Perfectly Broken Read Online Free PDF Page B

told us all this time that you don't dance when you obviously do."
    He must have seen the response in my eyes because he continued before I could speak. "Yeah, I know, you're not going to talk about your past. I get it. But , why did you leave? I thought…" He popped his knuckles, a nervous habit I rarely saw from him when Lizzie wasn't around. I waited patiently for him to finish. "It doesn't matter what I thought, I guess. The only thing that upset me was you disappearing and not answering my calls or texts. We were worried about you." He lowered his voice as Kas' laugh echoed down the hallway along with the first scents of food cooking in the kitchen. I made a face as the nausea returned and Zane leaned over to shut the door the rest of the way.
    "I'm sorry for running off , but I thought I screwed up your birthday and I just needed to clear my head." I didn't look away from him, even though a part of me wanted to hang my head. He was right, I acted selfishly when I didn't reply to him to at least tell him I was okay. I was completely careless last night.
    Zane made a face, seeming to debate for a second before he nodded and turned toward the door. He paused with his hand on the knob, glancing over his shoulder at me. There was something different in eyes and I stared, trying to pinpoint the change. He turned back to face me and took two quick steps to close the distance between us. He wasn't touching me but I felt trapped between his body and the wall as I looked up at him.
    "Last night was really about Lizzie? There wasn't anything else?" Zane's eyes never left mine. I could feel the same little spark of panic I'd felt last night when the crowd was cheering and Zane was kissing me. It wasn't anything more than my need to beat Lizzie. It couldn't be. He was obviously concerned I was developing feelings for him and I couldn't let him think that was true. Besides, that's not what it was. I was caught up in the moment.
    "It was just about Lizzie," I promised. Zane frowned, obviously not buying it. I was about to continue, to saying something, anything, to try to convince him , but a knock sounded on the door. He took a step back and both of us turned toward the sound.
    "You okay in there, Lee?" Tish asked, thankfully without barging in.
    I cleared my throat. "Yeah. I'm fine," I said back, clenching my hands into fists to keep them from trembling.
    "Just checking." Tish's footsteps moved down the hall and Zane took a deep breath, obviously irritated by the disturbance.
    "Zane, I—" I started but he cut me off, not looking at me as he headed to the door.
    "I'll let you shower," he said and slipped out before I could reply. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, wondering if the sick feeling was the residual alcohol or some sort of emotional response to the conversation.
    "Fuck. My. Life," I grumbled each word separately as I shuffled over, starting the shower. I slowly and carefully slipped out of my clothing, taking brief note of the nasty looking scrapes on my knees. I lifted a foot to the side of the tub, hissing a little as I dusted dirt from the wound. The pain brought with it a vague image of falling in the driveway.  
    Once the water was warm, I stepped under the spray. I washed my hair meticulously, trying to keep my thoughts off of Zane's expression. I was sure he didn't believe me and I'd have to find a way to prove to him things were normal between us. I didn't want things to change. And I certainly didn't need any of them thinking I was out doing things they wouldn't approve of after I left. I couldn't handle it if Tish or Zane looked down on me because of what happened.
      When I first moved to Vegas, I didn't need anyone. As much as I liked to pretend that was still true, Tish and Zane had grown on me. Honestly, I was even becoming attached to Kas. Thinking about any of them disapproving of my life caused an odd, empty feeling to settle in my stomach. I hated that. The one I knew I didn't have to worry about