Read Online Compulsive (Liar #1) by Lia Fairchild - Free Book Online
Authors: Lia Fairchild
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home, my head clouded with confusion,
refusing to admit Daniel may have been right. But, I also wanted to be free
from the binds of my past and all the issues that constantly surrounded me. Plus,
Evyn would kill me if I didn’t go through with this. Even worse, she would fire
me. I flashed back to Daniel grabbing my wrist, the sight of him stepping
protectively in front of me, staring down the red-headed terminator. The image
was damn hot, but at the same time, debilitating. He forced me to be
vulnerable, to allow him to diminish my own protective instincts.
As I pulled off the freeway, I’d settled into the
notion of taking control of my life. At this point, that would mean towing the
line, at least for a little while. Shit, I’d faked my way through plenty of
relationships, parties, and meetings. I could handle six more months. And if I
happened to exorcise a few demons with the help of someone from Dr. Wallace’s
geek squad, then that would be a bonus. I’d planned to finally make use of the
indestructible referral list when I arrived home. First, I had to get Alyssa
squared away.
As promised, we stopped at the duck pond and unloaded
the loaf of stale bread. The sun baked over the dark green water, while the
ducks enjoyed their fancy feast. I practically had to drag her away when it was
time to go, and I was tempted to check her sweatshirt for ducklings. Once, she’d
left her jacket at my apartment. When I went to check her pockets for her phone,
my hand made contact with something furry and squirming. I put the jacket into
the bathtub until she arrived. “That’s just Mr. McKenzie,” she’d said, pulling
the white rat out and holding him up. “Why that name?” I’d asked. “Oh, I named
him after his daddy…my science teacher.” She’d left that day wearing a large
devious grin.
After the duck pond, I took her to have the key made.
I waited in the car, so I could call Nathan and ask if he we could get together
the next day. It was time to make things right with him. When Alyssa came out,
she gave me a key. “I had two extras made, but don’t tell my mom.”
I didn’t argue with her because it was probably a good
idea for me to have it. I placed it inside my purse and started the car. “Hey,
I’m really proud of you for what you did back there for Jessie.”
“It was nothing. The kid was starting to get on my
nerves with all that screaming.” She shrugged. “I had to do something.”
“She’s only a year younger than you.”
“Yes, but I’m ages older in this thing called life .”
“That’s true. Pretty strange day though, yeah?”
“Yeah. How about we go wind down with some beers?”
“Nice try.”
“Wine?”
I swallowed a smile and turned to her with narrowed
eyes. “Seriously, Alyssa. I don’t want to hear you getting into that shit. Do
you understand me?”
Her head shrank back like a turtle going in its shell.
“Whoa. Chill. I was kidding.”
I backed out of the space and headed toward home
without responding.
“Man,” she finally said. “What did I say about wanting
you as a mother? Jeez.”
CHAPTER 8
--------------------------
Nathan had already settled into our usual spot at the bar of the Blue
Moon Saloon when I arrived. An amber-colored beer, half-gone, sat in front of
him. As if on instinct, he turned to me as I headed toward him. Our mutual
smiles indicated the irony of the situation was not lost on either of us.
Nathan and I met in AA and this was where we played hooky, had our own therapy
sessions, shared secrets, fought and made up, time and time again. The worst
times were when he’d gotten into it with his foster mom or brother, and I
couldn’t reach him. I’d come here and find him blasted, hitting on women, and talking
to complete strangers about how messed up his family was.
My smile faded quickly as I struggled with what I
would say…how honest I would be about everything.
“There’s my girl,” he said, standing to hug me.
refusing to admit Daniel may have been right. But, I also wanted to be free
from the binds of my past and all the issues that constantly surrounded me. Plus,
Evyn would kill me if I didn’t go through with this. Even worse, she would fire
me. I flashed back to Daniel grabbing my wrist, the sight of him stepping
protectively in front of me, staring down the red-headed terminator. The image
was damn hot, but at the same time, debilitating. He forced me to be
vulnerable, to allow him to diminish my own protective instincts.
As I pulled off the freeway, I’d settled into the
notion of taking control of my life. At this point, that would mean towing the
line, at least for a little while. Shit, I’d faked my way through plenty of
relationships, parties, and meetings. I could handle six more months. And if I
happened to exorcise a few demons with the help of someone from Dr. Wallace’s
geek squad, then that would be a bonus. I’d planned to finally make use of the
indestructible referral list when I arrived home. First, I had to get Alyssa
squared away.
As promised, we stopped at the duck pond and unloaded
the loaf of stale bread. The sun baked over the dark green water, while the
ducks enjoyed their fancy feast. I practically had to drag her away when it was
time to go, and I was tempted to check her sweatshirt for ducklings. Once, she’d
left her jacket at my apartment. When I went to check her pockets for her phone,
my hand made contact with something furry and squirming. I put the jacket into
the bathtub until she arrived. “That’s just Mr. McKenzie,” she’d said, pulling
the white rat out and holding him up. “Why that name?” I’d asked. “Oh, I named
him after his daddy…my science teacher.” She’d left that day wearing a large
devious grin.
After the duck pond, I took her to have the key made.
I waited in the car, so I could call Nathan and ask if he we could get together
the next day. It was time to make things right with him. When Alyssa came out,
she gave me a key. “I had two extras made, but don’t tell my mom.”
I didn’t argue with her because it was probably a good
idea for me to have it. I placed it inside my purse and started the car. “Hey,
I’m really proud of you for what you did back there for Jessie.”
“It was nothing. The kid was starting to get on my
nerves with all that screaming.” She shrugged. “I had to do something.”
“She’s only a year younger than you.”
“Yes, but I’m ages older in this thing called life .”
“That’s true. Pretty strange day though, yeah?”
“Yeah. How about we go wind down with some beers?”
“Nice try.”
“Wine?”
I swallowed a smile and turned to her with narrowed
eyes. “Seriously, Alyssa. I don’t want to hear you getting into that shit. Do
you understand me?”
Her head shrank back like a turtle going in its shell.
“Whoa. Chill. I was kidding.”
I backed out of the space and headed toward home
without responding.
“Man,” she finally said. “What did I say about wanting
you as a mother? Jeez.”
CHAPTER 8
--------------------------
Nathan had already settled into our usual spot at the bar of the Blue
Moon Saloon when I arrived. An amber-colored beer, half-gone, sat in front of
him. As if on instinct, he turned to me as I headed toward him. Our mutual
smiles indicated the irony of the situation was not lost on either of us.
Nathan and I met in AA and this was where we played hooky, had our own therapy
sessions, shared secrets, fought and made up, time and time again. The worst
times were when he’d gotten into it with his foster mom or brother, and I
couldn’t reach him. I’d come here and find him blasted, hitting on women, and talking
to complete strangers about how messed up his family was.
My smile faded quickly as I struggled with what I
would say…how honest I would be about everything.
“There’s my girl,” he said, standing to hug me.
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