Finding Faith Read Online Free PDF Page A

be the last. Faith had disappeared, never to be heard from again, never giving me any explanations.
    Everyday I would wait for her to call to tell me to come out to her. The call never came. Then I moved, wiping away all hopes of that ever happening, knowing she wouldn’t have any idea how to contact me. I only knew one thing for sure, I couldn’t stay there torturing myself with the possibility she would come back.
    In the earlier years, when the wounds were fresh, I imagined that, in the off chance I did run into her, I would have some other beautiful woman at my side, making her wish she’d never left me. I wouldn’t even give her a second glance.
    I hurt so badly when it happened I didn’t think I could ever forgive her. The reaction my body had to her after all of this time put me at a complete loss.
    But now that I had found her, I wasn’t about to let her disappear again. There was no way she would get away from me twice.
    Mike waved a hand in front of my face.
    “Hello, Earth to John. I told you she was hot.”
    A grunt coming out of Mike from Amazon Barbie smacking him got my attention.
    “Uh...huh?” I shook my head in disbelief, collecting my thoughts to try to figure out what to say next. The fog was slowly lifting, making it easier for me to concentrate. I didn’t want to sound like a creep in front of people who were practically strangers.
    “Does she need company on her way home to make sure she’s safe?” I asked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. I couldn’t help myself it was automatic to worry about her. All these years apart hadn’t gotten rid of that protective shield I tried to keep over her.
    “Man, you don’t waste time do you, Killer,” Mike joked, giving me a wink and a shove on the shoulder. As I got encouragement from Mike, he got daggers shot his way from Amazon Barbie.
    “Sorry about that, I don’t know what got into her. She’s got a lot on her mind lately. I’m Faith’s neighbor and best friend, Grace.” Amazon Barbie flung her hand out in front of my face for me to shake.
    I hesitated a minute, watching her, trying to figure out if she knew who I was, but her face didn’t show any signs of recognition. My heart sank.
    “Nice to meet you, too,” I said. “I think I need to go, I’m not feeling so hot. Maybe I can catch up to your friend and make sure she gets home alright.”
    “Good idea. They live at 2555 North Clark Street. She probably walked home,” Mike volunteered.
    I turned around to leave before Mike finished getting the address out. Grace smacked Mike in the gut again as she bugged her eyes at him to shut up.
    “Stop hitting me.” Mike grabbed Grace’s wrist before she could smack him some more. “Don’t worry, I trust him. He’s a good guy, I can tell these things.”
    Not completely believing Mike, Grace said warily, “Maybe I need to go home to make sure she is safe. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t make sure?” The excitement Grace had a few moments earlier had deflated.
    “Come on, Grace not you, too. Please, stay. I really want to hang out with you.” Mike tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as he spoke, while twining their fingers together with the one he had been holding her wrist with moments earlier, making her common sense vanish.
    Grace cupped her free hand to her mouth to make sure she was heard and shouted, “Fine, but I’m going to text Faith to make sure she’s okay.”
    With my back still turned, I shot her a thumbs-up without missing a step.
    A brutal wind was whipping around outside the bar as if it were a pinball bouncing off all the buildings at the intersection, sucking up leaves as it blew.
    I pulled up the collar of my black leather jacket to get some relief from the sudden onslaught as I looked around. The wind was stronger than it had been when I had first arrived, making it hard to keep my eyes open.
    With a quick scan of the dimly lit street, I didn’t see any sign of Faith. Only a cab