Read Online Carry Me Home (The Home Series: Book Three) by Megan Nugen Isbell - Free Book Online Page A

head back outside, but as my hand rested on the doorknob, I stopped and I found my body slowly turning, drawing my gaze down the hall.  Before I realized what I w as doing, I was walking and I’d stopped in front of the door that led to Jesse’s bedroom.  It was open a crack and I reached up, slowly pushing it open all the way.  The light from the hallway lit it up and it looked just as I remembered.  The same furniture, the same bedspread, the same Kansas City Royals pendant on the wall.  I stepped inside, even though I knew I shouldn’t and I closed my eyes, remembering all the time we’d spent in there.  The first time I’d set foot in the room, we’d been working on a project for our Constitution class.  That was the night he’d first kissed me, even though I’d told myself I hadn’t wanted him to.  It was where we’d first spent the night together, right before he left.  He’d just held me all night and it was one of the best nights of my life.  He’d finally seemed to be coming to grips with his dad’s death, but little did I know, it was the beginning of the end for us. 
    I opened my eyes and sat down on the bed as I continued to look around the room.  I knew I should leave.  I knew I shouldn’t be in his room.  I knew it was weird and if anyone caught me they’d think I was a total spaz, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave.  And then my eyes noticed something I’d never seen before on his dresser.  I’d been in the room enough to have its contents memorized and the small frame had never been there.  It was a picture Mandy had taken of us.  Jesse’s arm was around me and I was leaning into his chest.  We were both smiling and I’d never realized how happy we’d looked.  I picked it up, staring down at it and I wondered why it was there. 
    “Riley!  You in here?” Holly’s voice called from the kitchen and I jumped, quickly setting the picture down and rushing out of the room.
    “Sorry.  I had to use the bathroom,” I said, wondering if she believed me.  She didn’t seem suspicious when I walked into the kitchen. “Are Jesse and Brandon back?”
    “Yes and still apologizing to Mandy,” she laughed. “C’mon.  Let’s get back outside.”
    I nodded and followed her out.  It looked as if Mandy had forgiven the boys by the way she was smiling. 
    “Is everything okay now?” Holly asked as she sat down.
    “Yes, everything’s fine.”
    “She even admitted it was kinda funny,” Brandon added.
    “Whatever.  Just don’t do it again,” Mandy said with a playful glare.
    Jesse was cleaning up the grill and our eyes met again for a second before he quickly looked back down at what he was doing.  I glanced at my watch and then looked up to my friends, deciding it was time for me to go.  It had been an interesting night.  I hadn’t known what to expect or what I wanted to get out of it, but nothing had changed.  It appeared Jesse and I were incapable of holding any kind of meaningful conversation.  Hell, we could hardly look at each other.  I had no answers, not that I expected any, no better sense of closure and the only thing I was sure of was that being around him did nothing but conjure up memories of what we’d once had and I realized how painful it was. 
    “Tonight was really great,” I said softly as I looke d at everyone, aside from Jesse. “But I need to get home.”
    “Are you sure?” Mandy whined.
    “Yeah.  Sorry to bail, but I’m getting tired and I’m working in the morning.”
    “We’ll have to do this again before everyone leaves,” Mandy said and she appeared to be the only one who didn’t realize why I was really leaving. 
    “Yeah.  Let’s do that,” I lied. “I’ll see you guys later.”
    I didn’t wait for anyone to say anything else.   I just headed to my car and drove away. 

Chapter Six
     
    I left Jesse’s and drove around for a while.  I didn’t want to go home, but I didn’t want to stay at his house