The Dysfunctional Test Read Online Free PDF

three times in the course of twenty minutes.
    “I know, I know. But Cam would’ve killed me.” She paused for him to speak. He didn’t. “Are…you going to do it?”
    He looked at the door again. “Yes.”
    “Thank you, Troy.”
    Heather’s voice had gotten weepy, so he plopped on the couch and drank from his beer.
    “That guy she was seeing, Maxwell, he kinda did a number on her.”
    No one ever did anything to Camryn. She’d never allow it. “How so?”
    “Don’t tell her I said anything, okay. She just…”
    Troy set his beer down and leaned forward. “Just what, Heather?”
    She paused long enough to have him worried. “She got let go from the firm and found out she has to move in the course of a day. She’s moving back home. It’s probably killing her.”
    Yeah, he could tell. Strip Camryn of control and independence and she was nothing. “What does that have to do with the ex?”
    “He broke up with her right before she got fired. Said some things…”
    Troy stood, tension wringing his jaw tight. If it was bad enough to have Heather upset, he could only imagine what it was doing to Camryn. “What did he say?”
    “I just think she needs a morale boost, okay. Tell her she’s pretty. Make her feel special. If anyone can do that, you can.”
    Camryn was not one of these women men had to placate. Say empty, meaningless things to. He was pretty sure Cam would’ve punched him if he did. Heather knew that too. And they definitely weren’t real a couple, so what in the hell had happened for Heather to want to intervene?
    “Heather, what did he say?”
    She paused. Sighed. “He called her a robot. Compared her to a fish in bed.” Troy ground his teeth. “He was sleeping with someone behind her back.”
    Troy looked at the futon like Camryn was still sitting there. That look on her face and the things she’d said started making more sense now. If Camryn was anything, she was confident. When she came over today, she seemed the same. He didn’t bother to try to understand, delve deeper.
    No. He cracked jokes and…
    “I’ll talk to you later, Heather. Thanks for letting me know.”

Chapter Three
    Life Lessons According to Camryn:
    Laughter is only the best medicine if you’re the one laughing.
     
    After the house was asleep, Camryn poured herself a glass of wine and went to sit out on the back deck. She could smell the dandelions and fresh-cut grass. This was the only peace and quiet she used to get as a kid, sneaking outside at night to breathe. Only now she felt less guilty about it. It was also the only time she didn’t have to pretend to be fine. The small quarter-acre lot in her parents’ subdivision was quiet except for the crickets.
    She was pretty sure that’s all she and Troy would hear tomorrow at dinner after the family found out they were “dating”.
    Earlier, she’d had a plan before heading over to Troy’s. If he had agreed to this charade, they’d go over the details of their “relationship” to not trip over each other. Her family would demand details.
    Except he’d tried to kiss her. Her mind had been a mess ever since. God, for a second there, she’d wanted him to kiss her too, proving insanity did run in the family.
    Her cell rang from inside the house. She set her wine down and went to get it before it could wake anyone, answering while sitting back down on the deck.
    “Did I wake you?” Troy. He’d changed his mind.
    “No. I’m glad you changed your mind, though…”
    “I didn’t change my mind.”
    Oh. Then why was he calling?
    “You wanted me to do this, Cam. I said I would.” When she didn’t respond, he cut in. “Look, I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. You just…surprised me.”
    She took a sip of wine. He surprised her too, so they were even. “We probably should go over some things.”
    “That’s why I was calling,” he said, his voice low. He was probably lying next to a beautiful blonde and trying not to wake her. “When did we,