Impact (The Fight for Life #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

but I craved a big juicy steak and, about a thousand times a day, came very close to throwing in the towel. I had to keep exercising to accelerate the flushing of fluids from my body, but with very few calories, it was increasingly difficult. I didn’t need a medical background to know how reckless it was. With very little fat to strip, the loss was muscle and fluid.
    By Thursday evening, I was ready to rip someone’s head off and I was relieved Jules wasn’t going to see me in this state. I would call her when I got back from Perth and could think straighter.
    The run I’d just completed was one of the toughest of my life. My feet felt like they were weighed down by cement. When I finished my shower, I draped a towel around my waist, nearly slipping on the wet tile as I rushed to answer the phone ringing from the bedroom.
    I hit the green button. “Leo Ashlar.”
    The voice that greeted me sent icy shivers down my spine and I immediately stopped drying myself. “Leo. Hello?” I didn’t respond. “Are you there?”
    “This is a private number,” I seethed. “How did you get it?” I asked, but almost immediately knew the answer. “Forget it. Isabel gave it to you.” I shook my head. I fucking hated that woman. “What do you want?” Infuriated, I pressed the phone closer to my ear while I hissed out the snarky question.
    “I want to meet in person.” My mother's tone was quiet, but stern.
    “I have nothing to say to you and have no interest in anything you have to say.”
    “Leo. I’m your—”
    “Stop. I have to go. Don’t call me again.”
    “It was lovely seeing Juliette again.”
    “What do you mean again ?” My blood ran cold.
    I could hear her chuckling. “I showed up at her work and offered to take her to lunch earlier this week, but she’s a loyal little lady, isn’t she?”
    “Do not,” I seethed. “I repeat. Do not go near her again.” When there was no answer, I looked down at my phone. She’d hung up.
    I crumpled down on the edge of my bed and attempted to get my brain to assess my options, but I couldn’t think straight. I called Juliette, but it went to voicemail. I left her a message asking her to come into the bar tonight and told her we needed to talk.
    I finished getting ready as quickly as my fatigued muscles would allow. I jumped in the Jeep and headed into the city. I was glad I didn't ride the bike. Just looking at the parking spot reminded me of Juliette, and the way she'd sat on the bike with her legs wrapped around me, kissing me as if she had no choice. This was all just so fucked up.
    My boss, Adriana, greeted me as I walked into the bar. “Hey, Leo.” Her dark hair fell over her shoulder as she cocked her head to the side. “You okay?”
    “All good,” I lied. “You?”
    “Freaking awesome.”
    I was slightly taken aback by her enthusiastic reply. There was usually sadness that followed her like a shadow. She'd never really recovered from being jilted at the altar a few years earlier. Last she had heard, her fiancé had been mixing it with a biker gang.
    “Freaking awesome, huh?” I asked as I walked into the staff room after her.
    “I met with the new bank manager today and I got the pre-approved loan to buy the cottage.”
    “That’s awesome, Adri.” I knew she had her heart set on a cottage at Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road. “I’m really happy for you.”
    “He might be coming in for a drink later.” Her cheeks flushed.
    “The banker?”
    She grinned sheepishly. “Yep.”
    I winked. “Go for it, Adri. You tell him I’ll take him down and have his balls if he hurts you.”
    “Hate to say this, Leo, but you look like shit.” She stepped closer. “You don’t look like you could take anyone. Are you okay? Have you lost weight?”
    “Maybe a bit.” I waved her off. “I’m okay.”
    “If it’s quiet later, take off early. Okay?” she suggested. “You might be coming down with something.”
    “Thanks, my friend.” Wallowing in