Read Online Fallen Embers by P.G. Forte - Free Book Online

forgotten.
    Perhaps that’s the best she could reasonably hope for. Eventually, perhaps, Armand would forget how much he’d once loved her mother and Julie would forget how much it bothered her that he’d never really stopped.
    Maybe someday. But definitely not tonight. She turned reluctantly toward the house.
    â€œWait,” Armand said at last, before she’d taken more than two trudging steps. “Hold on a minute.”
    But Julie had had enough for one night. She shook her head. “I can’t do this with you anymore, Armand. I need a break.”
    â€œJulie…”
    She stopped then and turned back to face him, taking deep, calming breaths in an effort to steady her voice. “Remember how I said I’d decide for myself who I wanted to be involved with? Well, right now, that’s nobody. I just want to be left alone.”
    Then she did leave. And he let her go…
    He let her go ! Julie had to stop to blink back the tears that were suddenly obscuring her vision. Sure, it was what she’d asked him to do. What right did she have to complain when he’d finally given her what she’d said she wanted? But for six months he’d fought with her over everything, from breaking up with Brennan to giving him her mother’s suitcase. Was it too much to hope for that he’d care enough to fight for her—for them—now? Apparently, the answer was yes. Which had to mean he considered “them” less important than pretty much anything else.
    She pushed her gloomy thoughts aside and refocused on her surroundings. This was not the time to be getting distracted. Here on the street, all alone, with morning approaching—this was the kind of place she’d expect to encounter danger, not in Conrad’s front yard, where she was surrounded by family and others of her kind. No matter what Armand seemed to think.
    Armand…
    Her breath hitched and she tamped down her emotions even harder as she resumed walking. She was not going to think about him anymore. As of right now, they were over. As she came abreast of the parking lot, a car door opened and a figure emerged. Julie felt a surge of anger.
    There you are, you son of a bitch. Let’s see what you’re up to.
    She stopped again and sized him up. He was a big man, tall, and strong looking; in practically any other set of circumstances, Julie would have said he was just her type. He was also definitely human and apparently alone, which made him no match for her at all.
    He reminded her of Brennan. Her heart leaped and twisted at the realization. Caught off-guard, she could not stem the cascade of emotions: anger, desire, anguish, grief. And loneliness. Oh, most definitely loneliness. Why must her heart always ache for the wrong person?
    Wrong or not, she wished it were Brennan here with her tonight. She knew it wasn’t, but…damn it, if it had been him, if they’d stumbled across each other again like this—just an innocent accident, outside of anyone’s control—then whatever came of it, it wouldn’t be her fault. It would be kismet, destiny, fate. It would be Life itself throwing them back together again—obviously for a reason. And they’d be fools to let such a serendipitous opportunity go to waste.
    Oh, if only it could be him. If only she could spend one more day in the safe haven of Brennan’s embrace. What wouldn’t she give for such a…for such a miracle?
    But one day would lead to two, and then to three and before she knew it they’d be right back where they’d started. Clinging to each other. Dragging each other down. Hurting each other all over again—when all they’d ever really wanted was to make each other happy. Something they could only ever do by letting each other go.
    â€œExcuse me, miss, can I speak to you for a minute? Is everything all right?”
    Julie stifled a sigh. “Yeah, sure. Everything’s