say I want you when he’s speaking to me but something else entirely to hear him tell my mom that. Who does that anyway? Who says I want him to someone’s parent? But it’s not even one of the most outrageous things Rory has said, and I like it…being wanted by him.
She nods, and as Rory walks out, I tell her I’m leaving the car keys for her. “Don’t do anything to get us in trouble…please.”
“I won’t. I’m not a child.”
No, she’s not, but she often acts like it.
I head out after Rory and see a BMW in the driveway. Rory puts my guitar in the trunk, then opens the back door. I frown as he signals for me to get in.
“Are you opening the door for me?”
“Do your eyes suddenly not work? Get in the fucking car, Shai. I’m annoyed.”
Not at me, though. I know exactly whom he’s pissed at.
I climb in, and he closes the door before getting into the front seat. Ollie looks back and forth between us, his gaze eventually landing on Rory. “I thought I was just picking you up.” He throws me an apologetic look.
I shrug because I get it.
“You said you wanted to invite him over,” Rory grumbles.
“Yeah, but…does Tiernan know?”
“This won’t come down on you.”
“I’m not worried about me,” Ollie argues.
“Wait, are you really gonna get in trouble for this?” I ask.
“It’s fine,” Rory tells me. “I want you, and you’re coming.”
Ollie smiles, this bright, wide…incongruous smile. “Okay…” he says, “then it’ll have to be fine.”
“Exactly.”
He starts the car and goes down the driveway, one hand shooting out and playfully swatting Rory’s arm.
“Hey, what was that for? You’re supposed to be the sweet one.” Rory grins at him, and something twists in my gut. It’s not jealousy…exactly. I don’t care that he smiles at Ollie that way. I just…fuck, I think I want Rory to smile at me that way too.
“Why didn’t you go to school this morning?” Ollie scolds.
“I was tired from yesterday! We did…stuff in Boston, and then Shai kept me up all night.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. If I knew you had school, I could have set an alarm.” But I also don’t really get why he has to go to classes. “Mafia heirs go to college? Don’t you have like, a lot of money and a built-in career?”
“That’s what I’m saying!” Rory throws his hands up.
“He should go because education is important, and there’s nothing wrong with a backup plan or accomplishing a goal that has nothing to do with—wait, he knows about the mini mob?”
A laugh tumbles from my mouth. “You’re called the mini mob?”
“No, we fucking aren’t. Only Ollie calls us that. If you say it, I’ll cut out your tongue.” I roll my eyes, but Rory continues, telling Ollie, “Didn’t Cil make it obvious we’re not quite like everyone else when he pissed all over your leg at the Pizza Palace?”
Ollie blushes. “He didn’t pee on my leg.”
“Shai doesn’t know anything that everyone doesn’t know.”
“Fine. Back to the school discussion. I think you’ll feel really good about yourself if you get your degree, Rory. I know you don’t think so, but you can do it, and I want you to see you can do it.”
Rory looks over his shoulder at me. “He’s too sweet for us.”
“Ugh. It has nothing to do with being sweet. I just care about you.”
Rory sighs. “I know.”
And it’s clear he does, that both of them do. A pang of longing lands in my chest.
“What about you?” Ollie pushes his glasses up his nose. “What are your plans for the future?”
“Um…we’re supposed to have those?” I ask, making Rory laugh.
“See why he’s my pet?”
“I do. Guess I’ll have to straighten him out too.”
“There’s no straightening me out,” I joke. “Gay as they come.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Well, when it comes to futures, I don’t have one. I didn’t even graduate high school.”
His eyes meet mine in the rearview, sorrow in them. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t bother me.” Though it kinda does.