Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
If we hadn’t been interrupted by our furbaby son Yoko, I would have taken the opportunity to kiss her both times. As it is, I’m dangerously considering taking the opportunity right now…
Focusing on her mouth, I turn my body gently toward her in the raging crowd, positioning my back hand at her hip and pulling her just a little closer.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful and her mouth is so perfect.
She glances from the crowd to me and falters, but before locking her gaze with mine, she jerks her head back to the field on an abrupt swing. “Wait!” she yells. “Is that…is that Lexi? In a cheerleader uniform?”
It takes me a minute to shake off my Julia-focused stupor, but Scottie’s laugh, point, and nod is the final shove I need to turn back to the field.
“Holy shit!” I exclaim, taking in Lexi’s signature blond hair, blue eyes, and the very out of place blue-and-gold cheerleading uniform. She and Boden move toward the center of the field, his clearly shell-shocked gaze locked on Lexi as he walks sideways.
I cup my hands around my mouth and howl, and Julia puts her fingers to her lips to whistle beside me.
Even Finn is vocal, screaming obscenities at the top of his lungs, his obsession over his twin brothers Jack and Travis exercising their right to mingle with the entire female population of our fine university fifteen rows down temporarily waning. I laugh and pull Julia in for a tight hug. The joy of watching this unfold spreads among the whole crowd, their understanding limited until we start explaining it to them.
“That’s fucking Lexi Winslow, dude!”
“Boden and Lexi Winslow!”
It gets louder and louder until it’s a roar, and Scottie starts a telephone chain of information that makes it to me via Julia.
“Scottie says, Lexi bought off McKenzie with a promised invite to Double C to make this happen. Lexi knew she needed to make a huge display to win Blake back.”
A small dagger tightens my chest at the mention of Double C, but I smooth my face to cover it quickly. I want to tell Julia what’s going on—that Lexi approached me about taking over as the president and chair this year—but there’s a strict policy of secrecy I’ve been sworn to.
Still, normally, there are no secrets between us. Normally, I’d tell her anyway.
I don’t know if it’s the sense of propriety stopping me this time or what, but…I have to believe she’ll understand when I can finally explain it all to her.
“Everyone, please rise and remove your hats to honor America with the playing of our national anthem.”
We’re all already on our feet, but the roar trickles to a hum of mumble as an auburn-haired girl steps up to the microphone in the center of the field and starts to sing.
Blake and Lexi face each other now, seemingly whispering to each other. I’d pay good money to have some spy equipment right now, but without it, I have to settle for making up their conversation in my head.
I whisper it aloud, just enough that Julia can hear.
“Oh Blake, my darling football star. I do love you so.”
“You, uh, do? Really? Me?”
“Of course. You are the computer to my keyboard and shit.”
Julia elbows me in the chest, but not before smiling and laughing. “I’m so happy for them.”
Lexi grabs both of Blake’s hands in hers, and Julia gasps, getting up on her toes and digging her fingernails into my arm. “Oh my God. I think they’re gonna kiss!”
The crowd starts to clap as the national anthem comes to a close, and just on cue, Boden pulls Lexi into his arms, lifts her off the ground, and plants a kiss right on her for all of us to see.
“Hell yes!” I cheer, and Julia jumps up and down beside me, slapping high fives with Finn and Scottie before turning back around to hang off me like a spider monkey, slapping me wildly to look up to the jumbotron. There they are, front and center—our girl Lexi and our boy Boden getting their happily ever after.
I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
And so fucking jealous I can’t see straight at the same time.
I’m happy for Blake, but I want that for me.
The girl. The moment. The dream.
I look over at Julia, take in her smiling face and every facet of her beauty. Her eyes, her hair, her mouth, her entire being.
I love this girl. So fucking much.
And I want to be with her more than I want to be able to breathe.
It’s motherfluffing time to make it happen.
No more fires or bugs or dramatic situations. I’m going to tell Julia how I feel.
I’m going to find the perfect moment to lay it all on the line.
I mean, I have to, before the line strangles me to death.
Tuesday, Sept 2nd
Ace
“Yoko, buddy, don’t jump,” I say, my voice gentle and my hands too full to correct him physically. “Mommy will be home soon, and we need to get this dinner done before she is so it’s a surprise.”