Read Online Beautiful PRICK by Sophia Kenzie - Free Book Online Page B

has been staring at me the entire time. “Um. Right. Keith.” I
start to stammer. “Keith isn’t my boyfriend. Keith is my best friend’s husband.
Nick. Nick is my boyfriend… was my boyfriend…” I shake my head, trying to stop
my stare. “Is my… was my… I don’t really know anymore.”
     
    All of a sudden, I feel his hand on my shoulder. It’s warm,
it’s encompassing, and…
     
    I freak out.
     
    “Don’t touch me!”
    “Whoa. Whoa.” His hands shoot up to the sky. “What just
happened?”
    “I… I don’t know?” I question even myself. “I’m sorry.”
     
    Johnny doesn’t say anything, only stares at me.
     
    “What?” I bite my lower lip. “What? Dude. Stop staring.”
    “Are you okay?” He cautiously steps toward me.
    “I’m fine.”
     
    He reaches out again, but I feel that same burst of energy,
of fear spin through my body again.
     
    “Don’t touch me!”
    This time, he doesn’t retract his hands. “Caroline, I’m not
going to hurt you.”
    “Right. Right.” I try to calm myself. “I know that.”
    “And yet your hands are still covering your face.”
     
    I feel his fingers wrap around mine as he pulls my hands
down from their guarding position.
     
    “I’m fine.” I whisper, completely unsure of the real truth.
    “You’re not. Can I please take you back to my place?”
    “No. No.” I shake my head. “Absolutely not. I want to be
here. I’m comfortable here.”
    “Then I’ll be back tonight after I’m wrapped for the day.”
    “No.” I shake my head again. “I really just want to be
alone.”
     
    I can tell he wants to fight me, to tell me that I need
someone around to take care of me while I’m playing the role of the invalid,
but I don’t allow him the words. I don’t want to be taken care of,I don’t want to be pitied. I want to be able to take
care of myself. I want to be seen as someone who doesn’t need someone else to
protect her.
     
    But after last night, no one is going to see me like that.
     
    I did it to myself. I allowed myself to be a victim. Now I
just need to try my hardest to make everyone see thatI
really am fine.
     
    Even if I don’t believe it myself.
     
    “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “I am. Thank you for taking care of me this morning, but I got
it from here. And thank you for the day off, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”
    “Caroline, you don’t need to…”
    I cut him off. “I do need to, Johnny. I need to be there.”
     
    He understands and lets me have my freedom.
     
    After a quick, kind of awkward goodbye, he nods at me before
stepping out of the doorway. But before I can walk back toward the bedroom
where Criminal Minds is still playing, I hear a soft knock at the door. The
sound startles me at first, causing my stomach to turn, but I remind myself
that it’s just Johnny and I have nothing to fear.
     
    I open the door slightly and look up at his face. The sun
shines behind him, making him look sort of angelic.
     
    I laugh at the thought.
     
    “Did you forget something?”
    “No.” He shakes his head. “Well, yes.”
     
    For the first time, he doesn’t seem confident. It’s kind of
refreshing. I wish I were in a better mood so I could make fun of him.
     
    “What is it, Johnny?”
     
    I’m anxious to get back to my crime show marathon.
     
    “Just, be careful, okay?”
    My eyes widen at the extreme awkwardness. “Got it.”
     
    Thenhe leans in and kisses
me softly on the cheek. He holds there for just a split second, and in that
brief moment, my eyes close. For the first time, I don’t hate him. I don’t want
him to leave. I don’t want to be alone.
     
    But, of course, I don’t tell him that.
     
    “Goodbye, Caroline.”
     
    And he’s gone. And I hate it. And I want him back.
     
    It’s that freaking accent, I tell you.

 
     
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
    “Can no one let me just watch a full episode?”
     
    I toss the blankets off of myself and throw my feet to the
floor.
     
    “Ouch.