Obsession (Endurance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

behind me, “Miss
Fields is on too much medication at this time to risk combining it with
alcohol.”
    Dean’s
broad smile over my head made me want to turn more than anything.  “Of
course, of course.  Our Ellie looks so beautifully vibrant I didn’t
consider the danger of mixing pills and alcohol.  Thankfully someone did.”
    Had
I not been pregnant , it likely would have been the truth. 
    That
Hyde had appeared behind me and come to my defense instantly in such a way told
me two things.  The first was that he’d been there far longer than I’d
realized.  The second was that he knew I was pregnant and keeping the
resulting child of my rapists. 
    I
hadn’t seen him in weeks and I was truly worried about passing out from
instant, debilitating stress.
    My
body shook violently and I placed my hands on my thighs to conceal it as much
as possible.  Beneath the table, Padme and Bianca each placed a hand over
mine.  I stared at the candle in front of me, willing myself into a
shallow meditation that finally allowed me to calm down. 
    There
was a final pat and my friends pulled away.
    “So,
Ellie, how’s the writing going?  I’m dying for more chapters.” 
Thadias Kellering owned a publishing company and had begged to be given first
looks at my work.  “Your writing is fresh and exciting.  I confess
I’m hooked.”  His lovely wife Sarah nodded in agreement.  I’d known
them all my life since their estate abutted my parents’ on the north side.
    I
swallowed carefully and extended my good arm to lift my water goblet with a
steady hand.  “I’ve finished another six chapters.  I can email you
those if you like.”
    “Loved
the first two books of the series.  Loved them .  Sarah stayed
up all night to read them.  We’ll anxiously await the next in the
series.  No pressure, you take your time, but you have a faithful
audience.  I don’t even cringe at the romantic elements.  They’re
well-blended into the main stories of espionage and villainy.”  Thadias
said the last with a stereotypical cartoon villain’s voice.
    I
laughed lightly, afraid I’d give way to hysterics any moment.  “I should
be finished in the next month.  My typing speed is pathetic but Padme is
transposing my notes.  How is Cameron?”
    “Getting
far too big!  We didn’t bring him tonight since he’s getting over a nasty
cold but you won’t be able to keep him away for long.”  Sarah was always
happy to discuss their little boy who’d been born a year after their
wedding. 
    Since
Thadias was almost twenty years older, it was especially wonderful for both of
them.  The father said proudly, “He asks about you, Ellie.  As far as
he’s concerned you hung the moon.  The colt rarely goes a day without
being ridden.”
    “I
recognize a fellow equestrian when I meet one.  I knew Sarafina’s foal was
going to be perfect for his first horse.  I’ll be glad to get back in the
saddle.  After…I mean, when I’m not wearing these.” 
    I
held up my casted arm wrapped in fluorescent pink.  “Not much longer
now.  You’ll have to send him over for a visit, Sarah.  I have it on
good authority that Dad put a PS3 in the media room.  I owe him a rematch
on Halo .  He owes me one on Call of Duty .  Two weeks,
tell him to be here or I’ll consider him too scared to face me.” 
    The
nine-year-old was brutal at video games.  I had to bring my A-game.
    Laughing
happily, Sarah and Thadias agreed they’d present him the instant I was
ready.  Glancing down the table, I smiled at Zoe Queen, my mother’s best
friend since college.  “Zoe, how are the mastiffs?” 
    “Breeding
faster than I can wean the pups from their mamas.”
    “I’d
like a puppy, please.  Preferably a girl.  I haven’t had a dog since
I lost Princess Pretty when I was twelve.  I thought it disloyal to try
and replace her.  I think I’m ready now.”  It would be nice to have a
dog again.  A big fucking dog that could swallow