Aftershocks Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I was actualy running by your house when I saw you, so I figured I’d apologize for not sticking around this morning. I was on my way to the hospital. My brother, Jordan, was at a footbal practice, and I’d just gotten the cal that he’d been rushed to the hospital after a pretty bad hit.”
    I gasped, feeling instantly bad that I’d judged him that morning. No wonder he was speeding around. “Is he okay?” I figured he had to be if Connor was out for a run.
    “Yeah,” Connor said, sighing as he ran a hand through his dark curls. “He has a mild concussion and a broken finger, so it wasn’t bad.
    He’l be fine.”
    “That’s good,” I said, thinking of Jordan who I felt like I knew from watching him al summer.
    “It’s just, I was sleeping, and I got the cal, and I was so freaked that I just tore out of the house. I wasn’t paying attention, and I didn’t see you. I feel awful that I hit you with my car,” he said, shaking his head. “Jeez, even saying it sounds awful.”
    “I’m realy fine,” I said, trying to ease his worry and simultaneously wondering why it was him who got the cal instead of his parents. I knew my parents would never send Aaron to the hospital if I was hurt while they stayed home and read the morning paper, but I definitely didn’t know him wel enough to ask about his home life.
    “Good,” he said, letting out a huge breath of air. “I’m Connor, by the way.”
    “I know. I’m Abby,” I said, smiling at him like a freaking idiot and wondering why on earth I’d just revealed that I knew who he was.
    “You work at that surf shop, right?”
    I nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

    “I remember you – thirty percent off boardshorts,” he said, smirking slightly. I couldn’t believe he remembered that. It had been weeks ago.
    “They’re down to fifty percent off now,” I said. “If you want a deal, there are stil some left.”
    I wanted to smack myself in the head. I could not believe I was flirting by talking about a sale at work. I was a conversational moron.
    “Good to know,” he said, and I couldn’t tel if he agreed that what I said was valuable information or if he too thought I was a moron. I hoped it was the former and he was in the market for some boardshorts. I wouldn’t mind helping him try them on.
    Oh God. I wanted to cringe as soon as the thought registered in my mind. Did I actualy think that? I was so glad I’d kept that conversational gem to myself.
    “So, we’re cool?” he asked, and I just nodded, afraid to open my mouth again. Connor nodded in return. “Good deal. I’l see you around.”
    He winked and gave me a little smirk smile before he was off, jogging down the street, leaving me staring at him until he disappeared around the corner.

Chapter 4
    I picked up Nicky early on Monday so we could stop at Starbucks on our way to school. I had a good amount of nervous energy coursing through me, a mix of anticipation that I got at the start of every new school year plus the anxiety of facing the year without Wyatt.
    I had on a new pair of jeans, my new plum flats, a white tank top and a light purple cardigan, so at least I looked good. I tried to trick my mind into feeling as good as I let Nicky play deejay. She turned up my iPod as we puled into school, and we got caught up singing and laughing, so I was only half-looking for an open space.
    “Ooh, right there,” Nicky said, sticking her arm out straight to point to an empty parking space in the middle of the student lot.
    I slowed down to turn in when we were suddenly jolted forward, and I instinctively slammed on my breaks. It took me a few seconds to realize we’d been rear-ended.
    “What the fuck!” Nicky screeched, as she rubbed the back of her head and turned around to look at what had struck us.
    “Unbelievable.”
    I realized I was shaking as I stole a glance in my rearview mirror to see what had Nicky so pissed, besides the fact that someone had just hit my car. My eyes went wide when