Sleep Stalker (Ghosts Beyond the Grove Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

since you got off of that plane, you’ve been nothing but a jerk!  I’ve been trying to keep my mouth shut and ride out this whole jet lag thing with you but it’s wearing on my nerves.  There’s something else wrong with you—what is it?” 
         “Me? You want to know what’s wrong with me ?  What’s wrong with me is that you’ve been nothing but a nag since I got home.  You don’t seem to care that I’ve had a headache for over twenty four hours and nowhere near enough sleep.  All you think about is yourself.”
         Ruby stormed into the bathroom and returned with a small bottle in her hand.  “Here!” she said chucking the bottle full force into my chest.  “Here’s your precious ibuprofen!  Take some and go to bed.  I’m done arguing with you.”
         Immediately, I tipped two pills out into my hand and tossed them into my mouth.  “Don’t tell me what to do,” I said before slamming the bedroom door behind me.
         I didn’t even bother to get undressed.  All I needed was a pillow to make me happy.  I set the alarm clock to go off extra early so I wouldn’t miss my first class then flopped into the bed with no intention of getting back up until morning.  I was completely settled in and comfortable but one thing was still keeping me awake.  Dragging myself out of bed one last time, I turned on the small window fan to drown out the sound of her crying in the living room.  Good night.
     
     
    4.  Common Ground
     
     
         I curled up on the living room futon and began to cry.  This wasn’t how the night was supposed to go.  So many times I imagined how fun it was going to be once Zach and I were finally living on our own together.  Never once did I envision throwing a bottle of ibuprofen at him before settling in for a night of sleeping alone on the futon.  Not even close.  All of my hard work the week before felt like it was in vain.  I did everything I could to make this place feel like home for him. After only one week apart from each other, it was like we no longer had anything in common.
         Shelly and I spent several long hard days getting this place in order.  We cleaned from top to bottom before unpacking my stuff.  Then we made a terribly long shopping list of all of the household items Zach and I would need to get started.  Shopping for vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances is nowhere near as fun as shopping for clothes and shoes.  In fact, it was downright exhausting.  If I never had to compare HEPA filters or toaster functions ever again, it would suit me just fine.  The day before Zach got home, we even stocked the kitchen with all of our favorite foods.  What else could I possibly have done to make him happy?  Nothing.  That’s right, nothing.
         I expected him to at least feign excitement over the little things like the “His” and “Hers” towels I bought for the bathroom.  I expected him to appreciate everything I’d done not ignore me, then yell at me and slam the bedroom door shut.  This couldn’t all be because of a headache.  Something happened while he was in California—something he refused to talk about—and I was determined to figure out what it was.
         With no inclination whatsoever to be anywhere near him for the rest of the night, I turned out the light and pulled the throw blanket down around me.  Since Zach was hogging not only the bed but the alarm clock as well, I set the alarm on my phone and closed my eyes.  Coco and Foxy—still quite unhappy with their new surroundings—settled in around my feet for comfort.  Welcome to Ohio.
         When I woke up the next morning, Zach was already gone.  I was so exhausted that I didn’t hear him leave.  The bathroom showed no signs of him having showered; the kitchen looked untouched.  All I found was a brief note scribbled on a paper towel and draped over my phone where I wouldn’t be able to miss it.
         “Let me take