Storm Shells (The Wishes Series #3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

love, excited and completely convinced. Adam, on the other hand, was lying through his teeth.
    I didn’t answer him and the silence spoke volumes.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said, way too smugly.
    I shrugged. “It’ll be okay in the end.”
    Alex didn’t smile until I did. “In a million life times, I’ll never figure you out.”
    I couldn’t expect him to. I had trouble understanding myself most of the time. “I know what I’m doing, Alex,” I lied.
    “Charli, you’ve never had a clue what you’re doing. That’s what makes you dangerous. I’ve been keeping a jar of bail money on top of the fridge since you were twelve years old for that very reason,” he grumbled, heading toward the back room to collect the newspaper deliveries.
    I moved one of the wicker stools to the business side of the counter. I would have been perfectly content to sit there all morning, but the jingling bell at the top of the door snapped me back to reality. Nicole Lawson strolled in, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw me. I watched the colour drain from her face as her eyes darted in every direction but mine. I didn’t share her nervousness. I had no urge to run and hide, probably because I wasn’t a lying, backstabbing thief.
    I stared her down, studying her closely. Nicole was much thinner than I’d ever known her to be – Kinsey Ballantyne thin. She was wearing cargo shorts and a black camisole top, the exact same outfit I was wearing. There was a time when I would’ve found the coincidence funny. Now it irked me. Her long brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail. I was glad I’d worn mine down.
    “Charli,” she said timidly, taking a few measured steps toward the counter. “I had no idea you were coming home.”
    “I was going to email you and let you know but then I remembered how much I hate you.” Her already shaky expression crumpled and for some reason, I almost felt bad. Almost .
    “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
    “It’s not worth anything at all, Nicole.”
    She walked over to the counter and I considered screaming at her to get the hell away from me.
    “I’d really like the opportunity to explain.”
    “Look, you might have been able to talk Alex around but it won’t work with me.” I leaned across the counter, trying my hand at being scary by lowering my tone. “I know everything , Nic. Alex wouldn’t have given you your job back if he knew everything .”
    She nodded, resigned. “I know that. I’ll tell him the whole story if you want me to.”
    My skills at bullying obviously needed some work. She didn’t seem at all concerned by Alex finding out the true extent of her treacherousness.
    I straightened up. “I really don’t care one way or the other. Tell him, or don’t tell him. Just stay away from me.”
    She sat opposite me, ignoring my demand. “Please, just hear me out.”
    “We’re not friends any more, Nicole,” I said harshly, “which means I don’t care what you have to say. There’s nothing to explain.”
    Her eyes drifted downward, focusing on the wooden countertop as she traced the grain with her fingertip. It was then that I noticed her loser boyfriend’s name tattooed in ugly black script on the inside of her wrist.
    “That’s a nice touch,” I taunted, pointing to her tattoo. “You let your boyfriend brand you. How sweet.”
    She pointed at my wedding ring. “So did you, apparently.”
    Although secretly pleased she hadn’t become completely devoid of all personality, I didn’t want to deal with Nicole for another second. Convincing Alex to take time out of his day to drive me back to the house was simple. I pulled the jetlag card, and didn’t feel the tiniest bit guilty doing it.
    * * *
    Thanks to Gabrielle’s decision to spend the day Christmas shopping in the city, I had the house to myself. I should’ve used the time to unpack or prepare dinner, but I didn’t. I snooped around the house like a crook, counting changes that the lady of