That Girl is Mine - Part Two Read Online Free PDF Page A

anyway, staring at the blank screen. Nothing happens, and I chew on my lip, wondering if perhaps I should message Dylan too and apologize for my behavior as well.
    Before I can think any further, I begin to type.
    I’m sorry about last night.
    Immediately I get a reply.
    We need to talk. Come downstairs.
    Closing my eyes, my heart hammers in my chest. I’m scared to talk to him. I’m scared to face this. But, I know it needs to be done. I can’t be bursting into tears every time I see him and Josh at the same time.
    Selecting the messages, I delete them and place my cell back on the nightstand, before I pull on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and head downstairs, holding the wall to balance my unsteady and hungover body.
    I pause when my barefoot touches the first floor and my eyes scan the room for Dylan. I don’t see him at first, but then I hear a sound from the kitchen, seconds before the smell of cooking bacon hits my nostrils.
    Food.
    I walk toward the kitchen and find Dylan at the pans with a dishtowel over his shoulder as he pokes around at the sizzling food. He looks spectacularly good, even though he’s just wearing gym pants and a faded tee. That’s when I remember my own looks and groan inwardly. I didn’t even look in the mirror or comb my hair. I must look a mess.
    Quickly, I wipe my fingers under my eyes, hoping I don’t have big black circles of mascara staining my skin. He turns and notices me doing it.
    “Hey,” I say quickly, lifting my hand in a wave.
    He looks at me with raised eyebrows, and I feel as though I’m in trouble for misbehaving and begin to fidget by twisting the hem of my shirt while I watch him slide the greasy food onto a plate. On to one plate. Is he seriously going to sit and eat that in front of me?
    “Sit,” he commands, nodding to the stool on my side of the counter. I do as he says, as he turns and places the food in front of me. “Greasy bacon and eggs. It will make you feel better,” he says, handing me a knife and fork before turning around and pouring me coffee and a glass of orange juice. I sit here, looking at my food and watching him as he moves about the kitchen, as if taking care of me after I drank far too much is a normal thing for him. “Eat,” he commands when he glances at me.
    Nodding, I pick up my cutlery and begin to dive in, eating rather quickly because I didn’t realize exactly how hungry I was. The heaviness of the food sits firmly in my gut, and somehow the orange juice makes me feel as though I’m awake. I sip my coffee, and he clears my plate away, slotting it into the dishwasher before pouring a coffee for himself and moving to stand across from me.
    “I don’t know what to do,” he says with a sigh, meeting my eyes.
    Instantly, my eyes start to burn with emotion. “About?” I ask, knowing what he means, but really needing him to spell it all out very plainly for me to understand, because I don’t know what I’m doing either. I feel lost. I feel like my world is cracking in two between my feet, and I don’t know which half to jump to...

Chapter 5

Dylan
    She looks so innocent sitting across from me with her blue eyes wide as she waits for me to go on. All morning, I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. For the last two weeks, I’ve been agonizing about it, and last night, seeing her with Josh made me realize that I can’t just sit around a wait for feelings to either go away or stay. I need to do something. But, what? I feel torn about what to do, and the only thing I can think to do is lay my cards on the table. Because right now, even though Avery is hungover with her red hair in knots and the remnants of last night’s makeup still smudged beneath her eyes, she is still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. I need to make her mine.
    “About us, Rusty,” I start. “I don’t know what to do about us. And I’m an asshole, because I don’t think leaving you alone is an option. I know you’re with Josh. And I