Back To Me Read Online Free PDF

humming to herself while cleaning up the broken glass from the Vodka bottle. I stared in disbelief as they busied themselves, seemingly neither of them having a care in the world; as if this was a normal occurrence. I had done nothing except turn my back on them, treated them like the plague, and yet here they were, helping me. I shook my head, feeling like a complete asshole and chastising myself for expecting anything less out of these two.
                  I cleared my throat, signaling my approach and they both turned towards me.
                  “Feeling better, cupcake?” Lauren grinned, but I had a feeling her good mood was about to be short-lived.
                  “Yeah,” I replied, rubbing my temples. I needed some aspirin, STAT!
                  “Good,” she pointed to the chair. “Sit down.” I grinned at her bossiness, both surprised and impressed. Lauren had come a long way from the young woman I had met just a few years ago. Back then she was shy and timid; scared to death of her abusive husband. There was a huge difference between that girl and the woman standing in front of me now. Although I dreaded the interrogation that was sure to follow, part of me was so proud that I couldn’t help but smile.
                  I did as she ordered and padded towards the recliner. I sat with my head hung and waited for the brunt of her wrath. When it never came, I looked up to see what was taking her so long. Luke was sitting on the couch, leaned back with his arms folded across his chest and a smile on his smug face.
                  “Do I have your attention now?” Lauren asked.
                  I chuckled at the sight of her. She had on yellow rubber cleaning gloves, her ponytail was ratty with half of her hair hanging in her face, and her clothes were all twisted around and wet from the sudsy water she’d been using to clean with. She couldn’t have looked less intimidating if she’d tried.
                  “Yes, ma’am,” I answered with a salute. Probably not the smartest thing to have done, considering she swung her tiny hand and hit me upside the head. I swear I wasn’t trying to be a smart ass, but in hindsight I could see how she took it that way.
                  “Ouch!”
                  “Serves you right, you….you….” Her hands balled into fists at her side as she leaned forward and tried to think of an adjective strong enough to fit me.  There were plenty that came to my mind, but none I’d have said in front of her.
                  “I know. I’m an idiot, and a ……”
                  Lauren cut me off. “Yes. You are all of those things. But you’re also Luke’s best friend and like a brother to me. Now you listen to what I have to say because I’m only gonna say it once.”
                  I looked at Lauren again, this time giving her one hundred percent of my attention.
                  “I love you. You hear me ? I. Love. You. Doesn’t matter about the past or all you think you’ve done. It doesn’t matter if you drink yourself into oblivion or wallow in self-pity. You’re still gonna be a part of our family. You can continue to try and push us away, but I won’t let you. Understand? If we have to come over here every single day and drag your butt outta bed, that’s what we’ll do. If we have to babysit you, fine. I can line you out just like I do Sam. But don’t you dare, and I mean don’t you ever ignore me again. Got it?”
                  By the time Lauren was done with her spiel, I was smiling and Luke stared at her in awe. They were so in-love it was nauseating.
                  “Lauren,” I replied, hastily, “you don’t know what you’re asking. I’m not the same man I was before. I have seen and done things…things I’m not proud of. Things that you