Read Online Take My Hand by Nicola Haken - Free Book Online Page B

which is why I haven’t needed to look for an extra job yet. But on the
upside, my place is supposed to be ready to move back into tomorrow and it
can’t come soon enough. I’m grateful to Jared of course but I need my own space
back. I want to be able to take a dump without worrying about stinking someone
else’s place out, or sprawl out naked on the couch to watch TV, or perhaps more
pressingly – bring a girl home.
    I don’t think I’ve ever felt so lonely. Or
frustrated. I swear my balls are about three days away from exploding.
Preventing death by blue ball syndrome is first on my list of priorities when I
move back in. I’ve not got the time or the patience to sweet-talk a
Marshmallow. I need an M & M. Something quick – easy to start and
easy to end.
    When I reached the lecture hall Emily was
already sitting at our seats. She looked like shit despite the makeup she’d
obviously caked on to try and cover it.
    “Hey,” I said, getting her attention. She looked
up at me with those timid baby-blue eyes of hers and then quickly darted them
away again.
    “Hi,” she mumbled so faintly I barely heard her.
She was embarrassed. It was kinda cute.
    “How’s the head?”
    “Better,” she said, making eye-contact with me
again. “Thanks for the Nurofen,” she added with a shy smile.
    “You heard from Jared?”
    “No. He was still sleeping when I left. I didn’t
want to disturb him.”
    “Yeah, he was still out of it when I left to
come here too.” He was such an ass to this girl, yet it was clear she was too
innocent to see it. It was obvious to a blind man Emily had never been drunk
before and the fucktard should’ve called her by now – made sure she was
okay. This is why I’m glad I don’t do relationships. They’re too much hassle.
“So how’s things going with you two?” Christ, why the hell did I ask that? I
didn’t give a shit and I didn’t want her to think I did.
    “Um, yeah, okay I guess,” she confessed,
shrugging.
    “Trouble in paradise?” Seriously, I should’ve
stopped talking about five minutes ago.
    “No, we’re good,” she assured, looking at little
confused. She was probably wondering why I was interested. Hell, I was
wondering why I was interested. She was lying though, I was sure of it. It was
only a matter of time. Girls like Emily need hearts and flowers, ‘good morning,
I miss you’ texts, that kinda shit. Jared just wants a long-term lay.
    “Thanks for calling Rachel too,” she tacked on a
few minutes later.
    “No problem. You two are tight, I figured she’d
be worried about you,” I admitted while taking the relevant textbooks from my
bag. “She always so grouchy or was that just ‘cause I woke her up?”
    “Yeah, that’s just Rachel. She’s definitely a
‘you need to get to know her’ type. But she’s great really. I’d be lost without
her sometimes.” No she wouldn’t. Emily was too sweet not to having people
queuing up to take care of her.
    Just then our tutor announced the start of the
lecture and the sound of chatting, papers rustling and chair legs screeching
ceased abruptly. I sat back in my seat and fixed my eyes to the front of the
room. I felt a little weird. That was probably the longest conversation Emily
and I had ever shared. In fact that was probably the longest conversation I’d
shared with anyone since I moved here. It felt… refreshing. Emily
interested me. I think she may be the first person beside Jared who’s not given
up trying to talk to me even when I couldn’t have acted less interested in
becoming acquainted with them.
      She’s sweet and timid and too darn cute.
I also suspect that she’s never been told how special she is. It’s clear by the
way she carries herself – the nervous smile, the way she looks to the
floor when anyone first speaks to her, the way she twists the same fiery-red
curl round her finger when she’s around lots of people…
    Everyone deserves to be told they’re special at
some point in