Breathless Read Online Free PDF Page B

the room. Lainey finally got control of herself, seeing her little sister watching her. She motioned for her to come over. Rachel shook her head. Jon seemed to notice her gaze and gave Rachel a soft smile.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi,” Rachel whispered.
    “I’m Jon. What’s your name?”
    Rachel took a tentative step forward. “Rachel, I’m Lainey’s little sister.”
    “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Rachel Lainey's sister.”
    “You can just call me Rachel.”
    Jon laughed. “Oh, sorry.”
    “So can you tell me how you got here? My dear sister won’t tell me.” Rachel plopped down on the rug.
    “I washed up on the beach. Lainey saved me. She brought me to your home and your dad treated my wound. Nothing special.”
    “He’s not my dad,” Lainey interrupted. “Sorry, but he’s my step-dad. He’s Rachel’s dad, but I call him Peter. It’s not important. Sorry.”
    Jon seemed to contemplate Lainey’s words before speaking again. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything.”
    “Really, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
    “We haven’t really had any time to talk since I’ve been unconscious.”
    "Guys!" Rachel put her hands up in the air. "Would you like some breakfast, Jon? I know how to make blueberry pancakes."
    Jon shrugged. “Sounds good to me. I’ve never had blueberry pancakes before.”
    Lainey laughed as a grin crossed her sister’s face.
    “Then I will definitely be making them for you. Not to boast, but I make the greatest blueberry pancakes. You’ll see.”
     
    *~*~*
     
    Lainey sat on the porch swing, adjusting her dress to cover her bare feet. Peter was inside with Jon, examining Jon’s wound and making sure it was healing alright. She didn’t really want to watch. Jon had slept most of the day, but Peter promised he’d be up and about tomorrow. Lainey had so many questions, but she couldn’t ask them.
    The swing shifted as her mom sat down beside her. “How was your day? You were pretty quiet at dinner.” She pulled the book out of Lainey’s hand, folding down the corner to mark her page.
    “It was okay. Jon slept most of the day. The rest of the time he spent discussing cooking things with Rachel. I didn’t really get a chance to talk to him.”
    “I see.”
    “I don’t know, Mom. I want to know everything about him, but I don’t know how to start.”
    “You might start with asking him where he came from, or about his family. I doubt those are secrets he would keep.”
    Lainey nodded, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I will. I just don’t want him asking too many questions about me.”
    “You can’t start a friendship with secrets, Lainey. It won’t help either of you.”

 

     
    “I’m very grateful Peter shared some of his clothing with me,” Jon said, sitting up.
    “He’s a great guy like that.” Lainey took the plate from his lap and set it on the end table. “Well, I guess he is."
    He seemed to notice her sarcasm. “What happened to your dad? You said Peter is your step-dad.”
    Lainey handed him his medication with a glass of water. She waited until he swallowed it and gave the cup back. “Wow, starting out with the hard questions. Umm… he left when I was six. Just packed up and was gone. I haven’t heard from or seen him since. My mom married Peter when I was eight and they had Rachel not long after that.”
    “Sounds difficult.”
    “It’s not bad. Peter is a nice guy, but… he’s not my dad. He understands, though it probably hurts his feelings. He tries hard.” Lainey ran a hand through her hair. “What about your family?”
    “My family isn’t complicated. It’s just me and my dad. I’m adopted; don’t know anything about my birth parents and I’m okay with it.” Jon adjusted his position on the couch.
    “You don’t wonder about your birth parents?”
    “Not really. I can’t remember them.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “I’m sorry your dad couldn’t be a man and take care of his daughter.”
    Lainey rubbed at a