Read Online In My Father's Shadow by Jl Paul - Free Book Online Page B

even
if that wasn’t true – even if she did want to hook up with me, do
you honestly think I would do that?”
    “I don’t know what I was thinking,” she snapped,
twisting her head in an effort to remove her chin from his grasp.
He held harder.
    “I talked to her for about an hour, I guess, and then
went up to RJ’s room. They told me that you were tired and went to
bed so I didn’t want to disturb you. I hung out with the guys and
played cards.”
    “I know,” she whispered, her eyes starting to water.
He finally released her and she ducked her head, not wanting him to
see the shame in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
    “Al,” he said, desperation in his voice. “Why does
this matter so much to you, huh? You’ve never been so mad at me
over some chick.”
    She lifted her head and met his gaze, her bottom lip
trembling. “I…umm…I didn’t want you…messing…with her.”
    “That’s not going to fly. I’m not buying that at
all.” He stroked her cheek, his eyes softening. “What’s the
problem, Al?”
    She rose abruptly and wrapped her arms around her
torso, her heart teetering on the edge of a deep precipice, not
sure which way to go.
    “Al?” he said as he approached her from behind. He
placed a soft hand on her shoulder. “Talk to me, please.”
    She turned to face him, fear and excitement
thundering in her veins. She grabbed hold of his shirt, fisting the
material, and pulled him closer. A bit of shock shot through his
eyes but she was determined to do this – to let him know.
    “I wanted it to be me,” she said, firmly, then locked
her hands behind his neck and yanked his lips to hers. She kissed
him timidly at first until he sighed and wound his arms around her
waist. His move built her courage and she deepened the kiss,
allowing her fingers to tangle in the ends of his hair. He
tightened his hold and returned her kiss, making her heart beat so
hard she was afraid it would totally tire out and she’d need a
shock to get it going again.
    His hands rubbed soft, gentle circles on her back
while urging her closer as he continued to kiss her, building her
hope. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe he felt the same way.
Maybe they’d be able to work something out. Maybe…
    “Stop, Al,” he said mumbled against her mouth as he
gently extricated himself from her arms. She blinked slowly, trying
to comprehend what he said. He smiled at her and stroked her cheek.
“We need to stop.”
    “But I don’t want to stop,” she protested, her lips
still humming from his kiss.
    His eyes turned sympathetic and it stabbed her heart,
slowing its rate and freezing her blood. “We can’t do this.”
    “Why not?” she persisted, holding tightly to her
strength, not wanting to dissolve into a puddle of emotion at his
feet.
    He backed up and plopped on the bed, pulling her
beside him. “Because, Al. We’ve talked about this before,
remember?”
    She slapped his hands away and pushed her hair out of
her face. “No, we didn’t. You just said we can’t do this, that’s
all. I want to know why. Don’t you want to be with me? Or are all
these feelings one-sided?”
    He closed his eyes and groaned, falling to his back.
“It’s more complicated than that and you know it.”
    “No, I don’t,” she huffed.
    “I told you,” he said as he pinched the bridge of his
nose. “I need to concentrate on the band right now. And if we did
do this, what happens next year while you’re still in school and
I’m not? What if the band makes it and we’re out of town all the
time?” He sat up and snatched her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Or what happens if we try this and it doesn’t work. What happens
to our friendship? Our friendship with each other and with RJ and
Jamie?”
    She got up off the bed and walked to the window,
parting the curtains to stare at the night. “My mom and dad were
best friends and look at them. They love you, Cole, like a son. And
you’re dad, I’m pretty sure, loves me. My