Read Online Beyond Repair by Kelly Lincoln - Free Book Online Page A

started playing. My niece, Beth, sat on the floor, beating the crap out of a toy drum. Since everyone had something to occupy them for the moment, Zoey grabbed my hand and led me around the house, showing me how she’d set everything up.
    My sister never ceased to amaze me. You would never know she had moved in less than two weeks ago because there was not a single box in sight. After I’d seen all of the progress she’d made, I parked myself on a barstool at her kitchen island while she stood at the stove, mashing potatoes.
    “So … have you seen Mr. Sexy Next-Door Neighbor?” Zoey wiggled her eyebrows at me.
    I rolled my eyes, though she was right on with her nickname. “ Chris . Yes.” I grinned at her. “I spent some time with him today, actually.”
    “What?” She pulled the potato masher out of the pot and potatoes flew in my direction, splattering on the island. Used to her dramatic ways, I didn’t say anything about it; I just grabbed a roll of paper towels and started wiping them up.
    “Yeah. He doesn’t think our front doors are safe, so he came by to see if I wanted to go to some big-ass construction store with him. Then we stopped to get lunch.” I located the garbage can and threw the dirty paper towels away, then turned to Zoey. Her eyes bugged out of her head as she listened to me. “It went well, but then I saw Pierce. Well, I think I saw Pierce. It probably wasn’t him.” I looked down, shame running through me.
    “Aw, Brooke. Did you have one of your ‘moments’?”
    I nodded. “Chris wasn’t around when it started, but he caught me in the middle of it.”
    “How did he take it?”
    “He was so nice , Zoey. God. He didn’t ask any stupid questions, just if Mia was okay, and he got me out of there. When it was over, he didn’t push me to talk about it.” I looked up at her.
    She studied my face. “You like him. And you know it.”
    I guess I looked constipated again. “Yeah, I do,” I said, as Kyle walked into the kitchen, carrying a plate of food he’d grilled.
    “I’m happy for you.” Her eyes had darted to Kyle before she looked back at me. “Are you going to make the next move to see him?”
    I looked at Kyle, wondering if he had talked to Chris or had any insight. But he just leaned on his elbows, staring at me from across the counter.
    “I haven’t thought about it yet,” I said honestly. “But he told me that he’s not seeing anyone.”
    Kyle raised his eyebrows. “Did he bring that up or did you? I can’t believe I’m asking, but I have no idea. It’s so out of character for both of you.”
    I bit my lip, not sure what to make of that. “He did.”
    Kyle scratched his head. “I’m amazed he said that. You have no idea how shut off he’s been about women.”
    “So, that means he’s interested!” Zoey flung the masher out of the potatoes, and they went flying again.
    I sighed and grabbed the roll of paper towels.
    * * *
    The next night, Mia fell asleep almost immediately after I put her to bed. We’d had a busy night. She had karate and then we made invitations for her birthday party.
    Walking into my living room, I flipped on the TV as I passed by it and sank onto the couch. I was tired, too. With thoughts of Chris and my stupid panic attack running through my mind, I had slept like shit the night before. Spacing out in front of the TV before bed was just what I needed.
    I looked for the remote to change the channel, groaning when it wasn’t on the end table. How did I constantly lose that thing? I stuck my hand between the couch cushions, fishing for it, but my fingers touched something I wasn’t expecting.
    Frowning, I pulled my hand out of the cushions, holding up a credit card. I traced my fingers over the embossed letters of Chris’s name. It must have fallen out of his pocket yesterday as he waited for me.
    He was probably looking for it. I headed over to my desk, where my phone was charging, to send him a text. As I walked, headlights shone