Read Online Beautifully Shattered (The Beautifully Series Book 1) by Courtney Kristel - Free Book Online Page B

rhythmic strokes through my hair makes it
easier to breathe. Even though I’ve been lost in my memories, he
didn’t leave. Being wrapped in his arms brings me comfort that I
don’t deserve. I feel his lips at the top of my head, but he
doesn’t say anything. He’s letting me know that he’s here for
me while I relive the past. I squeeze him as tightly as I possibly
can, hoping that the nightmares won’t punish me tonight if he’s
here.
    As I watch my stars
twirl on the invisible string, I will myself to relax. Whenever my
memories weigh me down, I come here. I can lay here for hours and
have the beautiful stars make everything else disappear. It always
reminds me of when I would sneak out and lay on my roof and stare at
the night sky.
    “I love you, Ads,”
Jax whispers into my hair.
    My chest constricts
painfully. How I wish he meant those words in the way I wanted.
Without taking my gaze off my stars I whisper, “Love you, too.”
    We don’t say anything
else to each other for the rest of the night. Jax’s fingers running
through my hair lulls me into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

Chapter Four
    Life was slowing
getting back to normal. I went to work, saw my brother and Connor
regularly, and tried to ignore the fact that I haven’t seen or
heard from Jax since he left my apartment three weeks ago. It’s
getting embarrassing how many times I have attempted to call him, but
always hang up before the call goes through. Connor insists that Jax
is busy with work, but my gut tells me that he’s avoiding me.
    I’m finally able to
work-out again, which is good since it occupies my mind for a little
while. I have a feeling Jax is avoiding me because of everything that
happened. He treated me like I meant more to him again, which of
course means avoidance at all cost.
    Today I decided to
surprise Logan with lunch since I know he’s been working more than
usual after taking so much time off to visit. I’m glad that I
brought my iPad because my brother is working through lunch so that
doesn’t leave a lot of time to talk to him. I don’t mind, of
course I know that he’s a busy man, and I couldn’t be more proud
of everything that he has accomplished. Trinity, has flourished since
the guys started the business in college.
    I zone out, thinking
about our parents. I’m picking at my pasta without actually eating
it when Connor sneaks into Logan’s office and blows into my ear.
    “AHHH . . . Holy
shit!” I jump out of my chair, spilling pasta all over the floor in
the process. I whirl around to an amused Connor.
    I’m steaming! I hate
that he always scares me. I’m about to rip him a new one when Jax
storms into the office, looking like he is going to kill someone.
Seeing him brings such a shock to my system that I’m barely aware
that I’m blatantly staring at him. I have no idea what I was about
to say to Connor.
    Jax comes to an abrupt
halt when he sees that I’m the reason for the obnoxious scream.
Time seems to stop. Everything evaporates and the only thing that is
left is Jax and me. The need to touch him is so powerful that my hand
shakes from the sheer force of keeping it at my side and not reaching
out.
    Connor clears his
throat, jarring me out of the trance. Logan types away at his
computer, thankfully missing the encounter. It isn’t until Logan
notices the silence that his head snaps up.
    “What’s going on?”
He studies the three of us.
    Jax bumps his shoulder
against mine, in a friendly way. “Ads is mad because she’s a sore
loser and I beat her at poker when I stayed at her house.” He
shrugs, smoothly lying. “I think she learned her poker skills from
you.”
    After a few more
minutes of awkward silence, Logan engages Connor in a discussion over
a new technology prototype they are considering purchasing. I can’t
help but stare at Jax as if I’m seeing him for the first time. I’ve
witnessed him lying before in the past, daily, but there’s
something about this time. Usually I can