Read Online Breath Of The Heart by Victoria June - Free Book Online Page A

died. Tennis was our thing and with her gone, I lost my desire to compete."
    "You're damn good. Didn't you reach number one in the state?"
    "Number two."
    "You should have gone down south to all those fancy academies. I bet you could have gone professional."
    "I wasn't that good."
    "I think you were. How often do you come here? I'd love to play with you again. It'd be my honor."
    A warm fuzzy feeling came over me. "I go to school full time, but I try to get out here a few days a week. It's hard to pin down times."
    "Tell you what, I'll give you my number. Call me when you're coming out and we can play a few sets."
    "Sure," I said, taking the card she produced from her gym bag. I took a quick glance at it. She was an accountant.
    "Have you ever considered teaching here? They could use some better instructors."
    "I already have a job and with school, I wouldn't have the time."
    "Just throwing it out there. The club would be lucky to have you."
    "Thank you, Helen. For the game too."
    We parted ways and I took the bus home and found the apartment empty. Again. I made a quick dinner, did a little homework and went to bed. This was my exciting life.
    ~~~~~~~
    Zach disappeared from the face of the earth. He didn't text or come by Julian's. Each time I made, saw or sold an éclair, I thought of him. Yes, I'd been too hard on him. I still didn't believe his story, even though I was sure he did. I could have called him and tried to patch things up, but I didn't know what to say. And what if I texted him and he didn't reply? All these thoughts went through my mind as I went through the motions at work. It was Friday night and I was closing with Jessica. The crowd was light with everyone off drinking in celebration of the weekend. My weekend plans consisted of a tennis game with Helen and lots of working and studying.
    The night was uneventful until about nine-forty. Bianca showed up again with Becca and a few friends. This time Jessica was at my side and told me to get some medium sized cups from the stockroom even though we didn't need them.
    I hung around back there hoping to give Jessica enough time to fill their orders. When I returned with the cups, Bianca and her three friends were seated at the booth closest to the door. They were all decked out in bar clothes, complete with miniskirts, stilettos and enough makeup for a Broadway musical.
    My phone trilled a text. Yes, I wasn't supposed to have my phone on me, but everyone at Julian's did. I pulled it out and read the text from the unidentified number.
    000-000-0000: Too scared to serve us?
    How did she get my number? I turned my phone off and put it away. Giggling and loud laughing emerged from their table. I glanced at my watch. In less than ten minutes they'd be kicked out and we could close and go home. Just a few more minutes.
    "I'll clean tables and you tidy up the front end," Jessica said. We usually did the reverse, but her kindness was immeasurable. The only problem with this was that she left me alone. The second Jessica was at the other end of the shop, Bianca bee-lined for me.
    "Why so rude? Don't you reply to texts?" she asked, leaning over the counter with a big smile on her face.
    "I'm working. I'm not supposed to text."
    "Well, I ordered a medium skinny latte and it's gross," she said, slamming her cup on the counter. Half of it spilled in my direction but missed hitting me.
    "I can make you another one," I deadpanned.
    "You should probably clean this mess up first." Her valley girl voice nauseated me.
    "Do you want me to make another one or not?"
    She squinted her eyes and smiled. "You really shouldn't be rude to customers. I could tell your boss."
    "I'm not being rude. I'm asking you a question. Do you want another one or not?"
    "What I want is for you to leave Jake and Zach alone."
    I let out a deep, sarcastic breath. I couldn't help it. "Seriously? Is that what you came here to tell me? You can have both of them, Bianca."
    "And I want you to move out," she said,