Breathless Read Online Free PDF

“Good morning, Miss Stafford. You are up mighty early.”
    “Morning,” she answered, parking her bike. “I need to pick up a prescription.”
    “Of course, come on in.”
    Lainey thanked him as she followed him into the store. It smelled like a combination of old bubble gum and a pine scented cleaning solution. She followed him to the pharmacy counter where Thomas, the young pharmacist, was working to open the register.
    “Hi, I need to pick up a prescription.” Lainey rested her hands on the edge of the counter.
    “What’s the name?”
    “Umm… I think it would be under Peter Stafford.”
    His hands were slow on the keyboard. “Just give me a few minutes and I’ll have it ready for you.”
    Lainey thanked him and walked around the store to waste some time. She was anxious to get back before Jon woke up. Her body took her down an aisle before she realized it; Becca’s favorite aisle, full of candy and other things for only a dollar. Lainey’s fingers hovered over a package of candy necklaces. She and Becca had eaten a whole bag one night and couldn’t sleep from the sugar high. They’d been six and pulled their first all-nighter, though were both so grumpy the next day they fought and didn’t talk for a whole day. Trying to keep it together, Lainey quickly walked out of the aisle and back to the pharmacy counter. Peter had already paid for the prescription. She thanked Mr. Lester and rode home as fast as possible.
    She didn’t need to worry. She ran up the stairs, slightly out of breath, to see Jon hadn’t woken up yet. Her mom had already left for work, leaving a note for Lainey about lunch. She worked as a high school math teacher and taught extra summer classes. Lainey set the medicine on the table and went to grab a bowl for some cereal.
    “Hi,” a soft voice spoke.
    “Oh, hi, Rachel,” Lainey said, twirling around.
    “Yeah, hi.” Rachel sat down on the bar stool at the counter, crossing her arms over chest. “Why is there a strange guy on our couch?”
    Lainey grabbed the cereal box and poured the frosted flakes into her bowl. “I found him.”
    “Lain, he’s not a puppy dog. You can’t keep him.”
    “I know.”
    “Where did he come from?”
    Lainey shrugged her shoulders as she poured the milk. “I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”
    Rachel rolled her eyes and stood up, moving to get her own bowl of cereal. “I guess I’ll just pretend there isn’t someone sleeping on the couch.”
    A soft moan sounded from the living room. Lainey quickly dropped her spoon into her cereal and peeked around the doorframe. Jon was attempting to sit up. She grabbed the medication and a glass of water and entered the living room. The young man smiled at her as she sat down in Peter’s vacant chair.
    “Good morning.” Jon pushed himself up the rest of the way, and then adjusted the blanket.
    “Hi. How are you feeling?”
    “I feel like I got in a fight with a swordfish and he won.”
    Lainey smiled. “How did you get the wound?”
    “I just told you. I got in a fight with a swordfish. He won.”
    She wasn’t sure if he was being serious or not. She made a slight face before opening the pill bottle and shaking one into her hand. She put out her hand, offering it to Jon.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    “It’s an antibiotic to fight the infection in your wound.”
    “Oh, okay.”
    Jon reached out and picked up the pill. He held it in his hand for a moment before tossing it into his mouth and biting down. He grabbed the glass of water and quickly downed the whole thing.
    “Yuk! Disgusting!” he hissed, scrunching up his face.
    Lainey laughed. “You’re supposed to swallow it, not chew it!”
    Jon grimaced, wiping his mouth on the corner of the blanket. “Now you tell me.”
    “I assumed you knew,” Lainey said before dissolving into laughter. It felt nice to laugh. She hadn’t laughed this much in so long.
    All of the laughter brought Rachel to the doorway. She didn’t come into