lungs.
Swallowing my pride, I resolved to give my father as little grief as possible. The last thing he needed right now was a tantrum from his grown daughter.
***
The long drive home was dark and quiet, leaving me with a lot of time to think. I thought about what a shitty daughter I’d been for ditching my parents at Christmas, and for not coming home as often as I should. I also thought about how stupid I’d been for sleeping with my boss. Plain and simple, I was disgusted with myself. I was ashamed of the person I’d become.
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind what I wanted to be, but how much of myselfwould I sacrifice to get there? Living so far away from home had taken me away from the people that made me… me .
I needed to reflect.
To know and understand why I made some of the choices I’d made. I needed to learn from my mistakes and decide who I really wanted to be.
On the inside.
My phone buzzed in the seat next to me, and a beautiful brunette with mocha brown eyes and her tongue poking out filled my screen.
Katy .
“Hey,” I answered with a smile.
“Mom just called and told me what happened. How is he?” she asked, concern cracking in her voice.
Katy was like a sister to me, so naturally my parents treated her as such. Katy was family.
“He’s good. He had surgery to remove some blockage, he’ll be down for a while, but he’s gonna be just fine. How’re you?”
Katy’s relieved sigh flooded down the line. “Thank God, I’ve been worried sick. I tried callin’ you earlier, but it went straight to voicemail. Where are you?”
“On my way home. Where are you?”
“I’m stuck at work. Come by. I want you to meet him.
“Him?”
“Archer.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” she sighed, dreamily.
“I am on my way. It’s over there off Hwy. 3 right?”
“Yep, just before you get to the boats. See ya in a bit, sweetie. Be careful.”
“I will.” Yes, being home was definitely a good thing.
CHAPTER five
Happiness often sneaks through a
door you didn’t know you left open.
-John Barrymore
Holden
I smiled remembering how gorgeous she was. Her eyes were fucking phenomenal. The blue-grey orbs held a light that I’d never seen before and I was instantly drawn to her from the moment they locked with mine. Her chestnut hair had been pulled to the side in a ponytail resting over her right shoulder. All I could think about was wrapping my hand around the long, silky strand and kissing her pretty pink lips until I sucked every last bit of that shimmering shit off.
Thank God I had that fucking rag in my hands, because the only images that kept flashing through my mind as she jabbed at my chest were of me devouring that incredible looking mouth.
Fuck.
Adjusting my useless dick once again, I did my best not to think about her. Yet, ever since I left the Water’s property two hours ago, I couldn’t think about much else.
Maddie .
I saw Madison when she reamed my ass. The soon to be, balls to the wall lawyer her father bragged about every chance he got. I liked Madison Waters.
But I liked Maddie a hell of a lot more. I saw her sweetness shine through when she thanked me for saving her father’s life. I saw it in the innocent way she smiled at me with those big, bright eyes so full of hope and light. Looking down, I pleaded with my dick.
No.
First of all, Eric Waters
Katherine Alice Applegate