Read Online EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Debby Conrad - Free Book Online Page B

mean Hollin had to like him or respect him. Besides, she’d heard from her best friend Cindy Kaufmann that Randy used steroids. Cindy’s older brother Tim had told her so. And Tim should know. He was not just on the football team, he was also one of Randy’s buddies.
    “Do you think those rumors are true? That he’s using steroids?”
    Rachel shrugged. “Who cares?” She backed away from the mirror. “You can stand up now, but be careful getting dressed.”
    Hollin walked out of the bathroom on her heels, careful not to destroy the new paint job. Rachel had already laid her clothes out on the bed for her. Hollin frowned at last year’s jeans, the ones she knew would be skin tight on her butt, and the turquoise, V-neck T-shirt that was cut much lower than the ones she preferred.
    Before she could voice her protests, Rachel said, “Trust me on the jeans. And the T-shirt matches your eyes perfectly.”
    She wasn’t sure about keeping Griffin Wells company. What would she say to him? She’d never had a conversation with him before. He was nineteen, had dropped out of school when he was a junior. Her girlfriends thought of him as a “bad boy.” Parents considered him “trouble.”
    She didn’t know much more than that about him. Although she had seen him in town a few times, riding his motorcycle. And then there was the time he’d waited on her at the hardware store when she’d gone in to buy a combination lock for her school locker.
    He’d stared at her with those black eyes, without saying anything except “That’ll be six dollars and thirty-six cents” and “Have a nice day.” But the way he’d looked at her had made her feel all grown up and womanly. And when he’d handed her the sack with the lock and his hand brushed hers, a tiny thrill had shot through her arm and latched onto her heart.
    She knew it was silly to even hope the guy would notice her. She and Griffin had nothing in common. He was four years older than her. Probably had a girlfriend, too, for all she knew.
    She had no business going with Rachel today, but she’d never been good at arguing with her older sister about anything. Rachel always got her way. Sighing in resignation, Hollin poured herself into the faded jeans, sucked in a huge breath to snap them, then drew the shirt over her head.
    “I feel like a sausage,” she complained, barely able to move, let alone breathe.
    “You look older. Eighteen maybe. Or you will once I do your makeup and hair.”
    “Really?” Hollin’s wall of protests began to crumble.
    A half hour later they were ready to roll. Rachel bounced down the steps, her blond hair swinging from shoulder to shoulder. Hollin followed stiffly behind her.
    “Hold it!” Josephine came around the corner, hands on her ample hips. “Where are you off to, young lady? You’re grounded, remember?”
    Rachel threw her bottom lip out. “I promised Hollin I’d take her for an ice cream in my new car.”
    Josephine’s gaze shot to Hollin, gave her a disapproving once over and then turned back to Rachel. Her gray eyes softened. “Well, I suppose you can’t get into too much trouble with your little sister along. But don’t spoil your dinner. I’m making chicken pot pies.”
    “Brad’s favorite,” Hollin said, feeling guilty that Rachel had lied. “He’ll be disappointed he missed it.” Her stepbrother had just left for school a few days ago to start his freshman year at Pitt.
    “Well, we won’t tell him, Josephine,” Rachel said.
    The housekeeper laughed and swatted Rachel on the behind. “Yes, you will. You’ve always been a little troublemaker. Go on now, go get your ice cream. And wear your seatbelts.”
    Hollin had begged Rachel to put the top down. But after several complaints that her hair would be a mess by the time they got to the trailer, she’d finally complied.
    The sun felt good against Hollin’s face and breathing in the fresh air calmed her nerves a little. She was anxious about seeing