Read Online A Summer To Remember: Novella (Lost Love Book 1) by C.L. Richards - Free Book Online

side of the room. Determined to calm my breathing. James offers no opportunity for me to answer before Kyle puts in his two pennies "It wasn't my place to say." My hands turn white from the pressure I'm applying to the chair. "She will be alright, Xavier, she needs time." Pissed off listening to their excuses. I cross my hands over my chest, my eyes narrowing on Kyle. “What if she needs someone to be there for her, huh!” Kyle's head flips up, the veins in his neck throbbing, clearly angry. Guess I struck a nerve. His lips forced into a tight-lipped smile. "You mean to tell me, you know what's best for my sister. The girl you've just met." I see red, shaking with anger. There is no way I’m going to be on the receiving end of his boneheaded attitude.  I step in his direction, we’re now chest to chest. With venom lacing from my voice, “Not one of you have taken any time for her. She isn't eating, I've seen her eat one meal. One meal in five fucking days. She wakes up every night screaming. You haven't by any means comforted her, not once since I’ve been here. It’s me who spends the night helping to keep the nightmares at bay. Don’t you fucking dare stand there and tell me I know nothing about her.” I argued.
    Kyle steps back, his face crumbles. His eyes glistening with unshed tears, raising his hands, he holds them out in surrender. “Shit." Kyle rubs his hand roughly across his face. "I didn’t realize she wasn't coping. And what nightmares?” I shake my head in annoyance, “hearing her screaming, scares me.” Kyle glares at me expecting me to give him more information, “You need to talk to her man.” I slap him on the back and sit back down.
    The rest of the night passes before my eyes. Eager to jump into the shower and forget the evening's turn of events. I wrap myself in a bathrobe and lay back on the bed. My eyes are heavy, If I give into temptation and shut my eyes for ten minutes, It won't hurt. Will it! Unable to fight any longer, I drift off to sleep.
     
    ~#~
     
    I wake in a panic and search out the time. It’s nine o’clock, crap, I slept all night. I must've been exhausted, my only hope is Isabelle didn’t have a nightmare. I won’t forgive myself If I wasn’t there to hold her.
    After freshening up, I go in search of Isabelle. I enter the kitchen, just as my stomach lets out an almighty grumble. Excellent timing. The house is silent. Where is everyone or Isabelle for that matter? Picking a bowl from the draining board, I fill the bowl with cereal and pour myself a glass of orange juice. I’m half way through chucking it down when Caleb enters the room followed by Nikki. “Morning,” I mumble.
    “Good Morning Xavier, how are you this morning?” My only response is a shrug, I’m not in the mood for talking. But, I’m saved from answering when Caleb distracts Nikki. I turn my back, giving them the privacy, they deserve. I find my thoughts drifting back to Isabelle. I hope she’s okay. Why won't she let me be there for her? If she'd prefer a platonic relationship, it's better than nothing.
    “Where are Kyle and Isabelle?” James asks pulling me out of my retrieve. He strolls towards us. “Not sure. I've not seen anyone, since last night.” After tidying our dishes away, we’re trying to decide what our plans are for the day. Kyle comes waltzing in “You dirty stop out.” Nikki teases. He sends her a glare and tells her to be quiet. 
    I glance past him and see Isabelle stood in the shadows. Sending her a reassuring smile, in hopes she will grace me with one of her own. Which to my delight, she does. That’s all I needed to put my worrying mind at ease.
      I wasn’t sure what reception I was going to receive today. I know Isabelle relies on me to help with the nightmares but have I let her down by not being with her? But saying that, she seemed to be smiling more, which in turn brought a smile to my lips. But there were times throughout the day when my eyes would