Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Worry for Rachel tightens its grip on my heart as I drive away from the motel. She’s been my best friend since our first day of elementary school. Besides my grandfather, whom I hardly get to see because he’s a grumpy recluse who doesn’t care about me at all, Rachel’s the only constant in my life.
Since moving to LA with her older brother, Easton, I’ve only seen her on the few occasions she’s come to visit me in Verona. Apart from seeing Easton on TV or in a movie, I haven’t laid eyes on him since they left.
God, it’s the first time I’m leaving Verona.
The realization suddenly hits, and it makes nerves spin in my stomach as I steer the truck onto the interstate. I glance in the rearview mirror at the only home I’ve ever known. My heart beats faster because I’m not just driving toward Rachel but away from a life that’s never been kind to me.
Reaching for my phone again, I quickly program Rachel’s address into Maps so I can keep an eye on where I need to go.
Looking at the directions, I notice the distance between Wisconsin and California is a twenty-eight-hour drive. That’s not including the time it will take to stop for gas.
My teeth tug at my bottom lip while I quickly do a calculation in my head. I should reach Rachel around lunchtime tomorrow if I don’t sleep and stop as little as possible.
Please, let me get to Beverly Hills in one piece without the truck breaking down.
After sending up the quick prayer, I settle in for the long drive. As I put one mile after another between Verona and me, I remember when I got a call from Rachel similar to the one I received today. I rushed over to the apartment she shared with Easton as if hellhounds were chasing me.
Barreling into Rachel’s bedroom, the words burst from me. “What’s wrong?”
Her face is blotchy with tears, and for a moment, I worry something’s happened to Easton. The last time I saw Rachel in such a state was the night we learned their parents died in a car accident.
Sobs make her body jerk as she cries, “I’m pregnant.”
Shock shuddering through me, I drop down beside her on the foot of the bed. “Oh God.” I wrap my arms tightly around her, and at a total loss for words, I comfort my friend.
After a few minutes, her voice is filled with fear as she admits, “I don’t know what to do.”
“We’ll figure out something.” I pull back a little, and using my thumbs, I wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Have you done more than one test? Are you sure?”
She nods and points at her dressing table. “I peed on three sticks.” Another sob bursts from her, then she whimpers, “They’re all positive.”
My mind races for the right thing to say. Not coming up with anything better, I mutter, “At least graduation is only two months away.”
“Easton is going to kill me,” she groans.
I shake my head. “He won’t.”
I’ve been in love with Easton since I discovered I had hormones, but he’s seven years older than us and hasn’t noticed me. It also doesn’t help that I’m painfully shy.
It’s been a constant battle to bury my feelings for him deep down so Rachel won’t notice.
“He won’t what?” Easton asks, suddenly appearing in the doorway and startling the ever-loving crap out of us.
My eyes widen, and for several seconds, Rachel and I just stare at him.
Every time I see him, it feels like an intense punch to my heart. The stubborn organ only beats for my best friend’s older brother and refuses to acknowledge any other man. With his dark-brown hair, stormy-gray eyes, and features that were clearly chiseled by angels who were in one heck of a good mood when they made him, Easton is the epitome of handsome.
His eyes flick between us as he steps into the bedroom and asks, “Why are you crying, Rach?”
She grips my hand as she shakes her head, a pleading expression tightening her features. “You tell him,” she whispers as she partially hides behind me.
Easton’s worried gaze locks with mine, and there’s a fluttering in my stomach while my heart beats faster and faster.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips, and I clear my throat. “Don’t get angry . . .”
He tilts his head, and when his eyebrows draw together in a frown, my insides spin with nerves.
“Rachel is pregnant,” I blurt out the news.
Shock flashes over his way-too-attractive face, and I quickly wrap an arm around Rachel.
His gaze flicks to his sister. “You’re what?”
“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I don’t know how it happened. We used protection.”
“Who?” Easton growls.
“Who what?”
“Who got you fucking pregnant?” he snaps, anger tightening the lines around his mouth.
Rachel shakes her head and presses her lips together, which has Easton turning his angry gaze to me.