Playing Around Read Online Free PDF Page B

bench in the front while she went to get something. She never came back. Sergio and I were four years old at the time. We didn’t understand what was taking her so long.” Even then as he told her his story. That little part inside his chest still hurt.
     
    “Believe me, I asked myself the same question. Maybe if I had been a better boy? Maybe if I hadn’t made to many messes or fought with Sergio so much. Maybe then she would have wanted us.” Reina looked utterly confused after he opened up to her.
     
    “Aunt Michelle loves you. She would never do such a thing.” Jed smiled because Reina was 100% correct. His mother Michelle wouldn’t have done that to them.
     
    “If I tell you a secret. Do you promise not to tell anyone?” He had already said too much. Only telling her would make her understand, why he knew what she was feeling. When she nodded yes he continued. Not before taking a much needed deep breathe.
     
    “I’m adopted and never knew my father. The woman who left us was my real mom. Sergio and I were living in an orphanage for two years. While living there, we were told kids our age never get adopted. They also said if by some miracle we did. It would only be one of us, so we would be split. I lived in constant fear until Grady showed up. He was like a big brother to us. Then Victor and Roger came and we made our own little family.” Yes, Grady had always managed to make it fun for them.

“Wait, are you saying all you guys were adopted?” Reina asked in disbelief. No one knew but his parents and his brothers.
     
    “Yup,” He answered as he wiped the tears that had escaped his eyes without his permission. Tears were for weak people. He still remembered that.
     
    It was Reina who hugged him this time. She even placed a kiss on his cheek. It smarted when he felt the flush. “Well I’m so happy you’re here. You made me feel better and I’m so happy that Aunt Michelle and Uncle Diego found you guys.”
     
    That whole summer they managed to sneak time alone. Under their tree, she opened up to him and he in turn opened up to her. It was easy to tell her all he feared and loved. Things he could and would never tell another living soul. Not even his brother Sergio.
     
    When Jed started high school that fall, football took up all his time. Their visits became few and far between. Then when Reina got glasses, he teased her by playing keep away with his brothers. He had just been playing around. She didn’t like it and eventually stopped coming with her mom. With a full schedule at school, Jed had just slowly forgot about her.

Jed shook his head to clear the memories as a frown marred his features. “Jed Diaz, you are truly a real asshole.” He muttered and looked up in time to catch Reina looking at him. The sadness that washed over him was so strong it hurt. He needed to leave and fast. After making his way to the back of the shop Jed leaned against the cold wall.
     
    “Fuck, keep it together man. It’s been to fucking long since you’ve even thought of your mom. It’s been so long since you remembered the girl too.” Yet his heart was still beating fast and his breath was labored.
    ~*~*~*~*~*~
     
    During Jed’s run through memory lane, Reina had been shooting daggers at him. She knew full well he had come out with the intention of making them drool over him. That only served to fuel her anger. Yet she couldn’t help but notice how he seemed to space while working on the bike.  He had looked lost for a while until the sweet smile she remembered made an appearance.
     
    It had been directed at her once upon a time. Jed had always found a way to make her feel so special. She had opened up to him and had shared the deepest and darkest part of her thoughts. Well, they had seemed so dark to a 10 year old. To this day, she too had kept his secrets.

It had been a special time in Reina’s life. She had mourned the loss of the friendship for a very long time. Unfortunately, puberty struck