Finding Me Again Read Online Free PDF Page B

I saw Colt today. He said you guys were meeting up tonight.”
    “So that’s why you thought it was safe to come here? Because you thought I’d be gone?” The words sting like a million tiny needles pricking my flesh.
    “No.” Tripp turns off the ignition, steps out of his car and moves toward me. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He pauses. “Can we start over? I feel like this conversation hasn’t gone at all like it should.”
    I smile, taking a deep breath. Clearly this is awkward for the both of us. I can give him a little grace. “Sure.”
    “Great.” A broad smile sweeps his face, reminding me of the boy I used to love. “I was actually just supposed to be running an errand , but I ended up here.” His eyes flicker toward his old house and darken. “I guess I was just curious about my old neighborhood.”
    “Is it hard to be back here?”
    He glances at the house again. “It’s weird that the new owners haven’t really changed anything. It’s almost like everything has stayed the same.” He locks eyes with me. “Only I know that it hasn’t.”
    I know he’s thinking about his dad. “He can’t hurt you anymore.” Without thinking, I lift my hand and touch his face.
    Tripp sucks in a breath, and I drop my hand, horrified by my action. “I know,” he says. “He can’t hurt anyone.”
    We stand in silence for a minute, and I think about how many times Tripp and I walked along this sidewalk together. “I feel like we should be taking a walk,” I blurt out. “We’re just missing Bruiser.”
    Tripp lowers his gaze. “Bruiser passed away last year.”
    My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry.”
    “He was old. It was his time.”
    “Still. That must’ve been terrible for you. You loved that dog so much.”
    A sad smile passes over Tripp’s mouth. “Yeah, but there was nothing we could do.”
    “I really am sorry, Tripp. I wish I could’ve been there to help you or something.” The minute the words are out I wish I could shove them back in. He broke up with me. He doesn’t want me around. Why do I keep forgetting that? “Um…” I scramble to fix it. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your errands. I need to go meet Paige.” Without looking at Tripp, I whirl around.
    “You look really pretty.”
    I stiffen at his words, my heart cracking. I want nothing more than to turn around and grab onto Tripp. No guy I’ve seen in the last three years have made me feel even one ounce of what I’m feeling right now in this moment with Tripp. How does he have this kind of power over me?
    “Thanks,” I mumble without turning around. With my head down , I hurry toward my car.
    “Hey,” he calls after me. “I can take you if you want. I mean, I’ m already here, and a cupcake sounds pretty good.”
    My heart stutters in my chest. I want to go with him, but I don’t know if I can do it. How can I be in his car, be that close to him and keep my emotions in check? “That’s okay. You don’t have to,” I mumble, the words literally hurting as they push past my throat.
    Tripp comes up beside me. I notice his movements are jerkier than before. “I want to. In fact, now that it’s in my mind, I’m definitely going to pick up a cupcake. Either you can come with me or I’ll just see you there. It just makes sense to ride with me.”
    I think about how pushy Tripp was when we first became friends. A lot seems to have changed about him, but it’s kind of nice to know that this one thing is the same. I bite my lip and glance over at him. The minute my gaze lands on his familiar face I know I will say yes. I’ve never been able to say no to Tripp.

 
    Ten
    Tripp
     
    I really thought she was going to turn me down again. Her demeanor made it clear that she was uncomfortable with the idea of going with me. And honestly, I should’ve just let her go alone. I never should’ve forced myself on her like that. I don’t know what came over me. Once I was alone with her for a