Read Online A Life Unexpected: Holly Nather Book One (Holly Nather Series) by Sara Daniell - Free Book Online Page B

a really big sleeping bag appears. He gets in and motions for me to get in with him. I get in and lay down.
    “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? I think you are more than tired.”
    “I don’t know. I’m just confused. Everything is happening so fast. But, I’ll be okay.” I work up a fake smile and close my eyes. I’m tired, but not tired enough to stop my brain from thinking. I can still hear the guys outside, but can tell they are starting to settle down. I have to hurt Luke somehow, so he will never want to see me again. I have to somehow make him so mad that he will no longer feel the way he does about me. Maybe then the Poyen will get off his back about me and we can both move on with a normal life.
    After I’m sure that Luke is asleep, I slip out of the sleeping bag and peek outside. All the guys are in their tents, except for Brody. He’s sitting by the fire, and it looks like he is keeping watch. I get out and quietly zip the tent closed behind me.
    “Can’t sleep?” Brody asks, keeping his eyes on the fire.
    I sit down next to him. “No. I need your help. But, can I trust you not to say anything? Like, keep a secret?” My hands are shaking, not only because I am cold, but I know what I’m about to do. Hopefully, Brody is still drunk enough to agree to this.
    He looks at me with a confused expression. “Maybe. It depends on what it is.”
    Whispering, so no one can hear me, I say, “This is going to sound crazy, but I have to do something. Luke and I aren’t right for each other. This can’t be right for us to be together, causing so much trouble in your world. He needs to marry Lana. He needs to make this right. Do you agree?”
    Brody nods his head. “So, what is your plan? Don’t you love him?”
    “I care about him. But, just because I have feelings for him doesn’t make this right. I’ve thought about running away, but he will just come after me. I don’t even know how to ask this. Would you be willing to hurt him?” Tears start flooding my eyes.
    “I don’t know. If it could save our world, then I would probably consider it because he could hopefully, one day, forgive me. The Poyen will destroy our world if they take over. He and Lana have to be married. I tried to tell him this before we escaped. I agreed to have his back no matter what. I shouldn’t have agreed to that because now my own family is in danger because of all this. I thought I could keep him away from you. I thought he would come to his senses and go back. All of us did.”
    “Okay, this is going to sound crazy. I think if we pretend to be into each other, it would hurt him enough to hate me.” Crying, I continue, “We can tell him this happened when you saved me from that gas station.” Why the hell am I crying? This shouldn’t matter to me! I shouldn’t even be falling for a guy so quickly like this! This is BEYOND stupid.
    Brody stares at me as he thinks about it. “It might work. We can try. And we should make it like we’ve known each other for a while now and that I’ve been hiding it from him. He is going to hate me forever. But, I have to protect my world. My family is nothing in that world; they will be stripped of their magic by the Poyen if they get full control. I’ll do it. Just follow my lead.”
    “Are you sure? Because why would I have met him if I was seeing you?”
    Brody laughs a little and drink the last of his beer. “Because you’re a scandalous whore, and I am a horrible best friend.”
    Tears fill my eyes. This is so wrong. “Okay.”
    “Ready?”
    I wipe my eyes. “No.”
    He pats my back reassuringly. “You’re doing the right thing. Alright, get ready.”
    I nod and look down at my feet.
    “I REFUSE TO HIDE MY FEELINGS FOR YOU!!” Brody shouts as he stands up. Okay, that shocked the crap out of me! He is really good at acting.
    “SHHH, keep it down or you’ll wake him up!” I say, playing along and make sure it is loud enough that everyone can hear.
    “I don’t