Read Online Into the Deep 01 by Samantha Young - Free Book Online Page A

smiled.
    “Was that a naughty thought, Charlotte?” he murmured, eyes twinkling.
    I shook my head casually to cover my embarrassment. “Just wondering if it was painful?”
    “Not as painful as the tat on my ribs.”
    Knowing exactly what he wanted my response to be, my lips twitched. “I’m not asking you to take your shirt off.”
    “Damn. I’ve got a live one.” He smiled and then dipped his head closer to mine. “Is it weird? Seeing Jake again?”
    I arched an eyebrow at him, not particularly happy to learn they’d obviously been talking about me.
    Lowe just shrugged. “We’ve been friends since freshman year. I knew something was up so he told me about you guys. It’s a shit situation.”
    “It was a long time ago.”
    “So you’re a free agent, then?”
    I wondered for a second if there was a code amongst guy friends about pursuing ex-girlfriends. Clearly not, according to Lowe. I sighed. “I’m not his, if that’s what you mean.” Funny, but that was the first time I’d said it aloud since we broke up. I was no longer surprised by how much it hurt.
    “Are you anybody’s?”
    “I don’t think we’re ever anybody’s, and to believe otherwise will get you hurt.”
    Lowe tipped his head in thought, his eyes strangely serious. “I think you’ll like my lyrics.”
    “I can’t wait to hear you guys.”
    “I warn you once you do, you’ll become a groupie.”
    Laughing, I shook my head. “Sorry, I’ve never been a follower.”
    “I think that’s a challenge.”
    “No, it’s a fact. Take it as a challenge if you like, but you’ll find it a Sisyphean task.”
    Lowe laughed so hard he drew everyone’s eyes. His were glittering. “Classics major?”
    My lips twitched. “Psychology.”
    That made him laugh even harder. “Really?”
    “Nah. Criminal law.”
    “You’re shitting me?”
    “Nope.” I smiled around my beer, glad for Lowe and his distraction from Jake. My smile almost faltered when I caught Jake’s eyes, but he just gave me a tight smile and leaned his head to the side to listen to whatever Melissa was saying. Ignoring the sudden churning in my gut, I glanced over at Claudia to find her grinning happily at me, her gaze darting to Lowe pointedly. She gave me a wink, which I ignored, and laughed, turning back to Beck.
    “Why are you studying law?”
    “She wants to be a cop.”
    This came from Jake and my head jerked to him in surprise. He was staring at me with that frown line between his eyebrows again. I hated that his answer was like a free kick to my heart. Claudia, sensing I was lost as to how to respond, answered for me. “Actually, Charley’s parents hated the idea of her being a cop so much that she compromised with a pre-law degree so she can apply to law school.”
    Something sharpened in Jake’s expression as he returned his attention to me. Although I doubted anyone else understood it, I certainly did. Back when we were “us”, I’d discussed my parents’ unease at my career choice with Jake. Every time I found myself caving to them, Jake was there to bolster my resolve. In actuality I hadn’t given up on being a cop. I was compromising until I could convince my parents it was what I really wanted to do with my life. It had always been important to me to have their full support in everything I did, and I was growing more worried every day that I might not be able to persuade them to see things my way. I didn’t know how the story of my career was going to end if they didn’t jump on board soon.
    To Jake it would seem like I’d given in to them completely, and that my change of heart was another thing that could be traced to his lack of presence in my life. I didn’t know how that made him feel, but I could tell it made him feel something .
    “Claudia is pre-law too,” I turned to Lowe. That’s how we’d met.
    “Why law school?” Beck asked her, grinning like he didn’t quite understand her.
    “Because when I closed my eyes and ran my finger