Tormented Read Online Free PDF Page B

with his sudden departure. I could fucking strangle him.
    His darkness had won. Again.
    “I’m sorry, honey.” I pushed my dessert away and rubbed my temples. Harrison gave me whiplash with his change of moods. As soon as I thought he’d made a breakthrough, he disappointed the fuck out of me by reverting back to the old Harrison.
    “It’s okay. I’m kinda used to it by now.” Jade placed her hand over mine. “I have no choice but to live with it because he’s my family. And since I’ve moved out of the house, it doesn’t affect me as badly any more. But you . . . Eva, you don’t need to put up with his shit. If Ryder found out, he’d be mad as hell.”
    “Ryder doesn’t need to know.” I studied my nails while I organized my thoughts. “I’m a big girl, Jade. I appreciate your concern, but somehow I’m in this whether I like it or not. I’m . . . fuck, I think I’ve fallen for your brother, and I don’t know how to handle it.”
    Jade sucked in a breath. “Don’t get hurt, Eva. Harrison is damaged, and he’s just going to break your heart. I don’t want that to happen to you, even if I love my brother.”
    I spoke my thoughts out loud. “It may be too late already.”
    I’m screwed . So fucking screwed.
    “I care about you. Be careful.”
    “I know, and that means a lot to me. Without you and Ryder to keep me sane, I’d have given up on Harrison a long time ago.”
    Jade managed a smile. “How does that work?”
    I laughed, although it sounded hollow. “Harrison needs help more than any one of us. You and Ryder have one another. I have both of you. Harrison . . . well, he only has himself. I’ve never met a man as complex and damaged as him, and that’s what first drew me to him. I’ve always had this strange urge to try to help fix broken people. So far I haven’t had much luck with him, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m wasting my time.”
    “Oh, Eva. I’m so sorry. Harrison is lucky that you come to his defense in spite of everything.”
    Finishing the last of my coffee, I signaled the waitress for the check. I was tired, and I wanted to go home. I was over shopping and over trying to understand men.
    “I’m okay, don’t worry. Listen, honey, you must be really tired. I know how exhausted I am. So how about we go home?”
    “Yeah, I’m totally drained. Harrison is so damn intense. But I have a better idea. Let’s go for a manicure and pedicure. I can’t reach my feet these days, and I really just need to relax and be pampered.” Jade surprised me with her answer. I expected her to want to go and put her feet up at home, and I was pleased that she wasn’t abandoning me. My spirits lifted and I was ready for the next round. Pampering sounded exactly like what we needed.
    “Okay, but it’s my treat. I know just the place to go. They have massage chairs and champagne . . . not that you can have any, but they have orange juice too. Sound good?”
    “Oh yeah. What’s a girl’s day out without some pampering?” She wrinkled her nose. “But what about your dress? You need one by the weekend, right?”
    “I do, but maybe I’ll go online tonight and check it out. I love shopping in my pajamas.”
    I paid the check and left a generous tip. Grabbing our purses, Jade and I pushed to our feet to leave. I couldn’t wait to get out of the place.
    We hopped into my car and I drove us to a little place I’d frequented since my mother had introduced me to pampering sessions as a teenager. The staff were friendly, and because they’d known me for years, they always squeezed me in regardless of how busy they were.
    Monica welcomed us with a smile. Luckily her salon wasn’t that packed so I didn’t feel too guilty showing up without an appointment. I’d called her on the drive over and she’d assured me she could do our nails.
    “Oh this is heaven.” Jade sank back into the leather massage chair and closed her eyes.
    “Hmmm, this is the time I’m glad I’m a woman.” I