Finding Me Again Read Online Free PDF Page A

say.
    “But then I met Paige and she changed everything.”
    “You two are definitely perfect for each other,” I tell him. “Before you came along, I remember Hadley wondering if Paige would ever meet a guy who would interest her.”
    “Yeah, well, she was just waiting for the most interesting guy in the world to come along.” Colt shrugs arrogantly.
    I laugh. “Well, I know you didn’t track me down just to talk about San Francisco or you and Paige. So what’s up?”
    “I’m hurt.” Colt puts a hand to his heart. “We were friends, Tripp. Maybe I just came by to hang out.”
    “Is that all this is?” I raise a brow. “You went to all this trouble just to hang out with me? The friend pool must be pretty little around here, huh?”
    “You got that right. I have nothing in common with all the preppy guys or muscle heads around here. You were the only guy I could stand in high school.” He gives me a pointed look, cocking the eyebrow that’s pierced. “And then you just left with no warning. It was kinda weird, dude.”
    And there it is. I swallow hard. “It’s complicated.”
    “Look, I get it. I know all about complicated.” He holds out his palms. “My family was royally screwed up. And I know yours was no picnic either.”
    He clearly has no idea what’s going on with me, but I let him continue. Let him think this has to do with my family. That’s easier anyway.
    “And you don’t have to tell me shit. I mean, it’s not my business.” He pauses, studying me with his dark brown eyes. “But I think you should probably tell Hadley why you did it.”
    My stomach drops. “I did. Hadley’s the only person I talked to before I left.”
    “But all you told her was that you wanted to break up; that you’d changed.”
    “I had.”
    Colt gives me an exasperated look. “I was just with you two a couple of days before and you were all over each other. There’s no way your feelings for her changed that quick. You loved her, man.”
    “I did. That’s true.”
    “Then how could you just leave her the way you did?”
    “We were growing apart. We weren’t going to be together forever. I needed to break things off so she could meet someone else.”
    “Well, she hasn’t.”
    I freeze. “What do you mean? I saw Hadley. She looks hot. I’m sure she’s got every guy at that art school after her.”
    “Yeah, she does, but she’s not interested in any of ‘ em.”
    “So, she’s never had another boyfriend?” The thought both sickens and satisfies me at the same time.
    Colt shakes his head, running his fingers through his crazy black hair. “Paige thinks it’s because of the way you broke things off. Like the fact that you did it so suddenly with no real explanation kept her kind of tied to you.”
    My heart lurches. “That’s not what I meant to do.” I bite my lip, staring at my hands. “I really thought I was helping her.”
    “Dude, you still have it bad.”
    My head snaps up at his words. “I do not.”
    “Yeah, you do. I can tell.”
    “It doesn’t matter anyway.”
    Colt shrugs. “You never know unless you try, man. I never thought I had a chance in hell with Paige, but I showed up at that damn coffee shop anyway. When you want something that badly you have to go for it.”
    I nod. “Thanks, man.”
    “Well, I should get going. I’m supposed to help Paige at the cupcake shop today.”
    “Yeah. That’s still going good, huh?”
    Colt smiles. “It’s one of the most popular places in town. You should come by tonight. I know Hadley’s going to stop by.”
    “Maybe,” I say just to appease him.
    “Okay.” Colt stands. “Good to see you again.”
    “You too.” I push myself up, but my arms and legs shake and then buckle. My body slumps back down on the couch.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah.” I force a nonchalant attitude. “I pulled a muscle in my back when we were moving. You know how that is.”
    “Okay. Well, take it easy then. I’ll see myself out.”
    Pressing