Read Online The Road to L.A. by Gina Buchanan - Free Book Online

reluctantly.” 
    They wrapped their pinky fingers together and Carly said, “Promise you won’t let anyone break up our friendship.”
                  “That’s easy,” Jake grinned. “That won’t ever happen.   I’d never turn my back on you.”
    She smiled at his reassuring words.  She started to move forward to give him a hug when her foot tripped on a rock protruding from the ground.  She fell forward and Jake caught her in his arms.  She felt his strong grip maintaining firm control of her body, and she dared to look up at his face, which was but mere inches away from hers.   She gazed shyly into his clear blue eyes.  Jake returned her pointed gaze by perusing her beautiful face.  He wanted to take in every arresting feature, which he had become so familiar with.  His arms tightened around her as if he were afraid she would slip away from him.   
                  “You okay?” he said in a deep, husky voice.  
    Carly nodded slowly and replied, “Yeah.” 
    She couldn’t think of more words to say at the moment.  Her hands were planted on his shoulders for support. 
                  “You can let me go now,” Carly finally said. 
    Jake seemed a bit disappointed and replied, “Well, what if I don’t want to?” 
    A torrent of electric waves shot through her body, and her stomach fluttered as if a thousand butterflies were trapped inside.  She felt something she had never felt before, and it scared her and thrilled her all at the same time.  She felt Jake’s hand move to the small of her back, where he applied just enough pressure to coax her closer to him.  His face inched closer to hers as if to kiss her.  His lips were hovering just above hers now, and she could feel her heart jump with sudden excitement.  She wondered at this feeling and wanted to savor more of it.  She had often wondered what would have happened that night, the both of them in the woods, their bodies latched in that heated embrace. But before she had had a chance to find out, they both heard the sound of footsteps approaching in the darkness.  Their curiosities were satisfied when Amanda’s voice rang out somewhere between the myriad trees surrounding them. 
                  “Are you guys out here?  I saw you guys going into the woods!  Hello?”  Amanda yelled.  Her loud and slurred voice was followed by a rustling sound in the underbrush close by.  Carly attributed the rustling to some poor animal that had become alarmed by the twin’s booming voice and was intent on finding a new place of refuge.  This thought brought about a giggle which failed to escape Jake's notice as he smiled down at her. 
                  “We’re here, Amanda!” Carly yelled back. 
    She felt Jake’s arms release her, and she could have sworn she felt a strange sense of disappointment.  Had Jake really held her that close to him?  Had their lips really been but a mere whispered breath away?  Carly brushed the thought aside and stumbled in the darkness toward her drunken friend.  She could hear Jake treading behind her. 
                  “There you guys are!” Amanda squealed. 
                  “Would you lower your voice?” Carly chided in a whispered voice.  Just then another voice rang out in the darkness, and it almost made both  Amanda and her cringe with dread.  Carly shot a glance in Jake’s direction and could have sworn he cringed as well.  The voice rang out again.
                  “Jake, where are you?”
                  “I’m here,” he called back hesitantly.   
    Susan appeared suddenly and pranced toward her new boyfriend.  She threw her arms about his neck in an overly dramatic fashion.  Susan’s ostentatious display was obviously targeted at Carly and Amanda.  The female twin rolled her eyes.  Carly anticipated and, thus, braced herself for what was sure to follow.  She