Read Online Kicking and Screaming by Jordan Silver - Free Book Online

door, and would most likely hear every word they said. Maybe that was it, maybe he wanted me to hear for myself.
    As if I was too green to realize what they were, I didn't live thirty-two years as the man I am not to know these things. I just liked to let people hang themselves.
    When the Petra girl started in on Denton's father, I thought Maxie would have a coronary. I could actually see the change come over her; she was beyond pissed.
    I tried to stop her from getting out the door, but she was too fast for me that time.
     
      Of course her mother was just in time to see her knock the shit out of Petra, and lit into her once again.
    "Maxie Irene, whatever are you doing, are you insane?"
    "Screw you lady." Oh shit.
    "Sis..." Jonas tried to hold her back, but even I the relative stranger in the bunch could see that there was no turning back.
    "No Jonas, this has been a long time coming, go, to, hell, Cynthia. You and your whorish money grubbing daughters."
    "Maxie, apologize to your mother right this minute." Her father came up the stairs at a run.
    "No dad, I'm sorry but I won't do this anymore, I love you, but I can't stand them, they're mean and hateful and I've had it."
    Those wretched tears were falling again. I had the insane urge to grab her and make a run for it, but in the end all I could do was stand behind her and let her lean on me if and when she needed to.
    "Baby, come on." Her dad reached for her just as his wife moved to block him.
    "Conrad, I can't believe you're gonna side with her against me." Poor guy, I could see the struggle within and wouldn’t wish his plight on my worst enemy.
    "I'm not siding with anyone, I'm just trying to understand what in the hell is going on around here?" he looked around at everyone gathered there but no one was talking all of a sudden.
    "What's all the yelling, I thought we were going out to dinner?" Janet and Michael joined the melee.
     
    "I'm sorry Jan, so sorry." She ran down the stairs in tears again and I felt gutted.
    "Oh Mr. Collins, I'm so sorry you had to see that."
    "Are you crazy lady? Your daughter just ran out of your house hurt and in tears and you're apologizing to me?"
    I put a hand out to stop Denton as he made to go after her. If anyone was going to console her, it was going to be me.
    "I've got her." Sink or swim I’d put my foot in it now.
    I had to reach her before she got on that bike of hers and hurt herself because of these fools.
    "But what about me, why's he going after her?"
    I heard Petra whine on my way down the stairs. Imp was right; she really is stupid.
    "Maxie wait, where are you going?" I held onto the handlebars of her bike, just as she was about to turn the key. I’d all but broken my damn neck coming down those stairs after her.
    "What does it matter Jackson? I can't stay here."
    "Then we'll go somewhere, but we'll take my car."
    I helped her off her bike, which was a testament to how upset she was, because she didn't even snipe at me. I used my handkerchief to dry her tears, which I was sure if she were her usual snippy self, she would've had a lot to say about.
    I kissed her lips because quite frankly I couldn't help myself, and then led her to my Aston, which was in her parents' driveway.
    We were halfway down the driveway when I saw her sister Jenny come running out the door behind us.
     
    I looked over at her and caught her looking at me with a strange look on her face.
    "What?"
    "I don't think you're what she said you are, but I don't understand. Why?"
    "Who Maxie, who told you something about me?" She bit her lip and looked out her window.
    "Do you remember me asking you about Sophia Ambrose?"
    "Yeah but I still don't get it, what does she have to do with the way you've been treating me?"
    "She said some things about you but, can I tell you about this later? I really don't want to get into that now, suffice it to say that I think I might've been wrong."
    "Okay, I'll let it go for now, but at some point you're going to tell me