Fighting Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’ll get to, I guess.”
    My dad just nods. I look at him. “Well, I’m going to grab a shower and go to bed. I wanna be ready to leave here in the morning.”
I go to the bedroom and pull out my phone to text Anna.
Hey chick good news! I’ll be back in town soon. Hopefully I’ll see you at the baby shower.
I wait for a response and get one almost immediately.
OMG!!!!!! I’M SO HAPPY!!!! Where are you going to stay?
I’m actually not sure. I apparently own an apartment now.
Awesome! Let me know when you get in town.
    I’m not ready to say I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll use the baby shower as the day I see everyone for the first time. I need some time to adjust.

Chapter 4
Present
Cade
    I came back home for the summer. I needed some time to clear my head. In actuality, though, all I’ve done is think of Daria.
    When I first got here, I thought, I’ll get some strange. I’ll work her out of my system . All I managed to figure out is that I can’t stand most of the girls in my hometown, and none of them hold a candle to her . On a positive note, I’ve been at the gym every day. Coach will be very proud of the muscle I put on over the summer.
I jog down the stairs at my mom’s house. “Mom, I’m going to the gym for a little while.”
“Honey, don’t forget Gabby’s baby shower is next weekend.”
I roll my eyes. “Aren’t baby showers just for chicks?”
She chuckles. “No, this is a coed shower. Plus can you see Gabby surrounded by a bunch of women?”
    “I guess you’re right. I’m planning on leaving a day or two early. I need to get my things moved into the house that Anna and Russ are renting. Gabby’s had my crap in her garage for the summer. I know they’re trying to get the baby’s room in order and stuff. She called me raising hell about my stuff the other day and then was crying by the end of the phone call, telling me that she loved me.” I shake my head.
“It’s just hormones. She’s got a lot going on in her body right now.”
    “I know. I also know all about Gabby with hormone issues. Remember before she went to the doctor in high school? I was assaulted with a phone for crying out loud. So, yes, I understand the hormones.”
My mom laughs. “Have fun at the gym. What time are you going to be back?”
    I shrug. “I figured since I’m leaving this week, I’d meet up with some of the guys and play some pool after the gym. So it may be kinda late.”
“Okay, I won’t wait up then.”
    I walk out the front door. I wonder what she’s up to; she’s been acting strange all summer. Keeping tabs on me like I’m in middle school or something. Maybe she’s afraid I’m trying to find Daria or something.
~*~*~
    After working out for a couple of hours at the gym, the guys and I decide to hit up the local pool hall. I walk in and smile embarrassingly at Shana, the bartender. She’s one of the girls I tried to bang when I got back into town. Only when it came down to go time, I just didn’t have the desire anymore. I made up some excuse and jumped back into my car, getting the hell out of that church parking lot.
    I’m beginning to worry that I have erectile dysfunction or something. Maybe it’s the artificial sweetener my mom uses now. I watch those damn TV commercials with Bob and he’s so fucking happy; it makes me want to try the shit.
    A couple of hours, a few dozen beers, and four games of pool later, I hear a familiar voice. A voice that I can’t stand. I turn around to see Jack, the asshole Anna dated for a few years. He was always a dick to her, but when she’d had enough, he decided to beat the ever living shit out of her.
He turns around and sees me. “Well, hey, Cade. What’s up?” he says, all fucking cocky.
I look at him and scoff, “What’s up? I should fucking kill you!”
He looks at me, confused. “What do you mean, man?”
    My friends try to calm me down, but I break loose. “For Anna. For all the years you treated her like shit. For beating the shit