Read Online Hope (The Virtues #1) by Davida Lynn - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Davida Lynn
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pretty easy.”
As we rode, I felt his calming presence. It worked. I felt like Nick wasn’t in any real danger anymore. I ignored the fact that Trask was driving me toward danger, though. I felt safe on his bike, and I felt safe around him.
The night before, when he saved me from that creepy fucker at the bar, I felt this intense wave of emotions rush over me. He protected me and kept me safe. I think that was why it was so much easier for me to give myself to him. My body had been charged with adrenaline and endorphins, and then to be face to face with my high school sweetheart was just too much. The passion had exploded from me.
I opened my eyes, shaking that beautiful thought from my head as we cruised up the Golden State Highway. The wind was fantastic, and I loved leaning left and right as we sped past cars. It truly felt like Trask was above the law and above the danger. I felt like as long as I was near him, I was too.
Maybe I had lulled myself into a false sense of security, but all the illusions I had built up over the past twelve hours were about to come crashing down around me.
We pulled into the trailer park, just like we had many times in high school. But instead of his beat up Chevy truck, it was a Harley, and instead of dropping me off at home, we were trying to get some local drug dealer off of my brother’s back.
I remembered the times when Trask would drop me off after dark, and my father would be inside. I knew he was home, because he would be yelling at the top of his lungs. Sometimes it was at my brother, sometimes it was at a neighbor, and other times it was just at the TV.
He hated to leave me at home, and I hated the look on Trask’s face before he turned his car around to leave. He told me time and time again that if his aunt and uncle would have let me stay with them, I’d never have to see the trailer again. I’d loved him for it in high school, and driving to my old home made me squeeze him a little tighter on the back of his Harley Davidson.
We passed the cul-de-sac with just our trailer left at the end and parked one street over. I hadn’t seen anyone when I came by the first night, but I’d probably had tunnel vision then. When Trask shut the engine down, I heard a voice calling to me from behind.
“That’s not Hope, is it?”
As I pulled the helmet off, I couldn’t help but smile. I turned to see Mrs. Halburn behind me. She had always been a sort of grandmother to Nick and I growing up. My mother often had her babysit us, and after she ran out on us, Mrs. Halburn was there. I thought she was old when we were in school, but now she looked ancient.
She waved to me from the porch of her trailer. She was obese, and her tattered hair was pulled back into a grey ponytail streaked with the occasional white hair. As she waved, her evening gown swayed back and forth. I smiled and waved back. I saw her trying to stand up from her outdoor rocking chair, and I darted over to her before she exerted the effort.
“No, no, Mrs. Halburn, you don’t need to get up,” I laughed. She was one of the few good memories I had about my childhood. She was a welcome relief to the hardships at home.
“Oh, you hush your mouth and give me a hug, girlie.” The last few words were almost grunts as she hoisted herself out of the chair.
I turned and gave Trask the “just a second” look, then skipped up Mrs. Halburn’s warped front steps. The faded white paint had worn off where my young feet used to skip up and down to childhood rhymes. She winced with pain, but finally managed to get to her feet.
“How are you, child? I haven’t seen you in so long!” She threw her arms around me and pulled me in. I squeezed her tight, my heart aching with the motherly love she had given me over the years. She and Trask were the only ones that I didn’t have to take care of in Bakersfield. They were the only two that helped take care of me.
“I’m doing well, Mrs. Halburn. Still in med
As we rode, I felt his calming presence. It worked. I felt like Nick wasn’t in any real danger anymore. I ignored the fact that Trask was driving me toward danger, though. I felt safe on his bike, and I felt safe around him.
The night before, when he saved me from that creepy fucker at the bar, I felt this intense wave of emotions rush over me. He protected me and kept me safe. I think that was why it was so much easier for me to give myself to him. My body had been charged with adrenaline and endorphins, and then to be face to face with my high school sweetheart was just too much. The passion had exploded from me.
I opened my eyes, shaking that beautiful thought from my head as we cruised up the Golden State Highway. The wind was fantastic, and I loved leaning left and right as we sped past cars. It truly felt like Trask was above the law and above the danger. I felt like as long as I was near him, I was too.
Maybe I had lulled myself into a false sense of security, but all the illusions I had built up over the past twelve hours were about to come crashing down around me.
We pulled into the trailer park, just like we had many times in high school. But instead of his beat up Chevy truck, it was a Harley, and instead of dropping me off at home, we were trying to get some local drug dealer off of my brother’s back.
I remembered the times when Trask would drop me off after dark, and my father would be inside. I knew he was home, because he would be yelling at the top of his lungs. Sometimes it was at my brother, sometimes it was at a neighbor, and other times it was just at the TV.
He hated to leave me at home, and I hated the look on Trask’s face before he turned his car around to leave. He told me time and time again that if his aunt and uncle would have let me stay with them, I’d never have to see the trailer again. I’d loved him for it in high school, and driving to my old home made me squeeze him a little tighter on the back of his Harley Davidson.
We passed the cul-de-sac with just our trailer left at the end and parked one street over. I hadn’t seen anyone when I came by the first night, but I’d probably had tunnel vision then. When Trask shut the engine down, I heard a voice calling to me from behind.
“That’s not Hope, is it?”
As I pulled the helmet off, I couldn’t help but smile. I turned to see Mrs. Halburn behind me. She had always been a sort of grandmother to Nick and I growing up. My mother often had her babysit us, and after she ran out on us, Mrs. Halburn was there. I thought she was old when we were in school, but now she looked ancient.
She waved to me from the porch of her trailer. She was obese, and her tattered hair was pulled back into a grey ponytail streaked with the occasional white hair. As she waved, her evening gown swayed back and forth. I smiled and waved back. I saw her trying to stand up from her outdoor rocking chair, and I darted over to her before she exerted the effort.
“No, no, Mrs. Halburn, you don’t need to get up,” I laughed. She was one of the few good memories I had about my childhood. She was a welcome relief to the hardships at home.
“Oh, you hush your mouth and give me a hug, girlie.” The last few words were almost grunts as she hoisted herself out of the chair.
I turned and gave Trask the “just a second” look, then skipped up Mrs. Halburn’s warped front steps. The faded white paint had worn off where my young feet used to skip up and down to childhood rhymes. She winced with pain, but finally managed to get to her feet.
“How are you, child? I haven’t seen you in so long!” She threw her arms around me and pulled me in. I squeezed her tight, my heart aching with the motherly love she had given me over the years. She and Trask were the only ones that I didn’t have to take care of in Bakersfield. They were the only two that helped take care of me.
“I’m doing well, Mrs. Halburn. Still in med
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