That Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

That’s too much for a young girl like you.”
    “It keeps me busy,” I reply.
    “Leaves no time for fun,” Jeremiah countered.
    Having a feeling where this conversation is leading, I abruptly make a subject change to take the attention off me. I don’t need any awkward propositions by strangers.
    “So, Jeremiah, what do you do?”
    Instantly I know I’ve asked the wrong question, because all the oxygen is pulled from the room. Alice tears up, and he wraps his arms around her.
    “I’m in the Army, and just home on leave. I’ll be heading over to Afghanistan here in a couple weeks.”
    My hearts sinks at his words and the pain covering Alice’s face. Not knowing whether to say sorry or thank you for serving, I just slam another cupcake down.
    “You’re my kind of girl, Michelle. I love to eat away my problems,” Alice says.
    We all laugh and have another cupcake.
    Four cupcakes later, Alice finally remembers my wrist.
    “Jeremiah, take a look at her wrist. I’ll clean up in the back,” Alice says, getting up from the table.
    I watch on high alert as Jeremiah comes around the table, crouches down on one knee, and begins to unwrap my hand. The look on his face tells me everything I already knew.
    “I think it’s broken,” he says, looking up to me.
    Finally building up enough courage to look, I peek down, and sure enough, you can see a huge bump bulging out the side. The pain has been intense, though the cupcakes and company have dulled it a bit. But now looking at it almost makes me want to scream.
    “You have a high pain tolerance. I’ve seen soldiers with this same break crying and screaming like a baby.”
    “I’m good at faking,” I say, feeling a bit faint.
    “I don’t know your story, nor do I need to. Just know I came home to my wife and best friend in my bed, with my three-month-old daughter screaming from her crib in the next room. I’m not looking for anything, but I can tell you one thing; I’m a damn good set of ears.”
    Tears fill my eyes. Squeezing them shut, I try to force the fuckers back.
    “I want a tattoo. I wanted a cupcake and tattoo for my birthday. It’s the one day of the year I celebrate living. I want a tattoo today.”
    Jeremiah smiles. “Done.”
    Standing up, he hollers, “Gram, I’m taking Michelle to Cody’s tattoo shop, and then the ER. I’ll give them your insurance info.”
    “What?” she asks, rounding the corner.
    “It’s her birthday. She wanted a cupcake and a tattoo. I’m a fucking gentleman, what can I say?” he says, shrugging.
    “Goddamn, crazy kids,” she says, waving a towel.
    I reach into my pocket with my good hand. “Thank you for everything. How much do I owe you for the cupcakes?”
    “Cupcake,” she reminds me with a raised eyebrow.
    “Right, cupcake,” I chuckle.
    “Four dollars and fifty cents, dear. It was nice meeting you, Michelle.”
    Alice holds her hand out for the cash, and nothing has made me prouder than handing it over to her.
    “Thank you for everything,” I say again and lean in to give her a hug.
    “Not many young women break the cycle like you’re doing. You should be very proud of yourself. Keep going.”
    “I will,” I whisper more to myself than to Alice.
    “Let’s hit the road,” Jeremiah says.
    I follow him out the door, ready to walk down three blocks, take a left, walk to the yellow building, cross the street, and then walk a half block more. That’s what I’m ready for, but Jeremiah holds the door open to an old truck.
    “Well, come on,” he says. “We have a long night ahead of us, girl.”
    “What is this?” I ask, hesitating.
    He scratches his head and blinks. “A truck?”
    “Can’t we just walk?”
    “No, I have a truck. You can wear your seatbelt.”
    Nervously, I climb in, buckle up, and have a slight panic attack. Trying like hell to slow my breath before Jeremiah gets to his door, I realize this is the first time in over a year I have been inside a vehicle other than a