The Line That Binds Read Online Free PDF Page B

secretive. Not popular and charming. He knew all of this already. He knew I stayed away from all of the usual, the normal, especially after Harper died. He also knew he wouldn’t get many opportunities of his own. I guess that made me the one who could create new opportunities.
    Janine’s house, LJ’s house, looked deserted. After crossing the grounds, I knocked on the back door. No one answered. They were probably still with Simone at the event house. I peeked into the mud room window. No movement or noise. The doorknob turned without hesitation and I walked through the mud room’s clutter and into the kitchen. I glanced around as I opened the faucet, testing the water I already knew worked. Nothing seemed important enough to stand out. Though, there were new papers sitting on the farthest corner of the granite countertop. I flipped through them. They were signed legal documents of the trust. I recognized Upton’s signature, appearing the same as it did on my own paperwork.
    The main entry and hallway were also empty. I took the stairs two at a time and said an aimless “Hello” when I reached the top. No one answered. I glanced down the corridor and noticed that all of the well paintings, including the one at my feet, had been removed from their hooks and left on the floor. It didn’t take long for them to hate the twisted paintings. I couldn’t blame them. The one in our place was strange enough; I couldn’t imagine living in a place with a collection that probably numbered a hundred.
    After I tossed my head into all of the other bedrooms, I passed the upstairs office and went to the back bedroom that Claire used to stay in. Pop and I had only searched this room once since Claire left. Simone had insisted Claire stay after Janine died, giving her plenty of time to find a new place to live and work. She finally moved a few weeks ago.
    Three cardboard boxes labeled “Lila” sat open in the middle of the floor with clothes spilling from them like they just barfed up designer threads. Some items were glittery enough to hurt my eyes, and others looked like business attire made for fancy offices and private under-the-desk jobs. Doesn’t this girl own any jeans? I could see immediately where I would have a problem getting along with her. I was pretty sure even the richest kids at school didn’t wear clothes like these.
    A soft splashing sound came from the bathroom. I moved around the corner and stepped through the open door. The tub was so full of bubbles that I couldn’t see the water. I jerked my head around, half expecting someone to walk in on me standing here like a lunatic staring at the tub. When I turned back, five little toes, with chipped bright pink polish, poked through the bubble layers at the edge of the tub. I jumped back, slamming my tool belt into the vanity with a muted thud. The dull noise left the possibility for escape, until the channel locks fell. They crashed onto the tile floor with a loud enough clank to wake Janine’s ghost.
    “What the hell, Gav?” LJ’s voice came from somewhere inside the bubbles. “I thought we had the talk about invading my privacy years ago. If you recall, some of your stuff disappeared during negotiations.”
    I froze at her voice─delicate despite its words─afraid to make a move. My feet betrayed me as I screamed at them internally. Finally, I managed to return the channel locks to my belt and slide one foot behind my body, ready to back out.
    Her head emerged through the bubbles, only a small portion of her face exposed to the air. Her eyebrows shot up as she locked eyes with me. I raised my hands in a surrendering fashion, hoping this incident wouldn’t hurt my chance to start this forced friendship, but knowing it would.
    She gasped, pulling a quick breath between her teeth while her green eyes scanned me. “What are you doing in here?” Her voice was calmer than I’d expected. I was prepared to cover my ears to cut down a piercing scream, but it