She follows Jaxon out of her window and walks over to me. "Is Grayson drunk, too?"
I nod. "Strike three." I turn and look at Grayson, who's lying back on the bed, ignorant of the fact that he's no longer welcome. I walk over to the bed and pick his shirt up, tossing it at his face. "Leave," I say. He looks up at me and cocks an eyebrow, then begrudgingly slides off the bed when he sees I'm not making a joke. He slips his shoes back on, pouting like a four-year-old. I step aside to let him out.
Six waits until Grayson has cleared the window, then she climbs inside when one of the guys mumbles the word "whores." Once inside, Six rolls her eyes and turns around to stick her head out.
"Funny how we're whores because you didn't get laid. Assholes." She shuts the window and walks over to the bed, plopping down on it and crossing her hands behind her head. "And another one bites the dust."
I laugh, but my laugh is cut short by a loud bang on my bedroom door. I immediately go unlock it, then step aside, preparing for Karen to barge in. Her motherly instincts don't let me down. She looks around the room frantically until she eyes Six on the bed.
"Dammit," she says, spinning around to face me. She puts her hands on her hips and frowns. "I could have sworn I heard boys in here."
I walk over to the bed and attempt to hide the sheer panic coursing throughout my body. "And you seem disappointed because . . ." I absolutely don't understand her reaction to things sometimes. Like I said before . . . contradictory.
"You turn eighteen in a month. I'm running out of time to ground you for the first time ever. You need to start screwing up a little more, kid."
I breathe a sigh of relief, seeing she's only kidding. I almost feel guilty that she doesn't actually suspect her daughter was being felt up five minutes earlier in this very room. My heart is pounding against my chest so incredibly loud, I'm afraid she might hear it.
"Karen?" Six says from behind us. "If it makes you feel better, two hotties just made out with us, but we kicked them out right before you walked in because they were drunk."
My jaw drops and I spin around to shoot Six a look that I'm hoping will let her know that sarcasm isn't at all funny when it's the truth.
Karen laughs. "Well, maybe tomorrow night you'll get some cute sober boys."
I don't think I have to worry about Karen hearing my heartbeat anymore, because it just completely stopped.
"Sober boys, huh? I think I can arrange that," Six says, winking at me.
"Are you staying the night?" Karen says to Six as she makes her way back to the bedroom door.
Six shrugs her shoulders. "I think we'll stay at my house tonight. It's my last week in my own bed for six months. Plus, I've got Channing Tatum on the flat-screen."
I glance back at Karen and see it starting.
"Don't, Mom." I begin walking toward her, but I can see the mist forming in her eyes. "No, no, no." By the time I reach her, it's too late. She's bawling. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's crying. Not because it makes me emotional, but because it annoys the hell out of me. And it's awkward.
"Just one more," she says, rushing toward Six. She's already hugged her no less than ten times today. I almost think she's sadder than I am that Six is leaving in a few days. Six obliges her request for the eleventh hug and winks at me over Karen's shoulder. I practically have to pry them apart, just so Karen will get out of my room.
She walks back to the door and turns around one last time. "I hope you meet a hot Italian boy," she says to Six.
"I better meet more than just one," Six deadpans.
When the door closes behind Karen, I spin around and jump on the bed, then punch Six in the arm. "You're such a bitch," I say. "That wasn't funny. I thought I got caught."
She laughs and grabs my hand, then stands up. "Come. I've got Rocky Road."
She doesn't have to ask twice.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have no idea how I came into the position of writing acknowledgments for my eighth book. It's definitely a surreal moment, and one I would never have been able to experience if it weren't for the following people.
The entire Dystel & Goderich team, for your continued support and encouragement.
Johanna Castillo, Judith Curr, and the entire Atria Books family. You guys keep it fun, and I'm forever grateful to be part of one of the coolest publishing teams in the industry.
To all my friends and beta-readers, you guys know who you are. Your feedback and support continue to baffle me. Know that I love you and thank you and couldn't do this without any of you.
My amazing family. I don't know how I lucked out and got the best one, but I'll never take any of you for granted. Especially my four boys.
FP gals, y'all always know exactly when to fire the glitter cannons and release the unicorns. We make a great team.
To my Weblichs. We may not know how to properly pronounce Weblich, but we wear the name with pride. I don't even know what to say, other than thank you for giving me a place to go when I need encouragement, a good laugh, and a nice reality check.
To the CoHorts for your unrivaled support. You make this job not a job at all.
And last but definitely not least, to my NPTBF. I will forever be grateful for being disorganized and not knowing how to pack jewelry. Otherwise, I would have missed out on one of the greatest, oddest, most unethical and random relationships of my life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COLLEEN HOOVER is the No.1 bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, and Maybe Someday. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.
'Unique, unlike anything else out there . . .
Go out and buy it already' - Tammara Webber
COLLEEN HOOVER
Slammed
Layken's father died suddenly, leaving her to gather every ounce of strength to be a pillar for her family, in order to prevent their world from falling apart. Now her life is taking another unexpected turn . . .
Layken's mother gets a job which leads to an unwanted move across the country. However, a new home means new neighbours . . . and Layken's new neighbour is the very attractive Will Cooper.
Will has an intriguing passion for slam poetry, and a matching passion for life. The two feel an irresistible attraction but are rocked to the core when a shocking revelation brings their romance to a screeching halt.
Layken and Will must find a way to fight the forces that threaten to tear them apart . . . or learn to live without each other.
Available in eBook and paperback
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-47112-567-6
eBook ISBN: 978-1-47112-555-3
Colleen Hoover, Ugly Love
(Series: # )
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