Read Online Linked by Heather Bowhay - Free Book Online Page B

together –
that is sad. To me it’s inconceivable and unforgivable. I never want to be that
person.” Finishing my soliloquy, I slipped back down into the rolling water and
let the turbo jets perform a little hydrotherapy on my body again.
    Narrowing
the gap between us, Jason came sliding towards me. He stopped once he was about
a foot away and said firmly, “Alex, you could never be that kind of person.”
    My
nose twitched from the slightly over-chlorinated water. “I know.” Coughing, I
cleared my throat and added, “And now you know why I’ve made a personal choice
not to drink either. Having complete control over my thoughts, my feelings, and
my actions is paramount to me. I don’t want alcohol compromising my thinking or
altering my perceptions, making me do something I’ll regret later.”
    His
head bobbed in understanding, and he started to reach his hand out like he was
going to comfort me but at the last second snatched it back and whacked the
outer edge of the hot tub with a loud “splat.” A moment later, in a soothing
voice he said, “I respect your decisions and your reasons Alex. I know there’s
a lot of peer pressure, and it’s awesome you’re convictions and self-esteem are
strong enough that you can stand by your decisions.”
    “Thanks,”
I said. “I’m not saying I don’t go to parties, because I do. But when I’m with
my friends who choose to drink, I just take on the role of designated driver
and try to look out for them and any acts of stupidity they might get
themselves into. Friends do need a…a Guardian around,” I giggled at my choice
of words, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m fortunate my mom found Dr. Adams.
She loves him, and so do I. He’s taken good care of us, and he’s loved Greg and
me like we were his own. He’s been a good dad.”
    “Hopefully
you’ll introduce me sometime.”
    “Sure.”
    “I’m
glad you told me,” he said.
    “Feels
good to talk about it once in awhile. Thanks for listening.” We chatted a bit longer,
mostly about his grandmother’s awesome quilts and his mom’s love of pressing
flowers. Soon afterwards we vacated the hot tub. Wrapped in warm, terry cloth
robes we headed towards our rooms. On our way past the kitchen, I said, “So,
everyone starts arriving tomorrow?”
    He
looked at me and said, “Yep, I’ll take the yacht back to the marina tomorrow
evening and pick them up. You can either come with me or hang out here and
enjoy your last few hours of peaceful solitude.”
    “I’ll
think about it and let you know,” I said in a subdued tone.
    As I
opened my bedroom door, I called after him, “Jason?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Thanks
for a fun and relaxing week. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend it with.”
    “Same
back at ya.” And with that, he disappeared into the shadows.

CHAPTER
4 – REALITY BURNS
     
    After
an early walk in surprisingly hot and humid conditions Friday morning, I
grabbed a shower. I scrunched my hair with a towel, because I knew it would air
dry with more distinctive curls that way. I slipped into black shorts and
double tank tops, with a white one underneath the bright fuchsia one. Walking
barefoot out to the Centrum, as I liked to call it, I placed my i-Pod on the
docking station, turned the surround sound up a bit higher and proceeded to the
kitchen where I popped a piece of cinnamon bread into the toaster.
    I
hummed along with the tune as the deep, husky voice of Nickelback’s lead singer
belted out the lyrics to Gotta Be Somebody. The arcing, melodic ebb and
beat of the drums pounded through the kitchen. Realizing I’d forgotten to put
in earrings, I started back down the hall towards my room when Jason appeared
suddenly from the bathroom on my left.
    We
both stopped in surprise and stared at each other, but my jaw was the one that
dropped to the floor. Half naked, he stood before me wearing only a pair of
faded Levis. In one hand he grasped a white towel, while the other played
nervously