Read Online Breakaway by Kat Spears - Free Book Online Page B

think that if I’m down here drinking that I’m easy too.”
    â€œIt never occurred to me to wonder about it,” I said honestly. “I’m just here as a favor to Jordie. He wanted to go out with Cheryl but she didn’t want to go solo.”
    Raine gave a sharp intake of breath and said, “Oh, so—what? You’re giving me a sympathy date? Is that how you see this?”
    â€œWhy are you so mad?” I asked. “Aren’t you just doing this as a favor for your friend too?”
    She didn’t answer, instead got up from her seat and dug around under the table for her purse. “You’re a real creep, you know that?” she huffed.
    â€œWhere are you going?” I asked, now completely confused.
    â€œI don’t know,” she said, her voice strangled, like she might cry. “Home. Away from here.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” I asked. “Walk out of here alone? In the dark?”
    â€œWhat do you care?” she asked.
    â€œI guess I don’t,” I said because now she was making me mad by coming at me on the offensive when I hadn’t done anything to her. “But it isn’t exactly safe to go walking around down here by yourself at night.”
    â€œYou know what?” she asked hotly. “I’d rather be murdered than spend another minute alone with you!” And with that she stormed off, walking toward the small bridge that led to the main path that would eventually end up at the Pike.
    In the almost complete darkness I could only see her for a minute before she faded into the black and the sound of her footsteps blended into the sound of the rushing stream.
    With her gone the night sounds seemed amplified—the crickets and frogs as they sang to the night, the rustle of dried leaves as small animals moved through the forest, the sighing of the wind through the trees.
    â€œShit,” I said to myself in disgust, then stood and followed in the direction Raine had stormed away. I jogged along the asphalt path and after a minute overtook her and almost mowed her down.
    She screamed when I pounded up behind her and bumped her in the dark.
    â€œYou’re crazy, you know that?” I asked her. “You trying to get yourself killed?”
    I jerked back reflexively as she turned and slapped me, hard, across the face.
    Startled, I laughed as I put up a hand to block a second slap because she really could hit pretty hard. “Are you some kind of lunatic or something?” I asked as I rubbed at my stinging cheek with one hand, the other still holding her wrist.
    â€œYou’re a complete jerk.”
    â€œOkay, yeah. I’m a jerk.”
    â€œYou are,” she said, not letting me tell her what she wanted to hear.
    I tried to put an arm around her shoulders to guide her back with me, but she pushed me away and said, “You can forget it,” then started walking back toward the pavilion. With nothing better to do, I followed her.
    Cheryl and Jordie were sitting at the picnic table again when we returned, Jordie’s arm around Cheryl’s waist and one of her legs across his lap. Raine was composed now, the evidence of her crying hidden by the dark.
    â€œHey, you two,” Cheryl called out in a singsong voice. “Having a good time?”
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    At the end of the night, Jordie dropped Raine off first and I walked her to the door. The porch light was on, burning a couple hundred watts, and I prayed that her parents wouldn’t come out to see who was bringing Raine home.
    â€œNice house,” I said as I took in the three-car garage and the wraparound front porch.
    â€œThanks,” she said without even a hint of sincerity.
    â€œWell,” I said, “that was … awful.”
    â€œYeah. I kind of hope I never see you again,” she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
    â€œYou want a kiss good night?” I asked.
    â€œI’d rather eat