Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Fuck.
“I didn’t know,” I say quickly, and I’m met with pitiful glances.
Louis exhales. “I know that, but you drew attention to her disability. You can kiss your chance at her goodbye.”
Well, I don’t like that statement.
“No way. I didn’t know. She can’t fault me for that,” I demand, to which they both laugh.
“Bro, she’s a prideful one, that girl. She won’t take lightly to anyone making her look dumb, even if they didn’t know,” Louis says through his laughter.
“You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t kick you in the dick when she sees you,” Jennings snorts, and I remind myself to wear my cup when I attempt to talk to her.
“You two are fuckers,” I mutter, and they laugh, leaning into each other. I thought having a baby brother was a pain in the ass. I never expected for his partner to become one too.
I’m lost in my head when Louis leans over to pat my knee. “Just apologize.”
He’s right.
Long forgotten is the food in front of me as I think this over. It doesn’t matter if she’s dyslexic. I can record myself telling her things about me. I can send her voice chats, or we can get that app where it’s like a walkie-talkie if we can’t call each other. There are plenty of ways to communicate, and I’ll do them all.
For her, I’d do anything.
No matter what my next move is, I need to apologize. I’ll just need to protect my junk while I’m at it. I press my lips together as a new plan comes to mind.
I snap my fingers. “I’ve got another plan.”
Louis rolls his eyes as Jennings grins in excitement. “Dude, what is going on? Why are you doing this? Because she didn’t fall tits over ass when you smiled at her? You’re weirding me out. I’m the lover, you’re the wanderer.”
Jennings shrugs. “He’s not wrong. I’ve known you for like ten years now, and never once have I seen you do more than snap your fingers at a girl.”
I swallow and shift as their knowing gazes make me a bit uncomfortable. They’re right. It’s like I went from total disinterest in the female population, except to get my release, to doing whatever I can to get this girl to notice me. It’s a 180 that is making my head spin, but it feels right.
“I want to,” I answer softly. “I like her.”
Louis gives me a sheepish little grin since I’ve never admitted something as emotional as this. I’m a very surface-level kind of person. I don’t let people in because I don’t want the distraction. I’m not saying that I don’t tell my family I love them or shower them with affection, but I sure as hell don’t do it for anyone else. Hell, it took four years for me to hug Jennings, and now, I’d give my left nut for a hug from Ambrosia.
Not only to comfort her for making her upset, but to feel her lush body in my arms.
To get lost in her scent.
To cuddle her closer.
Though, I will be protecting said nuts when I’m around her.
“Then good luck,” Louis says with a tip of his chin.
Jennings grins, looking over my shoulder. “Yeah. You’re gonna need it.”
I follow their gaze to find none other than Ambrosia Mercer stomping toward me with fire in her eyes and her mouth in a sneer.
Shit.
“Anyone got a junk cup?”
They both laugh, shaking their heads, before Jennings dumps his food into Louis’s and holds up the little brown bowl. “This may work.”
Louis shakes his head. “I don’t even think a cup would work with how pissed she looks.”
When I look back at where she’s stalking toward me, steam coming out of her ears, I can’t help but think how goddamn gorgeous she is. Her hair whips behind her, her eyes darker than the whiskey hue they usually are, and the outfit she wears? Jesus above. Tight leggings that show off the curves of her legs and a thin oversized tee with a deep V. Her bright-yellow-painted toes shine through her dark Birkenstocks, and when did I start getting turned on by ankles?
I don’t know, but damn, she’s got some hot ankles.
What is wrong with me?
Since I want to be near her, I head toward her, and I watch as her gaze licks along every inch of me. Fuck, the attraction is real between us. It’s almost like a living thing, pulsing between us in a mind-blowing way. How her breath hitches, and how she does a little stutter step that I find adorable. She seems utterly befuddled, and yeah… Same, heart-stopper, same.
Ambrosia’s eyes widen when she knows I saw her trip a bit, but she still barrels toward me like a bull toward a red cape. I take a deep breath, in awe of her as we come toe-to-toe with each other. She’s basically growling at me. Her face is red, her eyes wild and dark, and the way she purses her little heart-shaped mouth steals my attention in mere seconds.