Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
From the preteen drama of accusing her of trying to replace our mom to acting out when our siblings came along because we felt we weren’t really paid attention to when shinier, newer kids were there.
She took our attitudes in stride, and honestly, I think I only acted that way because my big brother was. I remember June more than I remember my own mother, and until Zoe came along, I did see her as my mom. After that, I was a jealous little shithead that only got worse as I got older and more siblings came along.
“Were you close?” Kole asks.
And this is exactly why I don’t bring them up in passing. People want to talk about it instead of silently beg to move on.
I pick up my clothes from the floor. “As much as I’d love to talk about this, and I so do,” I say dryly, “I should get out of here.”
“Weren’t you going to shower?”
I was, but now I suddenly need to get out. “I’ll shower at home. Less chance of getting caught. How do I escape?” I shove my boxer briefs on.
Kole crosses the room, still only wearing a towel. “My window opens to the roof of the porch. It’s one floor. You can jump it. Just, you know, don’t break anything important.”
“Like my dick?”
“I was going to go with something more like your ankle or your leg. You know, something you wouldn’t have to explain to Dad by saying, ‘Yeah, I jumped off your roof, and now I can’t play the rest of the season.’”
“Can’t you distract them, and I’ll sneak out the front door?”
“You want to risk that?” Kole’s voice goes high-pitched.
Apparently being caught with me isn’t something he’s keen on either. “Okay. No.”
“It’s not that far to the ground. Maybe you can shimmy down one of the pillars.”
“Do I look like a shimmying kind of guy?”
“No, but you do look like someone who’s gotten themselves out of this type of situation before.” Kole’s having way too much fun with this.
“You’re going to film it, aren’t you?”
“I’m making a collage. Top ten walks of shame from my room.” He slaps my shoulder. “You could take out top spot, but it has to be impressive.”
“I’m starting to forget why I like you.”
“Because I’m your friend, I help you study, and I put you in really awkward situations like this one.”
“You’re the bestest friend ever.”
The telltale sound of footsteps on the stairs echoes up through the hallway, and we both freeze.
“Quick, go,” Kole hisses.
“I’m half-naked!” I shove my foot into my jeans and almost trip over.
“Kole! Your lunch is going cold,” Coach Hogan yells.
Fuck it. I grab the pile of clothes at my feet and practically dive through the window. The cold November air hits me, and I have to bite back a curse.
“Be right there, Dad.” Kole disappears into the bathroom, leaving me out here on the ledge by myself.
Okay, I can do this.
I peer over the edge of the patio roof. It’s not actually that big of a drop. With a deep breath, I throw my things to the ground, and they hit the snow with a soft thump.
This will be easy. Totally easy.
I’m not going to break my neck.
I move to the edge and sit, the cold-as-fuck roof probably giving me frostbite on my ass.
Oh God, I’m so going to face-plant.
Then I get an idea. Pull-ups are part of a hockey player’s gym routine. If I turn around, I can hold on to the roof gutter and lower myself as far as possible before letting go.
As I turn and make my way down slowly, I can’t help thinking as much as the sex with Kole is smoking hot, it might not be worth this much.
A flash of his body splayed out before me, his hole right there wanting me to fill it … okay, it’s worth it. Or, it will be. What we just did was amazing, but I can’t wait to be inside him properly. I’m going to fuck his—
The gutter snaps, and I fall to the ground. My feet hit first, and then my back. The snow breaks my fall, but I’m instantly frozen.
Fuck!
A quick check of my legs and feet reveals no pain or injury, so I scramble to collect my things and get the hell out of here.
I run across the street to my car, still only wearing my boxer briefs because to shove all my clothes on would mean standing out here where there’s more chance of being caught.
I beg the universe that Coach Hogan isn’t watching me from his front window.
As soon as I find my keys in my jeans pocket, I jump in the car and crank the heat while I shove all my belongings on the passenger seat beside me and get the hell out of here.