Read Online Fractured ( Fractured #1) by Holleigh James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Holleigh James
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on it later; it helps take the sting out.”
Another smile, with the dimple this time. “I’ll have to remember that. A cold shower would help to lower your body temperature, too.”
I felt the burn from inside.
If Dillon hadn’t run out from the house, I would have stood there all day. “Manny, Manny.” He ran right into my arms as if he hadn’t seen me in years.
I gave him a big hug, despite the pain from my scorched skin. “I missed you, Dill.”
Dillon’s only response was to squeeze my waist tighter. When he was finished hugging me, he stood back and looked at Rob. “Rob,” he said in a flat tone.
“Hey, buddy. How was your day?” Rob made sure to look into Dillon’s eyes.
“Planes.”
“Oh, our dad took him to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. Dillon loves planes.”
Dillon reiterated. “Planes.”
“Wow, that’s great,” Rob said. “Maybe we could go together one day to watch the planes. Would you like that, Dillon?”
“Planes.”
“Okay, Dillon, go in the house. I’ll be right there.” And with that, he ran back from where he came. A glimpse of the quivering living room curtains told me that my father was hiding behind them, watching my interaction with the stranger who drove his daughter home in an incredible car; one he was probably drooling over. I turned toward Rob. “Thank you again for the ride and the nice day.” I was glad I had sunburn because I knew, without a doubt, it was masking my blushing cheeks.
“ Mandy… I’d like see you again,” he said.
My heart leapt at the suggestion. Just name the time and date and I am so there. I felt like saying, “I don’t ever have to leave if you don’t want me to.” Instead, I said, “I’d like that.”
“Maybe you could show me that creek you were headed to the other day; the one in your drawings.”
“Sure,” I replied without hesitation. I’d never taken anyone there before, not even Dillon.
Good-bye was awkward. I would have welcomed a kiss, but I knew my father was spying on me, and I really didn’t know Rob well enough yet. But, I wanted him to kiss me in the worst way.
“Have a good night,” he said , as he stroked my arm. Every hair stood up straight and danced. He walked around to the driver’s side of the car, but didn’t get in. Instead, he waited until I walked through my front door.
Not wanting to close the door for fear that he would disappear forever and I’d never see him again, I shut it slowly until it clicked in the doorframe. Then I ran to the window and stood next to my father. Both of us peered out from behind the curtains and watched as Rob drove away. We were both sad: me because Rob was leaving, and Dad because he was taking the BMW with him.
Chapter Eleven
“Who was that?” Dad’s tone was sharp.
“His name is Rob Cooper. He’s Eric Bowman’s cousin.”
“Why did he drive you home?” Dad’s eyes flashed me a suspicious glance. He was not keen on strange boys driving me home, not that I had ever done it before. In fact, he was not in favor of any boy even talking to me. My shoulders tightened. I looked away from his parental stare. But then I remembered why I needed a ride.
“Well, if you’d let me have my own car, then I wouldn’t have to rely on other people bringing me home when Bryan leaves me stranded so he can chase girls. Rob offered me a ride so that I wouldn’t have to walk home by myself.”
Dad readjusted his stance. My pointing out his double standard seemed to have caused him pause.
“You know, Dad, I could be more independent , and I wouldn’t have to impose on anyone to take me everywhere if I had my own car. And, it would save me money not buying a new pair of sneakers every couple of months because of all the walking I have to do.” I hoped that made sense to him.
He turned away, just as he had done every other time I brought up the topic. “We can’t afford it right now,” was
Another smile, with the dimple this time. “I’ll have to remember that. A cold shower would help to lower your body temperature, too.”
I felt the burn from inside.
If Dillon hadn’t run out from the house, I would have stood there all day. “Manny, Manny.” He ran right into my arms as if he hadn’t seen me in years.
I gave him a big hug, despite the pain from my scorched skin. “I missed you, Dill.”
Dillon’s only response was to squeeze my waist tighter. When he was finished hugging me, he stood back and looked at Rob. “Rob,” he said in a flat tone.
“Hey, buddy. How was your day?” Rob made sure to look into Dillon’s eyes.
“Planes.”
“Oh, our dad took him to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. Dillon loves planes.”
Dillon reiterated. “Planes.”
“Wow, that’s great,” Rob said. “Maybe we could go together one day to watch the planes. Would you like that, Dillon?”
“Planes.”
“Okay, Dillon, go in the house. I’ll be right there.” And with that, he ran back from where he came. A glimpse of the quivering living room curtains told me that my father was hiding behind them, watching my interaction with the stranger who drove his daughter home in an incredible car; one he was probably drooling over. I turned toward Rob. “Thank you again for the ride and the nice day.” I was glad I had sunburn because I knew, without a doubt, it was masking my blushing cheeks.
“ Mandy… I’d like see you again,” he said.
My heart leapt at the suggestion. Just name the time and date and I am so there. I felt like saying, “I don’t ever have to leave if you don’t want me to.” Instead, I said, “I’d like that.”
“Maybe you could show me that creek you were headed to the other day; the one in your drawings.”
“Sure,” I replied without hesitation. I’d never taken anyone there before, not even Dillon.
Good-bye was awkward. I would have welcomed a kiss, but I knew my father was spying on me, and I really didn’t know Rob well enough yet. But, I wanted him to kiss me in the worst way.
“Have a good night,” he said , as he stroked my arm. Every hair stood up straight and danced. He walked around to the driver’s side of the car, but didn’t get in. Instead, he waited until I walked through my front door.
Not wanting to close the door for fear that he would disappear forever and I’d never see him again, I shut it slowly until it clicked in the doorframe. Then I ran to the window and stood next to my father. Both of us peered out from behind the curtains and watched as Rob drove away. We were both sad: me because Rob was leaving, and Dad because he was taking the BMW with him.
Chapter Eleven
“Who was that?” Dad’s tone was sharp.
“His name is Rob Cooper. He’s Eric Bowman’s cousin.”
“Why did he drive you home?” Dad’s eyes flashed me a suspicious glance. He was not keen on strange boys driving me home, not that I had ever done it before. In fact, he was not in favor of any boy even talking to me. My shoulders tightened. I looked away from his parental stare. But then I remembered why I needed a ride.
“Well, if you’d let me have my own car, then I wouldn’t have to rely on other people bringing me home when Bryan leaves me stranded so he can chase girls. Rob offered me a ride so that I wouldn’t have to walk home by myself.”
Dad readjusted his stance. My pointing out his double standard seemed to have caused him pause.
“You know, Dad, I could be more independent , and I wouldn’t have to impose on anyone to take me everywhere if I had my own car. And, it would save me money not buying a new pair of sneakers every couple of months because of all the walking I have to do.” I hoped that made sense to him.
He turned away, just as he had done every other time I brought up the topic. “We can’t afford it right now,” was
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