Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
It didn’t help that I could still feel her penetrating glare on us. Over the years our dynamic changed as much as it stayed the same. I still, for the life of me, didn’t understand how she could make me feel so many emotions without even saying a word to me.
But knowing she was watching from afar made it easier for me to behave the way I was. It was all a mixture of being torn, confused, angry, and just plain hatred. Maybe a part of me was also trying to be spiteful and hurt her.
Why?
Who the fuck knows because I sure as hell didn’t.
Plain and simple, we were just young and stupid. I needed to feel in control again, so I did the only thing I could. I pushed Harley away. It made things easier with distance between us.
Although, it never mattered how much I pushed her away. It was as if she was connected to me whether I wanted her to be or not, and nothing could ever change that.
Or so I thought.
At one point, I even saw her talking to Mary Poppins.
What was she telling her?
Why did I care?
“So...” Willow rasped against my ear. “You want your surprise?”
I opened my mouth to respond when out of the corner of my eyes Cash McGraw caught my sight. He was holding my baby sister’s hand, walking her inside.
“Hold that thought,” I muttered, focusing my attention on them instead of her. I added, “I’ll be right back.”
As quickly as the words came out of my mouth, I was retracing their steps. Following close behind them, trying to overhear their conversation.
“Cash, do I wook pwetty?” she asked, twirling in a circle in her silly, yet adorable way.
“You’re as pretty as a peach, darlin’.”
Her eyes lit up, and I never wanted to kill the pussy boy more than I did in that moment.
She giggled, “Dat’s ’cuz I June.”
Journey started calling herself June when she was around him, after seeing a Johnny Cash record in my room. Saying she wanted to be the girl who was sitting beside the guy who was holding a guitar just like her Cash.
He laughed, shaking his head. Opening the door to the bathroom for her.
“You okay by yourself?”
“I big girl. I do it.”
“Alright.” He nodded, watching her walk in.
I waited till she was inside, away from us before warning the obvious, “Stay away from my girl, McGraw.”
His eyes snapped to mine, snidely smiling. “Which one?”
“Don’t fuck with me, pussy boy. You think it’s okay to mess with my baby sister like that?” I cocked my head to the side. “What’s wrong, dickwad? Can’t find any girls your own age, or did Harley finally run away from you?”
“Oh, come on, quarterback. She’s a little kid. I’m just tryin’ to make her smile. Besides, we both know the only guy Harley is ever runnin’ from is you.”
I growled, getting in his face.
He didn’t back down, if anything he stood taller. “I don’t need the attention of a little girl when Harley does plenty to keep me occupied.”
I jerked back. “The fuck does that mean?”
“Baby girl comes runnin’ into my arms whenever you piss her off. Makin’ it so fuckin’ easy to constantly be her hero. And uh...” He openly looked me up and down, grinning. “Nobody smells like Harley does. The strawberry scent of her hair, her soft vanilla scented skin, and my personal favorite, her cherry lips.”
“Motherfucker, like you would know a damn thing about how her lips taste.”
He scoffed out a chuckle. “Well, I can say I’ve done more with her than just holding hands on a roof and forcing my tongue down her throat. Unlike you, Harley gives it to me without havin’ to steal a fuckin’ thing.”
My eyes widened, completely taken back by what he just shared.
She told him I forced my way down her throat?
Being used to the cockblocker standing in front of me, I recovered quickly. Biting back, “Have you seen the amount of pussy that gets thrown my way? I didn’t force shit on Harley. Actually, now that we’re talking about it... Didn’t she leave your ass at the anniversary party to come check on me?”
He glared at me, snarling.
“Stings doesn’t it? Knowing all you do is get my sloppy seconds. So the real question is, how’s my tongue taste, bitch?”
To my surprise, he shoved me.
Making me laugh, “Oh, so pussy boy does have some balls. Seeing as you love to live up Harley’s ass, it’s a little confusing.” I got right back in his face, threatening, “Keep your hands off my girl, or next time it’ll be your balls I’m forcing down your throat.”
He shook his head, glaring at me again. “Jackson, you think I’m scared of you? Quarterback, I pray for the day there aren’t people around us, so I can finally lay your ass out. And trust me, it will happen. But until that day comes, I have the peace of mind knowin’ every move you make just secures my position on her field. I’m her best friend, I’ll always be the guy in her life. You’re nothin’ but the boy she fuckin’ hates. So do what you do best, Pierce. Go push her away some more. ’Cuz let me tell ya, nothin’ tastes better than kissin’ away Harley’s tears.”