Read Online Black Horse (Breaking Black) by Addison Kline - Free Book Online Page B

Averi dealt with the full blast of the air.
     
    Averi wasn’t the type to sleep late. She was typically up well before Colton getting ready for work, or lounging by the pool with a book before the world woke up. Today, was not one of those days. Averi was exhausted. Between the discord between Colt and Randy, the twentieth anniversary of her parent’s’ death, and Jimmy Hearns running around starting trouble, Averi had a lot on her mind. Add to that the excitement of her engagement to Colt, and her mind was on overload.
     
    Rumpling the sheets and breaking free of her blanket burrito, Averi stretched sleepily with a half smile on her face. Colton had that effect on her.
     
    As her mind woke up from her long slumber, she recalled the events of last night - flesh memories - and her cheeks pinked warmly. Lifting her left hand, she admired her engagement ring. Averi was convinced that there was nothing that could ruin this day.
     
    ***
     
    Smoke rose from the back yard of 1026 Hickory Terrace as bratwurst, hot dogs, chicken and burgers sizzled on the grill. Tim flipped over a burger as a he took a swig of his beer. Colt gave him another brewsky before loading the cooler with a fresh bag of ice. Randy continued to complain in the corner about his arm.
     
    “Go put him out of his misery…” said Tim to Colt with a twist of sarcasm in his voice.
     
    “I took the bullet out… He won’t go to the hospital. He needs to suck it up.”
     
    “Look assholes, I’m in pain…”
     
    “Here,” said Colt, “Have a beer.”
     
    Though Randy’s arm was in pain and he still hadn’t entirely warmed up to Colt, he would never refuse an ice cold beer. Suddenly, the sliding glass door opened and Averi stepped out looking sleepy but refreshed. With her hair piled high on her head, she was still wearing pajama bottoms and a pink tank top. As she peered her eyes to the early afternoon sky, she wondered what time it was. Then she realized that she wasn’t alone in the yard. Tim had the grill fired up, treating everyone to his delicious blend of bbq. Colt was skimming the pool, removing persimmon leaves from the surface. Then she saw Randy, chugging a beer in a lawn chair by the pool.
     
    Raising one eyebrow, Averi looked at the trio as they acted as if nothing was strange, or weird, or out of place. Tim was the first to say hello.
     
    “Look who decided to get up… Good Afternoon, Averi…”
     
    “What time is it?” Averi asked, sounding as confused as she looked.
     
    “Lunch time.”
     
    “What is going on?” Averi asked giving her fiancé and her brothers’ strange looks.
     
    “I have no idea what you are talking about…” Tim said sneakily as a smile escaped his mouth.
     
    “We’re having a cookout… What’s it look like?” said Colt, not taking his eyes off the pool.
     
    Averi looked at Randy, who appeared to be enjoying himself by the side of the pool. She noticed he was favoring his one arm. She would have to ask him about that later.
     
    “Randy…”
     
    “Avie…”
     
    “Care to shed some light on how you all wanted to kill each other just days ago, and now you’re behaving like civilized gentlemen?”
     
    “We’re getting along, like you asked. Stop complaining.”
    Averi’s right eye brow lifted again as she gave them all a perplexed look.
     
    “Okay… I’ll be back out. I’m grabbing my bikini and sunscreen.”
     
    “Shelly will be here soon…” Tim blurted with a smirk on his face. 
     
    “Oh, will she now?” Averi said smiling.
     
    She loved when a plan worked out. As she went back inside, she couldn’t believe what was happening. Randy, Tim and Colton all in the same room, all getting along as if bad blood hadn’t flowed between them over the course of the last twenty years. And Shelly… Tim and Shelly would make an adorable couple. She wondered how long they had been together. Now all that had to be done is to tell her brothers about her intentions to marry