Read Online Give Me Strength by Kate McCarthy - Free Book Online Page B

and grabbed a cloth
to start mopping up the mess.
    “Burning dinner?” came the teasing voice.
    Flustered, I turned, finding Travis filling the
tiny space in my kitchen.
    I waved a hand at the stove as I threw the cloth
in the sink. “I forgot I had pasta boiling on the stove.”
    He folded his arms, hand still gripping the
envelope, and leaned casually against the frame of the archway.
    I could forget everything with him standing
there eyeing me just like I was the lolly Lucy proclaimed me to be.
He was making me want things I knew I couldn’t have. I was too
damaged for someone like Travis—broken, missing pieces that would
never be found, and put back together in a way that never quite fit
properly.
    The thought left an empty ache in my chest.
    “You can leave the envelope on the counter,” I
told him. “Thanks for dropping it by.”
    A bang came from the front doorway, announcing
the return of Justin and Rufus from their walk. Rufus charged into
the tiny townhouse, yanking at the leash Justin held a firm grip
on, anxious to get back to his favourite groove in my old, faded
yellow couch. Seeing Travis, Rufus changed direction, making a
beeline to sniff out the intruder.
    Justin yanked him back on the leash. “Sorry,
bud,” he said to Travis.
    “Hey, Quinn,” Justin said, leaning in and
kissing my cheek. He unclipped the leash and Rufus, seemingly happy
with the presence of Travis inside his domain, leaped onto the
couch, circled, and settled in.
    I introduced Justin to Travis and the two shook
hands.
    “Beer?” he asked.
    Travis shook his head, frowning. “Thanks, but I
have to get going.”
    Justin shrugged and opened the fridge door,
grabbing a beer and popping the top. “What’s for dinner?”
    “Parmesan chicken and pasta,” I answered,
picking up my own drink so I had something to do with my hands.
    “Yum,” he replied and jumped on the couch next
to Rufus, grabbing the remote and flicking the television on.
    Before I could usher Travis towards the door,
Lucy’s husband Rick was filling the kitchen doorway, and my tiny
kitchen just got that much more crowded.
    “Rick?” The only reason Rick would be here at
this very moment was because Lucy sent him over to see what was
going on. My eyes narrowed on his face and through clenched teeth,
I asked, “Everything okay?” I turned to Travis. “Would you excuse
us for a minute?”
    I gripped Rick’s bicep in my hand, ushering him
out of the kitchen and towards the front door.
    “Sorry, Quinn,” he whispered and shrugged his
big shoulders helplessly. “Lucy told me I had to come over and
borrow a cup of sugar.”
    My eyebrows raised in disbelief. “A whole cup?
Is she baking?”
    “Um, I hope not,” he replied, his response
making it obvious that this was the best Lucy could come up with at
short notice.
    “Tell Lucy that I’ll speak to her later,” I
said, hoping the irritation in my voice conveyed the knowledge that
speaking to her wouldn’t entail good things.
    “Wait,” he interrupted, “I better get that cup
of sugar. You know, just in case she really meant it.”
    “Fine,” I said, huffing impatiently.
    Rick followed behind as I stalked back into the
kitchen, past Travis, and into the tiny pantry. I picked up an
unopened bag of sugar and walked out with it clutched in my
arms.
    “This is Travis. Travis, this is my neighbour
Rick,” I said in the way of introductions. I could have added that
Travis just happened to be the older brother of my boss, but that
would only encourage scheming on Lucy’s behalf to see me settled—as
though all you needed was a relationship to be happy.
    Travis unfolded his arms to shake Rick’s hand
politely. Then his gaze flicked to Justin before resting on mine.
His eyes were hard and cool, and it wasn’t until the distance in
them was clear that I realised how hot his eyes had burned before.
“Can we talk for a minute, Quinn?”
    His phone rang before I could reply and
muttering an apology, he