Read Online Junk Miles by Liz Reinhardt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Liz Reinhardt
Tags: Contemporary, Young Adult
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totally honest, I felt completely thrilled by his confession. I wanted to know what it would feel like to have Saxon devour me. Even as that thought crossed my mind, I rubbed my thumb over the ring Jake put on my finger the day before yesterday.
Jake, back home, tucked safe in Sussex County. Jake, who was planning his future around me and only me. I felt a hot prickle all over my skin, like I wanted to shake off a weight I wasn’t strong enough to carry. One wrong move, one slip-up on my end, and I could ruin Jake’s world. He had so much riding on me, so much he needed my help to figure out, and here I was, flirting with Saxon Maclean while I wore the ring Jake had given me to remind me how much he loved me.
The ring that said I was his heart. And that I was in charge of guarding it. Oh, Jake, forgive me!
I tried to focus on the book I was supposed to be reading, but Raskolnikov’s story was just giving me ideas. For example, if I had a hatchet, I might have gone after Saxon’s skull with happy determination. I plowed through the dense mazes of guilt-laden sentences and refused to lift my eyes to see what Saxon was doing. I didn’t care if he looked my way. I didn’t care if he got up and left to hunt perky little Sara Olsen down either. I hoped he did, actually. Paris would be better without him. Much less complicated.
But my ranting was just that; ranting. Because I realized that Paris was just going to have to be somewhat about Saxon for me. And whether I wanted to feel badly about that or not, it was the truth. I wanted to talk to him. About Jake. About life. About us. I didn’t want to admit it, but it was the truth.
I wondered what he would say about Jake’s reluctance to go to college or dream bigger. And, at the same time, I wondered what Saxon dreamed about. What did he want, other than life as a demi-god in Sussex County? Had the two of them ever made plans that involved more than a couple of 40s and some hard-partying girls with over-heated sex drives?
They finally called for us to board. Mom and Lylee were bonded at the hip, tittering and giggling like girls. I was glad, because Mom didn’t have many friends, and I felt like it was good for her to have someone to talk to.
“ Brenna,” Lylee said. “You don’t mind if I steal your mom for the ride over do you? I definitely need to brush up on my Impressionists before we hit Paris. Plus that, my son is being a bear, and I have a feeling you’ll be a much better animal tamer than I am.”
She smiled so beautifully, I found myself nodding before I knew what I was doing. Mom looked like she wanted to say something, but Lylee swept her away before she had a chance. They were seated just in front of Saxon and me.
It occurred to me that the last place on the earth two people with incredibly intense feelings should be was next to each other on a plane. There was something strangely intimate about the dim, artificially aired cabin. It was like everyone on any plane was part of a big nomad group, traveling together in a precarious metal cylinder and bonded by the innate scariness of the trip.
“ So we’re seat mates?” Saxon grumbled as he sat heavily next to me. I could smell his cologne and the pungent smell of cigarettes on his hair and clothes, and deeper than both of those smells, I could smell the scent that was completely and only Saxon. “Think you can keep your hands off of me?” It was no warning; it was a clear challenge.
I stuffed my carryon into the overhead with more aggression than was really necessary. “Why don’t you switch with someone else? There have to be some easy, brain-dead girls on this plane.”
He shrugged. “I like a challenge. Want to meet in the front bathroom after the first lame movie?” He smiled at my growl. “Can’t fault a guy for trying.”
The stewardesses passed out drinks and went over safety procedures. Saxon shut his eyes and leaned back while they went over proper plane exit procedure for a
Jake, back home, tucked safe in Sussex County. Jake, who was planning his future around me and only me. I felt a hot prickle all over my skin, like I wanted to shake off a weight I wasn’t strong enough to carry. One wrong move, one slip-up on my end, and I could ruin Jake’s world. He had so much riding on me, so much he needed my help to figure out, and here I was, flirting with Saxon Maclean while I wore the ring Jake had given me to remind me how much he loved me.
The ring that said I was his heart. And that I was in charge of guarding it. Oh, Jake, forgive me!
I tried to focus on the book I was supposed to be reading, but Raskolnikov’s story was just giving me ideas. For example, if I had a hatchet, I might have gone after Saxon’s skull with happy determination. I plowed through the dense mazes of guilt-laden sentences and refused to lift my eyes to see what Saxon was doing. I didn’t care if he looked my way. I didn’t care if he got up and left to hunt perky little Sara Olsen down either. I hoped he did, actually. Paris would be better without him. Much less complicated.
But my ranting was just that; ranting. Because I realized that Paris was just going to have to be somewhat about Saxon for me. And whether I wanted to feel badly about that or not, it was the truth. I wanted to talk to him. About Jake. About life. About us. I didn’t want to admit it, but it was the truth.
I wondered what he would say about Jake’s reluctance to go to college or dream bigger. And, at the same time, I wondered what Saxon dreamed about. What did he want, other than life as a demi-god in Sussex County? Had the two of them ever made plans that involved more than a couple of 40s and some hard-partying girls with over-heated sex drives?
They finally called for us to board. Mom and Lylee were bonded at the hip, tittering and giggling like girls. I was glad, because Mom didn’t have many friends, and I felt like it was good for her to have someone to talk to.
“ Brenna,” Lylee said. “You don’t mind if I steal your mom for the ride over do you? I definitely need to brush up on my Impressionists before we hit Paris. Plus that, my son is being a bear, and I have a feeling you’ll be a much better animal tamer than I am.”
She smiled so beautifully, I found myself nodding before I knew what I was doing. Mom looked like she wanted to say something, but Lylee swept her away before she had a chance. They were seated just in front of Saxon and me.
It occurred to me that the last place on the earth two people with incredibly intense feelings should be was next to each other on a plane. There was something strangely intimate about the dim, artificially aired cabin. It was like everyone on any plane was part of a big nomad group, traveling together in a precarious metal cylinder and bonded by the innate scariness of the trip.
“ So we’re seat mates?” Saxon grumbled as he sat heavily next to me. I could smell his cologne and the pungent smell of cigarettes on his hair and clothes, and deeper than both of those smells, I could smell the scent that was completely and only Saxon. “Think you can keep your hands off of me?” It was no warning; it was a clear challenge.
I stuffed my carryon into the overhead with more aggression than was really necessary. “Why don’t you switch with someone else? There have to be some easy, brain-dead girls on this plane.”
He shrugged. “I like a challenge. Want to meet in the front bathroom after the first lame movie?” He smiled at my growl. “Can’t fault a guy for trying.”
The stewardesses passed out drinks and went over safety procedures. Saxon shut his eyes and leaned back while they went over proper plane exit procedure for a
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