Home to You Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Taylor Sullivan
He finally called to check on me a few months later, but I knew he was only doing what he thought he should. His brotherly duty. Just like he’d been doing every day since.
As I turned the moving truck down Jake’s street, my hands burned from my vise-like grip on the steering wheel. I pulled to a stop on the opposite side of the road and watched him. He was arranging boxes around in his garage, completely unaware of my presence.
I won’t fall for you this time, Jake Johnson. This time I’ll know better.
AS SOON AS I CUT the engine, the whole cab silenced, and some of the tension melted from my shoulders. Jake still hadn’t noticed me, and for the first time in the twenty years, I was thankful for his oblivion. It was ironic really. I used to ache for him to notice me, and now I sat there needing more time before he did.
He’d called me out of the blue six months ago, telling me about his new house. Actually, he’d called a lot over the years. Every birthday, Christmas, and even the anniversary of Dave’s accident. Though he never said it was the reason.
When he invited me for a visit, I’d been so nervous. I began pacing back and forth and rattling off all the reasons I couldn’t go. That I was too busy, that I couldn’t take the time off work, or even leave Kevin that long. But now as the butterflies swarmed an angry flurry inside me, I realized it was more than that. I’d stayed away on purpose. I stayed away too long.
He was still in the garage, and I could just make out the flex and shift of his muscles as he stacked one box on top of the other. He wore a pair of old jeans that were frayed at the cuffs, and a plain white T-shirt spread over his broad shoulders. I’d secretly hoped he’d changed a little bit. Maybe put on a few pounds, developed a bald spot, or even lost a few teeth. But even from ten yards away I could tell my wish hadn’t come true. He was beautiful. Well, in that very masculine and rugged sort of way. His dark, wavy hair was longer now. Curled at his nape the way it always had been when we were kids. People thought we were related back then. Not only because we were always together, but I guess we had similar features. We were both tall, had dark hair and blue eyes. Other than that, I just didn’t see it. He was gorgeous, and I was just me.
The sound of the Dodger game carried across the warm breeze, and I realized that was why he was so blind. The world could be ending, but if Jake was listening to a ball game, he wouldn’t notice. Some things never changed I guessed. I could still get lost watching him, and his blood still ran Dodger blue.
After five minutes, and a few cleansing breaths, I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and pushed the door open. The strap of my tank top sagged to my shoulder, and I brushed it back up before hopping to the asphalt. I closed my eyes, cursed my racing heartbeat, then took a deep breath and crossed the street to Jake.
“Hey, stranger,” I called out. My voice sounding strained and hoarse even to my own ears.
He looked up, seeming not to notice, and his handsome face transformed into a huge smile. He walked over, meeting me halfway, and lifted me off my feet in a firm hug. “Hey, beautiful.”
I gripped him tighter. Not realizing how much I needed this. It had been so long since he’d lifted me like that. So long since I’d been held by a man who actually made me feel small. My heart leapt to my throat, and he lowered me to the ground.
He held me at arm’s length and his smile faded. His rough fingers brushed across my left cheek causing a stir low in my belly. “You look like shit, Katie.”
“Thanks.” I laughed then swallowed. “What happened to beautiful?”
He let out a breath. “What did he do to you?” His voice was soft, but I heard the protection under its surface. The protection I both loved and hated at the same time.
My throat thickened, and I turned out of his arms
As I turned the moving truck down Jake’s street, my hands burned from my vise-like grip on the steering wheel. I pulled to a stop on the opposite side of the road and watched him. He was arranging boxes around in his garage, completely unaware of my presence.
I won’t fall for you this time, Jake Johnson. This time I’ll know better.
AS SOON AS I CUT the engine, the whole cab silenced, and some of the tension melted from my shoulders. Jake still hadn’t noticed me, and for the first time in the twenty years, I was thankful for his oblivion. It was ironic really. I used to ache for him to notice me, and now I sat there needing more time before he did.
He’d called me out of the blue six months ago, telling me about his new house. Actually, he’d called a lot over the years. Every birthday, Christmas, and even the anniversary of Dave’s accident. Though he never said it was the reason.
When he invited me for a visit, I’d been so nervous. I began pacing back and forth and rattling off all the reasons I couldn’t go. That I was too busy, that I couldn’t take the time off work, or even leave Kevin that long. But now as the butterflies swarmed an angry flurry inside me, I realized it was more than that. I’d stayed away on purpose. I stayed away too long.
He was still in the garage, and I could just make out the flex and shift of his muscles as he stacked one box on top of the other. He wore a pair of old jeans that were frayed at the cuffs, and a plain white T-shirt spread over his broad shoulders. I’d secretly hoped he’d changed a little bit. Maybe put on a few pounds, developed a bald spot, or even lost a few teeth. But even from ten yards away I could tell my wish hadn’t come true. He was beautiful. Well, in that very masculine and rugged sort of way. His dark, wavy hair was longer now. Curled at his nape the way it always had been when we were kids. People thought we were related back then. Not only because we were always together, but I guess we had similar features. We were both tall, had dark hair and blue eyes. Other than that, I just didn’t see it. He was gorgeous, and I was just me.
The sound of the Dodger game carried across the warm breeze, and I realized that was why he was so blind. The world could be ending, but if Jake was listening to a ball game, he wouldn’t notice. Some things never changed I guessed. I could still get lost watching him, and his blood still ran Dodger blue.
After five minutes, and a few cleansing breaths, I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and pushed the door open. The strap of my tank top sagged to my shoulder, and I brushed it back up before hopping to the asphalt. I closed my eyes, cursed my racing heartbeat, then took a deep breath and crossed the street to Jake.
“Hey, stranger,” I called out. My voice sounding strained and hoarse even to my own ears.
He looked up, seeming not to notice, and his handsome face transformed into a huge smile. He walked over, meeting me halfway, and lifted me off my feet in a firm hug. “Hey, beautiful.”
I gripped him tighter. Not realizing how much I needed this. It had been so long since he’d lifted me like that. So long since I’d been held by a man who actually made me feel small. My heart leapt to my throat, and he lowered me to the ground.
He held me at arm’s length and his smile faded. His rough fingers brushed across my left cheek causing a stir low in my belly. “You look like shit, Katie.”
“Thanks.” I laughed then swallowed. “What happened to beautiful?”
He let out a breath. “What did he do to you?” His voice was soft, but I heard the protection under its surface. The protection I both loved and hated at the same time.
My throat thickened, and I turned out of his arms
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