Read Online Aftermath by Jenna-Lynne Duncan - Free Book Online
Authors: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
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there. The way he lingered when Hayden and I spent time
together had become awkward. The last time we watched a movie in the
living room, I caught him watching us from his laptop. From there on
out, Hayden insisted we watch TV in my room. I didn’t argue with
that.
I switched on all the
lights I possibly could; I figured being relieved of fearing the dark
justified wasting energy. I went into the kitchen and immediately got
started on the beans. Going for the speedy version of red beans and
rice, I used the presoaked, canned ones. I worked quickly, getting
out the cutting board and a big pot. I opened the refrigerator to
grab a few ingredients, half expecting not to have what I needed. I
was still getting used to not living with my dad. Going from nothing
to everything is not something you can get used to overnight. It used
to be a constant aggravation to round up money for groceries or pull
something together besides cereal for dinner. Sure enough, the fridge
was stocked full. It was always full. I thought back to how Hayden
didn’t need to eat. He did this for my benefit and it wasn’t
until just then that I realized how much he did for my benefit. That
made me love him even more, but also question how much of his true
nature he was hiding. Did he feel like he was missing out? Was he
holding himself back? I pushed stupid thoughts away and concentrated
on dumping the beans in the oversized brass pot.
I stirred them into a
mixture of jalapeños and water when Luke walked into the kitchen
from out of nowhere.
Luke chuckled at me
being so jumpy, then spoke, “Hey, Ana.”
“Hi Luke…”
“Why do you say it
like that?” He noisily scooted out a bar stool and sat down.
“I am just trying to
figure out what you want?”
He chuckled devilishly
again. “Oh, there are so many ways I could answer that.”
“You know what I
mean,” I cut him off. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just
wanted to be with you. Be in here with you,” he quickly corrected.
“Hell, Ana, I just want to be around you.”
“Luke, this has got
to stop. I’m not going to keep hanging out with you if you’re
going to keep trying to…I don’t know, seduce me? Here, chop this
up.” I handed him a cutting board with an onion on it. He took it
but looked at it questionably. “I value our friendship. Please
don’t ruin that.”
He stared at the onion
and I smiled, imitating chopping it. He shrugged and grabbed the
biggest knife from the block on the counter.
“Fine, I’ll stop.
For now. But just hear me out. Don’t do anything drastic, like bind to him. That means you’re stuck with him for eternity.” He rubbed
his eye with the back of his hand.
“I’m young. I
haven’t even graduated yet. I have no idea what I am going to do
tomorrow let alone next year. I’m not even thinking about that.”
“You don’t think I
get that? The thought of being with someone for eternity scares me
too. But with you—everything makes sense.”
“Spending eternity
with someone you love doesn’t sound so bad. I love Hayden, I
wouldn’t be here without him. Literally. Or did you forget you
wanted to kill me?”
He chopped the onions
angrily and then pushed the cutting board toward me. I gave him a
saccharine smile as I took them and stirred them into the beans. He
let me cook in silence for a while, shaking his head every so often.
He cocked his head quickly, as if listening to something, then turned
back to me.
“You just need to
think about a few things first, that’s all I’m saying. Just
promise me you’ll at least consider it. We have so much in common…
we’re the same age.” His voice was low.
I concentrated on
stirring. “I’m not 18.” I heard the garage door open and I gave
Luke a look.
“Funny, Ana. You know
what I mean. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
I squeezed my lips into
a line waiting for Hayden to come inside. I flinched as Luke tossed
the knife on the counter and walked away.
Chapter
together had become awkward. The last time we watched a movie in the
living room, I caught him watching us from his laptop. From there on
out, Hayden insisted we watch TV in my room. I didn’t argue with
that.
I switched on all the
lights I possibly could; I figured being relieved of fearing the dark
justified wasting energy. I went into the kitchen and immediately got
started on the beans. Going for the speedy version of red beans and
rice, I used the presoaked, canned ones. I worked quickly, getting
out the cutting board and a big pot. I opened the refrigerator to
grab a few ingredients, half expecting not to have what I needed. I
was still getting used to not living with my dad. Going from nothing
to everything is not something you can get used to overnight. It used
to be a constant aggravation to round up money for groceries or pull
something together besides cereal for dinner. Sure enough, the fridge
was stocked full. It was always full. I thought back to how Hayden
didn’t need to eat. He did this for my benefit and it wasn’t
until just then that I realized how much he did for my benefit. That
made me love him even more, but also question how much of his true
nature he was hiding. Did he feel like he was missing out? Was he
holding himself back? I pushed stupid thoughts away and concentrated
on dumping the beans in the oversized brass pot.
I stirred them into a
mixture of jalapeños and water when Luke walked into the kitchen
from out of nowhere.
Luke chuckled at me
being so jumpy, then spoke, “Hey, Ana.”
“Hi Luke…”
“Why do you say it
like that?” He noisily scooted out a bar stool and sat down.
“I am just trying to
figure out what you want?”
He chuckled devilishly
again. “Oh, there are so many ways I could answer that.”
“You know what I
mean,” I cut him off. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just
wanted to be with you. Be in here with you,” he quickly corrected.
“Hell, Ana, I just want to be around you.”
“Luke, this has got
to stop. I’m not going to keep hanging out with you if you’re
going to keep trying to…I don’t know, seduce me? Here, chop this
up.” I handed him a cutting board with an onion on it. He took it
but looked at it questionably. “I value our friendship. Please
don’t ruin that.”
He stared at the onion
and I smiled, imitating chopping it. He shrugged and grabbed the
biggest knife from the block on the counter.
“Fine, I’ll stop.
For now. But just hear me out. Don’t do anything drastic, like bind to him. That means you’re stuck with him for eternity.” He rubbed
his eye with the back of his hand.
“I’m young. I
haven’t even graduated yet. I have no idea what I am going to do
tomorrow let alone next year. I’m not even thinking about that.”
“You don’t think I
get that? The thought of being with someone for eternity scares me
too. But with you—everything makes sense.”
“Spending eternity
with someone you love doesn’t sound so bad. I love Hayden, I
wouldn’t be here without him. Literally. Or did you forget you
wanted to kill me?”
He chopped the onions
angrily and then pushed the cutting board toward me. I gave him a
saccharine smile as I took them and stirred them into the beans. He
let me cook in silence for a while, shaking his head every so often.
He cocked his head quickly, as if listening to something, then turned
back to me.
“You just need to
think about a few things first, that’s all I’m saying. Just
promise me you’ll at least consider it. We have so much in common…
we’re the same age.” His voice was low.
I concentrated on
stirring. “I’m not 18.” I heard the garage door open and I gave
Luke a look.
“Funny, Ana. You know
what I mean. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”
I squeezed my lips into
a line waiting for Hayden to come inside. I flinched as Luke tossed
the knife on the counter and walked away.
Chapter
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