Love & Hate (Book Two: Love) Read Online Free PDF Page B

them by staying up above on the top deck. I was also having a shockingly good time with Holden. He is easy to be around and he is so funny. He also isn’t bad to look at which always helps. We have been chatting for hours and it feels completely natural.
    “ So I hope you don’t mind but Millie told me about your accident.” I swallowed hard. I didn’t care that Millie told him, I would have eventually got around to it. I just didn’t know if now was the right time.
    “ No it’s okay, I don’t mind.”
    “ So you had back surgery huh?”
    “ Yeah I couple of times. This last one seemed to have worked the best. I still have numbness in my left leg but it’s better than it initially was.”
    “ Wow that must have been really difficult to deal with.”
    “ It was at first but after a while it became the new normal and I learned to live with it.”
    “ Millie said you ride horses. Are you still able to do that after your accident?”
    I look down. I know he is just curious but this is the part of this conversation I hate most because it’s the part that hurts the most. “No I can no longer ride. I have tried a few times since my last surgery and I can do it if I just take it easy, but I will never compete again.”
    “ I’m sorry.” He says sincerely.
    “ It’s alright, I have accepted it.”
    “ I don’t know if I have told you but I’m going to school to be a physical therapist and I actually work part-time as a therapy assistant for the sports teams here at school. If you ever wanted to come use the private pool, I could get you access.”
    “ Oh that’s really nice but I have done a ton of physical therapy and it hasn’t really improved me much.”
    “ Have you tried swimming?”
    “ No.” I admit.
    “ Swimming is low impact on the back but it has the ability to really strengthen the core muscles. Think about it, if you want to try it just let me know.”
    “ Thanks I will.” I like Holden. He is a very genuine person. At first glance he looks like just your typical gorgeous frat guy that likes to party but after getting to know him I see that he is the polar opposite of that. I’m actually considering trying his swimming idea.
    Holden and I continue to chat on the upper deck as the sun sets on Lake Coeur D’Alene. The beautiful oranges and pinks streak across the sky and I lean against the railing admiring it. I should have seen it coming but I didn’t, I guess I’m out of practice. It makes sense we have been chatting forever and now we are having a somewhat romantic moment. Holden reaches up and lightly touches my cheek so I turn toward him and he kisses me. It’s a slow kiss but it’s lovely. His lips are soft and he isn’t intrusive, he is gentle. I kiss him back relishing in the tender moment between us. I haven’t kissed anyone since Cutter and I didn’t think I would ever enjoy kissing anyone else. I guess that is why I’m so shocked that I feel a small spark while Holden kisses me. I decide to explore this feeling more and I lean into him deepening our connection. I should have known things were going too good.
    I don’t even hear him coming. I just feel Holden get ripped from me and pushed backwards. I open my eyes to see Cutter throw a punch and it connect with Holden’s face.
    “ Cutter stop it!” I scream as I grab at his shirt.
    “ Don’t you fucking touch her!” Cutter barks at Holden as he lands another blow to his face. Holden steadies himself and then swings at Cutter hitting him in the side of the face. This unleashes the rage in Cutter and he explodes.
    “ No one touches her, but me. Do you understand me?” He is raining punch after punch down on Holden, but to Holden’s credit he is getting some good licks in as well.
    This has got to stop so I do the only thing I can think of and lunge at Cutter’s back hoping to pry him off Holden. That was a very bad idea. I meet Cutter’s momentum with my own and go flying backward and land flat on my back.
    “