The Effects of Falling (The Weight of Rain Duet Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

emotions. I’m pretty certain he does it so often he doesn’t even realize when or if something is truly bothering him, specifically us.
    “Mercedes is going to be so upset when she sees the pictures of this place,” I comment as I look through my lens and focus on the fireplace that has to be at least eleven-feet high.
    “She’s in Florida! Her toes are in the sand, and she’s likely talked Grandpa Robert into buying her more crap than any eleven-year-old needs.”
    Mercedes already has more stuff than four children, but I don’t comment. I know Kash has a tendency to buy things for her out of guilt, one that he shouldn’t possess.
    An hour later we’re outside, our bags still packed, the house still not toured, because the crew decided the lighting is in fact going to be perfect, like I had suspected.
    Rubbing my hands together to try to regain feeling, I take a step closer to Lo. A year ago I wouldn’t have considered doing this. I’ve always found it easier to be friends with guys because they’re not nearly as emotional, and generally don’t make it a habit to stab their friends in the back or change opinions based on their audience. It’s a bit ironic I avoid most of the female population since I consider myself a strong feminist. But meeting Lo has been beneficial for both of us, serving to remind me that we can’t judge everyone based upon our previous experiences, even if I’ll never be able to fully forget them.
    Lo and I share a kinship that I regret to say I took more seriously after meeting her mother, because it was many months after she came to work for Kash, and several after the others had already accepted her as part of the clan.
    We all have stories we can tell about our parents. I mean, really, shouldn’t they order, like, a psychiatric evaluation or something before they allow someone to procreate? Or at least ensure they aren’t going to turn the top drawer of the dresser into your crib for the first year of your life?
    My mom is a special brand of bad parent though, and it took me a really long time to recognize that, rather than believe she was the most awesome best friend like I did when I was younger and she was buying me my first fake ID. In addition to helping me get into clubs and bars before I could legally drive, she was the mastermind behind the manufactured stories we shared with attractive older men. I don’t know if she thought I was going to be her ticket to a bigger and better lifestyle or if she was simply trying to live vicariously through me. Does it matter? I’m still trying to wash off the dirt she created and planted deep under my skin. Sometimes, I fear I won’t ever be able to fully change and rid my tendencies to fabricate truths, judge females upon sight, smile as soon as an attractive man enters a room, and strive to be the best at everything because of my need to stand out.
    Thank God for my Uncle Toby. If it wasn’t for him, I’d probably be the trophy wife of husband number four by now. Uncle Toby introduced me to the world of BMX riding, and when I was sixteen, and despite my mom was encouraging me to seduce a man twice my age, I found security and a little bit of consistency for the first time in my life.
    I didn’t see much of her after that. A few times in the beginning she would come to some of the events, and quickly realized that some of the guys who rode were not only really attractive, but some also had the potential to make a shit-ton of money between endorsement deals and winning competitions. It didn’t take more than a few months for Uncle Toby to catch on to her games, and when he threatened to notify the police, she vanished like the wind.
    Lo’s mom is nearly as manipulative and demanding. She wanted Lo to go into modeling, something she could easily do with her slim frame and looks, but we all knew she would never be happy in that profession. She’s an artist, and she has a passion for it that is undeniable. Thankfully, she too