Relinquished Read Online Free PDF

like I was in high school all over again, never measuring up.
    Snatching up a few towels from a bench, I stripped off my shoes and socks, then stepped into the sparkling clean shower. Thankfully there was a small dressing area where I could hang my bag.  I began to remove my top and bra when someone called over to me.
    Turning around, I pulled the curtain aside and held it in front of my chest.
    “So how did you earn your free pass?”
    Fucking great, it was the girl from the front desk. “I’m sorry, are you supposed to harass members in the shower?”  Hey, if Holden could give her shit, why couldn’t I?
    She rolled her eyes. “Oh, you aren’t a regular member, though.”
    I frowned at that. “What’s your problem?”
    “I don’t have a problem. I’m just wondering what the trick is to get one of those passes.”  Her pissed off eyes traveled up and down my body, like it held the answer to some mystery.
    I shook my head. This was childish. Some people had real problems. “You work here. I assume you already have a membership.”
    A woman stepped up behind her with her arms across her chest. By the firm muscle tone in the woman’s biceps, I’d say she spent plenty of time at the gym. Man, I hope she isn’t here to back this dumbass up.
    Front desk blondie spoke up again, “I don’t have the same membership you do. But I will.”  She puckered her lips with a sarcastic look on her face. “Maybe even before you have a chance to really cash yours in, only mine won’t be a handout.”
    What the hell is that supposed to mean?
    I held in a laugh when she turned to strut away and bumped into the woman with folded arms standing between her and the exit. The woman did not look happy.
    “Oh hey, Christina, I didn’t see you come in. How was your workout?” She tried to suck up to who I now assumed was named Christina, who was clearly not buying the innocent act.
    “Vince’s office. Now .” The authority in this woman’s voice was undeniable. 
    The skanky receptionist had the nerve to sneer back at me before scurrying out of the room like a coward. She sure had enough balls to spout shit out to me, but was too chickenshit to own up to it when she got busted.
    Seeing as I was already half naked and aggravated, I was ready to rip the curtain closed when ‘Christina’, stepped closer. “Sorry about her. She won’t bother you again.”
    “Thanks.” I calmed a bit and gave her a sheepish smile.
    “Saw you with Vince earlier, I hope he talked you in to joining.” I was thrown by her friendly demeanor. Beautiful girls were never friendly to me. “We have a great program here and I promise Amber won’t be a problem anymore.”
    I was still standing with the shower curtain covering me when I answered. “Yeah, I just signed up.” I pointed behind my shoulder. “I’m um, gonna take a shower now.”
    Her hand came up to smack her forehead. “Oh, right, duh.” She continued to talk to me as she backed out of the room. “I’m Christina by the way, Vince’s wife. Let me know if you need anything.”
    I finally closed the curtain and slowly let out a breath of air as I turned on the water, expecting a cold blast. Surprisingly, warmth drizzled from the showerhead.  As I relaxed under the spray, I began to analyze everything that had happened since I’d stepped foot in the gym today.
    I never felt like I fit in with these pretentious L.A. people, but if I was going to keep coming here, I’d have to accept it. The biggest decision these women probably had to make today was what color lipstick to wear.  I, on the other hand, was struggling to stay in a less than habitable motel room.
    Fuck, I bet these are Dante’s type of people, and he really does just feel sorry for me. I hated pity, but for some reason, it bothered me even more that it was possibly coming from him. As I’d first learned years ago while planting flowers in the soil above Casey’s makeshift grave and many other times since, nothing