Read Online Calendar Girl 12 - December by Audrey Carlan - Free Book Online
Authors: Audrey Carlan
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had a brother until a few months ago. It would have been nice to learn that from our mother !” I sneered.
“Get out!” Kent roared.
Hearing that tone from Kent, Wes pushed me behind him. “I’m not sure that my fiancée is done talking to her mother.”
My mother was muttering something under her breath, cowering against Kent. He lifted her into a princess hold.
“I think you’ve done enough. There’s a lot you obviously don’t know. I’ll call you later.”
I huffed. “Don’t bother. I have nothing more to say to this pathetic excuse for a human being.”
On that, I turned and stormed out of the gallery. Wes was quick on my heels.
I started walking down the street, anger billowing through my veins and pushing me forward. My labored breaths misted in the freezing air.
When I slowed and eventually came to a stop, I wasn’t sure where I was or what I was doing. All I knew was that I was cold and alone. I choked out a sob and felt as though I’d lost my balance when a pair of thick arms hefted me up and held me close.
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here. Let’s go home.”
“I can’t face anybody.” I cried against his chest. The pain around my heart shifted, squeezed, and became unbearable—like my heart was breaking in half.
“You don’t have to. I’ll make sure of it. Just let me take care of you,” he whispered and carried me to the car.
Time seemed to pass by in a haze until eventually I was being carried up a set of stairs, stripped of my clothing, and placed into a warm cloud. A heat at my back startled me until I was enwrapped in a warmth I’d know anywhere. I burrowed into Wes Channing. Clung to him, our life, and everything that made me feel safe. His hold was firm and unrelenting. In his arms, wrapped in his love, I closed my eyes.
----
I woke the next day still surrounded by Wes. He’d held me within the safety of his arms all night, never letting go. I blinked a few times and then saw Wes’s face up close and in living color. His breath came in soft puffs against me. Lifting my hand from between us, I ran the tip of my finger down the bridge of his nose. He stirred and lazily opened his eyes. Wes’s eyes were unlike any others. They were a brilliant green, much like fresh cut grass. He smiled softly, leaned forward the few inches that separated us, and kissed my nose.
“How you doing?” His voice was a deep rumble I felt all the way to my toes.
I could lie and tell him I was fine, but he’d know I wasn’t telling the truth. He’d give that to me, though. That was the type of man he was. However, I was done hiding my hurts, done keeping the wall surrounding my heart up around him. The only person who deserved that treatment was my loser of a mother. It didn’t change that I wished things had been different though. Ached for them to be different.
Growing up, a girl needed her mother. Someone who could be there to kiss her wounds, mend her heart when a boy has broken it, teach her about being a woman the world can be proud of, and most of all, teach her how to be a mother, how to care for another soul more than her own.
“I’m not okay, Wes,” I admitted. It took a lot for me to bare my soul, but I’d do that for him, the one person in the entire world who loved me more than he loved himself. I knew that with my whole heart.
“Yeah, I didn’t imagine you would be. What’s going on in here?” He pointed to my forehead.
I closed my eyes, relishing his simple touch. For me, it was more than a gesture. It was a connection. Something tangible that I could grasp, hold on to when everything around me felt as though it were crumbling at the seams.
“Seeing her in her gallery. Looking perfect. Healthy…” I shook my head and gripped his hand between us and put it in front of my mouth.
“It hurts that she’s moved on. Was living a good life when you and your siblings had to suffer by her loss. You and Madison especially. I get it, babe.” His voice was soft
“Get out!” Kent roared.
Hearing that tone from Kent, Wes pushed me behind him. “I’m not sure that my fiancée is done talking to her mother.”
My mother was muttering something under her breath, cowering against Kent. He lifted her into a princess hold.
“I think you’ve done enough. There’s a lot you obviously don’t know. I’ll call you later.”
I huffed. “Don’t bother. I have nothing more to say to this pathetic excuse for a human being.”
On that, I turned and stormed out of the gallery. Wes was quick on my heels.
I started walking down the street, anger billowing through my veins and pushing me forward. My labored breaths misted in the freezing air.
When I slowed and eventually came to a stop, I wasn’t sure where I was or what I was doing. All I knew was that I was cold and alone. I choked out a sob and felt as though I’d lost my balance when a pair of thick arms hefted me up and held me close.
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here. Let’s go home.”
“I can’t face anybody.” I cried against his chest. The pain around my heart shifted, squeezed, and became unbearable—like my heart was breaking in half.
“You don’t have to. I’ll make sure of it. Just let me take care of you,” he whispered and carried me to the car.
Time seemed to pass by in a haze until eventually I was being carried up a set of stairs, stripped of my clothing, and placed into a warm cloud. A heat at my back startled me until I was enwrapped in a warmth I’d know anywhere. I burrowed into Wes Channing. Clung to him, our life, and everything that made me feel safe. His hold was firm and unrelenting. In his arms, wrapped in his love, I closed my eyes.
----
I woke the next day still surrounded by Wes. He’d held me within the safety of his arms all night, never letting go. I blinked a few times and then saw Wes’s face up close and in living color. His breath came in soft puffs against me. Lifting my hand from between us, I ran the tip of my finger down the bridge of his nose. He stirred and lazily opened his eyes. Wes’s eyes were unlike any others. They were a brilliant green, much like fresh cut grass. He smiled softly, leaned forward the few inches that separated us, and kissed my nose.
“How you doing?” His voice was a deep rumble I felt all the way to my toes.
I could lie and tell him I was fine, but he’d know I wasn’t telling the truth. He’d give that to me, though. That was the type of man he was. However, I was done hiding my hurts, done keeping the wall surrounding my heart up around him. The only person who deserved that treatment was my loser of a mother. It didn’t change that I wished things had been different though. Ached for them to be different.
Growing up, a girl needed her mother. Someone who could be there to kiss her wounds, mend her heart when a boy has broken it, teach her about being a woman the world can be proud of, and most of all, teach her how to be a mother, how to care for another soul more than her own.
“I’m not okay, Wes,” I admitted. It took a lot for me to bare my soul, but I’d do that for him, the one person in the entire world who loved me more than he loved himself. I knew that with my whole heart.
“Yeah, I didn’t imagine you would be. What’s going on in here?” He pointed to my forehead.
I closed my eyes, relishing his simple touch. For me, it was more than a gesture. It was a connection. Something tangible that I could grasp, hold on to when everything around me felt as though it were crumbling at the seams.
“Seeing her in her gallery. Looking perfect. Healthy…” I shook my head and gripped his hand between us and put it in front of my mouth.
“It hurts that she’s moved on. Was living a good life when you and your siblings had to suffer by her loss. You and Madison especially. I get it, babe.” His voice was soft
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