Read Online Defensive by J.D. Rivera - Free Book Online Page A

Although, how is he doing? You know, with the move?”
    I laughed because I knew she still cared about him. “He’s doing okay. He’s a hermit, though. If he’s not working, he’s home or doing something with my nephew.”
    “What color do you want?” asked the lady massaging my feet.
    “I’m thinking red,” I told her as Amanda asked for purple.
    “Maybe you should drop by and see him,” I told Amanda.
    She looked at me with a don’t-be-stupid face. “That’s a great idea. I’ll make sure to cook him a casserole while I’m at it.”
    I giggled. “Now that would be funny. Maybe you could just pick up some take out.”
    “That’s funny coming from the girl who never cooks.”
    “I made mac ‘n’ cheese the other day. Jackson ate it.”
    She chuckled. “He’s always kissing your ass. He’d eat liver if you made it for him.”
    “He does not kiss my ass.”
    “If you say so,” she said. “You wanna go try on crazy dresses just for the hell of it? I don’t really need any new clothes and I really need to save money.”
    This was something Amanda and I had done since high school when we were bored and broke. We’d try to see who could find the tackiest dress and make a day of trying on ugly dresses. “That sounds like fun. I have a car to fix so I can’t afford anything new, either.”

    We strolled into the dress store and immediately went to the clearance rack. A lot of times it was a jackpot for ugly dresses.
    “Oh my gosh! Look at this!” Amanda hollered as she held up a dress that looked like it had been made out of different curtains from the 70’s.
    “Holy shit, that’s ugly!” I touched the fabric. It even felt like curtains.
    She threw it over her shoulder. “I know! I can’t wait to try it on.”
    “Wait, look at this one,” I said, holding up a multi colored puffy dress that reminded me of a child’s toy.
    “Try it on!” she exclaimed as she rummaged through the rack.
    We tried on different hideous dresses for a couple of hours with Amanda’s curtain dress winning the most hideous award. I talked her into trying on a really pretty dress just for the fun of it. It was black and hugged all of her curves, showing off her boobs. She looked gorgeous. I discreetly took a picture of her while wearing it and sent it to my brother.
    Me: Doesn’t she look gorgeous?
    Landon: Why would you send me this? Although, she does look gorgeous.
    Me: I sent it to you so you would know what you’re missing out on since you won’t even try.
    Landon: She’s the one who won’t forgive me. Besides, I have a child to raise.
    Me: So? I can babysit for you.
    Landon: Have fun shopping.
    “Help me with this zipper. Who were you texting? Jackson?” Amanda asked, while trying to grab the zipper on her back.
    I batted her hand away. “I was texting Landon. I’m trying to talk him into letting me babysit.” It was the partial truth.
    “Why wouldn’t he let you babysit? That seems odd.”
    I got the zipper all the way undone. “There. You’re free. He won’t let me because he has no desire to get out of the house. I told you earlier he’s a hermit.”
    “Sucks for him. He used to be fun,” she said, stepping out of the dress.
    I agreed and we changed back into our boring clothes and left the store. I was feeling really exhausted so I had Amanda drop me off at my apartment to take a nap. I was exhausted all the time now. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hide it from Jackson before he thought I was sick.

Jackson
    After Vanessa and I got back from the repair shop, she went out with Amanda, so I decided to hang out with her brother. We’d gone for a beer a few times since he had moved to the area and I really liked him. He wasn’t as irritating as Ray or, at least since I was dating his sister, he wasn’t constantly talking about hooking up with other girls.
    I pulled up to his apartment; it was a much nicer complex than Vanessa’s building. It had different maintained bushes and