Read Online Dare to Dream (Truth or Dare #2) by Sloan Johnson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sloan Johnson
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off than excited about Pete offering me a contract.” I wish we could keep talking, but as I open my mouth to continue sharing my reservations with Aaron, the women come out carrying stacks of plates and enough side dishes to feed an army.
Before he tends to the meat again, Aaron grabs the back of my neck, pulling me close to him. “We’ll talk later, but remember that her life is changing too. Every overwhelming feeling you have right now, hers is likely multiplied because she’s already dealing with trying to live her life back home. It’s a lot to deal with, but you two are going to be fine.”
As I process the words he’s whispering to me, I look over his shoulder and see Lea cautiously watching us. She cocks an eyebrow in question and I wink at her. Aaron’s right, whatever’s going on, we’ll figure out how to conquer it. Together.
Chapter 8
Lea
Every day I’m here, I feel more weight bearing down on my shoulders. Yesterday was hard for me, but not for any of the reasons Colby may think. I wanted to be happy for him, I was happy for him, but my own thoughts overshadowed every positive emotion. It ripped me to the core to see him blast through the door of our hotel suite, knowing that he’s a huge step closer to making his dream come true, at the same time I realized I haven’t even tried to have a dream. And no matter how hard I tried to be excited for him, the hollow pit inside of me grew because I felt like a hypocrite.
This morning, he apologized profusely when he had to leave me while I was still trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. He fought to hide the excitement about the fact that he was headed to meet with an attorney to comb over the contract. If I had admitted my thoughts to him last night, he would have realized how proud I am of him, but instead, I claimed the wine gave me a headache and rolled over to go to sleep. I’m a bitch for letting him think he needs to hide his eager anticipation from me, especially after I pushed him to do this while I’m still here.
“Hey, you okay?” Rebecca asks, placing her hand tenderly on my forearm. I’m sure she thinks I’m a total space cadet at this point. I was so lost in my mental pity party that I didn’t even notice her come into the hotel lobby.
As soon as I asked her about shopping today, she pulled out her phone to shift around some meetings. And now she’s stuck with me for the afternoon. Lucky her.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I lie, not wanting to make her think any less of me than she probably already does. “Not getting much sleep this week. You know how it is.”
She laughs, pulling me in for a tight hug. It’s too friendly, but I accept the comfort she’s offering. “Honey, we have two kids at home, I have no clue how anything is anymore.”
We both laugh even harder, linking arms like old friends as we walk out of the hotel into the afternoon sun. The warmth in late October is one more thin g I’m going to miss when I go back home. Rebecca pulls me into a small coffee shop, telling me to find us a table while she orders.
I start to relax by the time she comes back, and before our cups are empty, I feel like she’s someone I could easily see fitting into my life. While I ignore the part where Colby’s life will likely be confined to the inside of a tour bus and miles of endless highway before too long, I can see everything about Nashville fitting into my life. It’s the first bit of crystal clarity in a period of utter chaos and uncertainty that my mind has been.
“So, which Lea is the real Lea?” Rebecca asks as she points down the street to a small boutique she swears has the best outfits in town.
“Excuse me?” I respond, not sure what she’s getting at. I might be an emotional mess right now, but I’m fairly certain that I haven’t come across as fake at any point. Unstable yes, disingenuous no.
“Last night and when I first picked you up, you were so serious,” she says bluntly. “But now, it’s like
Before he tends to the meat again, Aaron grabs the back of my neck, pulling me close to him. “We’ll talk later, but remember that her life is changing too. Every overwhelming feeling you have right now, hers is likely multiplied because she’s already dealing with trying to live her life back home. It’s a lot to deal with, but you two are going to be fine.”
As I process the words he’s whispering to me, I look over his shoulder and see Lea cautiously watching us. She cocks an eyebrow in question and I wink at her. Aaron’s right, whatever’s going on, we’ll figure out how to conquer it. Together.
Chapter 8
Lea
Every day I’m here, I feel more weight bearing down on my shoulders. Yesterday was hard for me, but not for any of the reasons Colby may think. I wanted to be happy for him, I was happy for him, but my own thoughts overshadowed every positive emotion. It ripped me to the core to see him blast through the door of our hotel suite, knowing that he’s a huge step closer to making his dream come true, at the same time I realized I haven’t even tried to have a dream. And no matter how hard I tried to be excited for him, the hollow pit inside of me grew because I felt like a hypocrite.
This morning, he apologized profusely when he had to leave me while I was still trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. He fought to hide the excitement about the fact that he was headed to meet with an attorney to comb over the contract. If I had admitted my thoughts to him last night, he would have realized how proud I am of him, but instead, I claimed the wine gave me a headache and rolled over to go to sleep. I’m a bitch for letting him think he needs to hide his eager anticipation from me, especially after I pushed him to do this while I’m still here.
“Hey, you okay?” Rebecca asks, placing her hand tenderly on my forearm. I’m sure she thinks I’m a total space cadet at this point. I was so lost in my mental pity party that I didn’t even notice her come into the hotel lobby.
As soon as I asked her about shopping today, she pulled out her phone to shift around some meetings. And now she’s stuck with me for the afternoon. Lucky her.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I lie, not wanting to make her think any less of me than she probably already does. “Not getting much sleep this week. You know how it is.”
She laughs, pulling me in for a tight hug. It’s too friendly, but I accept the comfort she’s offering. “Honey, we have two kids at home, I have no clue how anything is anymore.”
We both laugh even harder, linking arms like old friends as we walk out of the hotel into the afternoon sun. The warmth in late October is one more thin g I’m going to miss when I go back home. Rebecca pulls me into a small coffee shop, telling me to find us a table while she orders.
I start to relax by the time she comes back, and before our cups are empty, I feel like she’s someone I could easily see fitting into my life. While I ignore the part where Colby’s life will likely be confined to the inside of a tour bus and miles of endless highway before too long, I can see everything about Nashville fitting into my life. It’s the first bit of crystal clarity in a period of utter chaos and uncertainty that my mind has been.
“So, which Lea is the real Lea?” Rebecca asks as she points down the street to a small boutique she swears has the best outfits in town.
“Excuse me?” I respond, not sure what she’s getting at. I might be an emotional mess right now, but I’m fairly certain that I haven’t come across as fake at any point. Unstable yes, disingenuous no.
“Last night and when I first picked you up, you were so serious,” she says bluntly. “But now, it’s like
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