Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“I thought you’d like it.”
And I do. The feeling of peace reminds me of times when my life wasn’t so hectic. When there weren’t a million voices in my head. When I wasn’t drowning in sadness and self-doubt, when once upon a time—Shit!
I yelp as a frozen ball of snow smacks against my face. I whip around to Easton. “What the hell!”
“I’m getting real sick of seeing you with that lip tucked between your teeth, Baker.”
Oh, that fucker. “Oh yeah? I’m getting sick,” I bend down, scooping a ball of snow into a weapon, and I stand, “of your stupid mouth!” I aim and fire, smacking him in the chest.
“Is that all you got?” he says, taunting me.
“Oh, there’s more where that came from.” I bend to scoop another snowball when Easton tackles me and we both fall into the snow.
“What you gonna do now, Cal?” He looks down at me, waiting. “What’s your next move?”
“Probably knee you in the balls.”
My eyes fall to his mouth, and his lips form into the mischievous smile I’m a sucker for.
“Sounds like a good time. But right now, I’m gonna kiss you.” He says it like he’s warning me. Giving me an out. When I don’t speak, he lowers his lips to mine. They’re cold yet soft, and he kisses me gently as if he’s worried I’ll break. The thing is, there’s a chance I will.
Forgotten is the snow around us. How fucked up our situation is. Or what lies ahead once we’re rescued. The only thing that matters is him kissing me right now.
I can’t tell you how much time has passed. It could be years or seconds, but it’s not long enough when he slowly pulls away.
“Glad to see my balls are still intact.”
“You’re still young. I’d hate to ruin you for any other woman.”
“When you gonna learn, Baker? There’s only one woman for me. Always has been.” He jumps off me and sticks his hand out. “Let’s go.”
I prefer to lay here and replay what he just said over and over because what the fuck?
“I think I see a bear—”
“I’m up!” I shoot up, grabbing his hand and letting him pull me to my feet. Then I push him. “Seriously, let’s go. Enough nature for me.”
I want to punch him in his throat for laughing, but at the same time, bottle it up and save that beautiful sound forever. I memorize the way he feels wrapped around me on the drive home. When we get back to the house, it’s imperative I figure out how to make SOS smoke signals because I need to get the hell out of here before I fall too far back into a rhythm of the way we used to be.
Chapter ten
Callie
“How could he do this to me, Russ?” I let out another sob.
“I don’t know, Callie. He didn’t appreciate what he had. I swear I could kick his ass for this.”
“You should, and then kick it again,” I cry.
“I hate to see you like this, but you had to know. I love you too, and I couldn’t take it watching what he was doing.”
“I don’t understand. What did I do wrong? Why didn’t I see the signs? Is this the first time? Has he been doing this the whole time we’ve been together?” I grab my stomach as bile travels up my throat.
“I don’t know, Cal. But what I do know is you deserve better. Fuck him.”
“I never wanna see him or talk to him again.”
“Good. You shouldn’t. I’m always here for you. For anything.”
I stare up at Russ through my tears. “Thank you. Thank you for always being such a good friend to me. I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through this without you.” I barely finish my sentence because he leans forward, smashing his lips over mine.
***
Dinner was always one of my favorite times with Easton. Bedtime was number one on my list for obvious reasons, but watching him in the kitchen was so sexy. And it wasn’t him holding a spatula or flipping a burger. It was because he could cook.
“I’d offer to help you, but you know the last time I tried—”
“Never seen someone set a stove on fire boiling water.”
“I told you I wasn’t a cook.”
“Speaking of cooking. Who’s in charge of feeding you? You look like you’ve missed one too many meals.”
I look down at myself and back at him. “What’s wrong with how I look?”
“You’re too skinny. You’re not eatin’.”
I grab my drink and stand to walk over to the window. “I eat plenty. I’m just limited in what I can make.” Mainly ramen, microwave meals, and candy bars.
“I know your diet. You need to eat more.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I stick my tongue out at him and look out the window. “It’s crazy how clearly you can see the stars at night. Definitely don’t get this view in the city.” I gaze at the stars, lost in the night sky. “I’d probably take up astrology if I got to see this every night.”