Read Online Beyond Broken by Kristin Vayden - Free Book Online Page A

easily, but my mind was still spinning from his earlier statement. I didn’t see myself as attractive. Honestly it was the last thing I was expecting to find at Willow and Oak. Though I was flattered to think that Dr. Solomon might be interested in me, it also made me uncomfortable. I wanted to be recognized for my dedication, my work. He was my boss, which made the whole thing more than awkward to even consider.
    “Thanks for sharing your table, Miss Holton. I’ll see you later.” He rose and walked away.

Chapter Five
     
    “Rough day?” Bekah asked as I dragged myself through our apartment door. I tossed my keys on the side table and put my purse in the closet after removing my phone.
    “Yeah, you could say that. Although waking up five minutes before I had to leave wasn’t a stellar start to begin with,” I grumbled then flopped onto the couch next to her.
    “Tell me about it.” She turned on the TV. “Hungry?” she asked after a moment.
    “Not really,” I said, losing myself in the events of the day. Maybe I was really sleep-deprived, but today seemed so different. Simply thinking of Greyson was already tensing my body, as if I needed invisible armor against his charm, his magnetism. He drew me in and affected me in ways I had never experienced. It was almost overwhelming and it was all I could do to keep my attachment from showing, or from spinning out of control. There was no way to explain it. Why is this happening so fast? One thing was for certain; I had never encountered anyone like Greyson Bentley before.
    Then there was Dr. Solomon. The man was such a mystery. One minute I was laughing with him over his ‘Holy Wednesday’ ritual, the next I was trying to read coded messages and wondering if there was more to his friendship than I originally thought.
    Yet as much as both men confused me, it was just as likely that I was making it all up, reading into things that didn’t exist. Though I read people uncommonly well, I could be wrong. I could be putting myself through all of his anxiety for nothing. I shook my head. It would look better in the morning, after sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.
    “Hey!” Bekah snapped her fingers in front of my face.
    I jumped. “Yeah?” I asked, startled.
    “What’s up with you? Are you okay? I’ve been asking you the same question for more than a minute!” Bekah turned on the couch and brought her knee up, a frown pinching her forehead.
    “Yeah, I’m fine, just ready to crash.” I offered her a small smile.
    “Okay… are you sure?” she asked, her amber eyes studying me like I was a bug in a jar.
    “Yeah, I’m going to grab a granola bar and read for a while before I go to bed early. Like early early.” Though I knew I got plenty of sleep last night, I was wiped.
    “Alright. Just…” She paused. “Just remember I’m here. I know you can’t share too much, the whole patient confidentiality thing, but still I’m here if you need to talk. Okay?” she said gently.
    “Thanks, Bekah. You’re the best.” I reached over and hugged her, thankful all over again that she was my friend.
    “No problem. Now get your scrawny butt to bed.” She gave me a pat on the behind for emphasis and turned back to the TV.
    Once I was finished with the granola bar, I began to read. I awoke with the lights turned off, my alarm set and a blanket covering me as I lay the wrong way on my bed, the book still in my hand. I grinned, mentally making a note to thank Bekah in the morning. I tossed the book and went back to sleep for the few hours left before I started a brand new day.
     
    ****
     
    The sound of my cricket alarm slowly woke me from my deep sleep. I stretched lazily and reached over to turn it off. My neck ached from sleeping without a pillow and I winced as I turned my head. Fantastic . Moving gingerly to avoid the prickly pain in my neck and shoulders, I dressed for the day. I said a quick goodbye to Bekah and left, hoping I could just use my mirrors in traffic