The Dysfunctional Test Read Online Free PDF Page B

um…start dating?”
    God. He couldn’t even say it. “January of last year.”
    “And how?”
    Huh. She wasn’t sure on that one. “I don’t know. Maxwell and I met at work.” She swallowed. Her stomach churned. “Maybe you came to Chicago for the weekend and stopped by? Something happened?” If that wasn’t the biggest crock of…
    “Okay.” Silence. “Are we discussing marriage?”
    Maxwell’s rejection cut her all over again. “We were, yes. But we can play that casually. I know you don’t want to get married…”
    “I never said that.” He didn’t have to. If Troy ever got married the depression rate for the population of single women would skyrocket. Troy would also have to be heavily medicated just to get down the aisle. “One must find the right person first.”
    Huh. She didn’t remember him being this good a liar. Surprised, she said, “You just seemed like the type to not settle down.” Resting her head against the back of the chair, she let a soft breeze cool her off as she closed her eyes.
    “What color underwear are you wearing tomorrow?”
    Luckily she hadn’t been drinking just then. “Excuse me?”
    “I know Nana. She’s gonna want proof we’re for real.”
    Yeah probably. She tried to rub the tension from her forehead. “I don’t know, Troy.”
    He laughed. Laughed. “Oh yes you do, Cam. You probably pick your clothes out a week in advance. I’ll bet you even know…”
    Darn him. He did know her. “Blue, okay? They’re blue.”
    “Do you still sleep in boxers and a white tee?”
    She looked down at herself and pursed her lips.
    “I’ll take your silence as a yes. We grew up together. I know more than you think.” He paused, waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t—or rather, couldn’t—he said, “I sleep in the nude, by the way.”
    As if he was in front of her, she slapped a hand over her eyes. He must have heard because he laughed again. She cleared her throat, hating how he was the only person who could ever get past her defenses. “Anything else, Troy?”
    “Yeah, move in with me.” Air wheezed from her lungs. “Until you get a place. You won’t have to stay in the nut house.” Pause. “I have a guest room. I’ll wear pajamas. Promise.”
    Her grip tightened around the phone. No one had ever been that considerate. At least, not in recent memory. Then again, Troy had always been a nice guy. A flirt, naughty as hell, and with an uber dark past he hid from the world. But nice.
    “Just think about it,” he said quietly. Too quietly. “Oh, and Cam?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You looked really nice today.”
    She expected “see you tomorrow”, not that. Troy had never told her she looked nice. No one had ever told her she looked nice. She had her mouth open to say an awkward “thank you” when she realized why he must have uttered the compliment.
    Heather told Troy the things Maxwell said when they broke up.
    Troy wasn’t being nice. He pitied her.
    There was nothing more embarrassing or pathetic than knowing Troy had this information. This was why he agreed to this fiasco. He felt sorry for her.
    She pulled the phone away from her ear and disconnected. Before she could hold back, hot tears fell down her cheeks. Pressing her hands to her chest, she rocked, trying to sob quietly enough so no one could hear.
    Something else she used to do often as a kid. Back then she’d sob into her pillow.
    One day back home and she was already crying. This was going to be the week from hell.
     
     
    Troy watched Camryn out of the corner of his eye as she drove them over to her parents’ house. She had insisted on picking him up for dinner. He had a feeling it was to escape the house. A full Covic family could be…overwhelming. If she gripped the wheel any harder it was going to pop off.
    “You’re quiet,” he said, just to get some conversation going.
    “I don’t have anything to say.”
    He’d bet there was enough going on in her head. “Why did you