Read Online Tempting Rowan (Trace + Olivia #3) by Micalea Smeltzer - Free Book Online
Authors: Micalea Smeltzer
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scribbled a note explaining where I was and shoved it under the kid’s bedroom door in case they awoke.
When I p ulled in front of Tatum’s house she was already waiting outside. She hopped down the front steps and hurried to my car. “It’s freezing,” she shivered.
“Then why were you waiting outside?” I questioned as I pulled away.
“I couldn’t get out of that house soon enough,” she grumbled under her breath, looking out the window. “I hate it there. I just want to get away.”
I didn’t bother asking her about her home problems. It wasn’t my business, and besides, I knew all about how easy it was to become trapped.
I drove to a local coffee shop that was open all night and that we’d often used for homework nights before. I ordered a latte and a muffin . I normally didn’t indulge in such frivolous things, but since Trent had bought the groceries for me the other night I had the extra cash to treat myself.
I sat down at the table in the corner and Tatum left to order herself something. I pulled my books out of my backpack, sighing heavily at the amount of work I had to do. It never seemed to end. For once, I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be able to sleep in and go out with friends. I wanted to let myself be with someone. But I couldn’t do those things. I had to focus on getting through school and making high enough grades that I got accepted into the nursing program. I had to be able to take care of Ivy and Tristan. My mom and step-dad didn’t do it now. It was all on my shoulders, and I was beginning to bow under the pressure. I was one person and I could only handle so much.
I removed the lid from my coffee so it could cool down. Tatum returned, pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail. She looked exhausted, with bruise like shadows under her eyes. A part of me wanted to ask her if everything was okay, but I knew how much I hated being asked the same thing, so I kept my mouth shut.
I opened one of my books, flipping to the right page. I felt too tired to do homework, but I didn’t have a choice. I only hoped we’d both be able to finish in two hours. I needed to get some sleep before class tomorrow. It was our last day before break and while we weren’t starting anything new, I was sure they’d give us plenty to do for the few days we got off. I had learned early on that there was no such thing as a break.
I took a tentative sip of coffee, not wanting to scald my mouth. It was the perfect temperature though. Griffin, the owner of the coffee shop—that was really a coffee shop, restaurant, and a place for local musicians to perform—always got everything just right. I had never really talked to the guy—he was older and always pretended to be grouchy—but he seemed like a cool guy. He kept the place open round the clock. He and his wife mostly ran the place, with the help of a few employees. They did a really good business with all the local college kids.
An hour later I was out of coffee, had eaten my entire muffin, and thought if I read one more word I might fall over.
“I’m getting more coffee,” I told Tatum as I stood.
She nodded in acknowledgement of my words, but didn’t look away from her laptop.
“Same thing?” Griffin asked as I approached the counter.
I nodded. “No muffin this time, it was delicious though.”
He punched something into the register and gave me the total. “Yeah, my wife makes them from scratch. Best muffins in the whole world.”
I handed him the money and took my cup of coffee.
As I was turning I bumped into someone. “Shit,” I cursed, doing a little dance to avoid spilling my hot coffee all over the person. Some sloshed on the floor, but I managed to miss the guy. “I’m so—you’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned. “Do you have a tracking device on me or something? This is so not cool.”
Trent smirked, tilting his head as he studied me with those piercing blue eyes. “Maybe you’re following me.”
“I
When I p ulled in front of Tatum’s house she was already waiting outside. She hopped down the front steps and hurried to my car. “It’s freezing,” she shivered.
“Then why were you waiting outside?” I questioned as I pulled away.
“I couldn’t get out of that house soon enough,” she grumbled under her breath, looking out the window. “I hate it there. I just want to get away.”
I didn’t bother asking her about her home problems. It wasn’t my business, and besides, I knew all about how easy it was to become trapped.
I drove to a local coffee shop that was open all night and that we’d often used for homework nights before. I ordered a latte and a muffin . I normally didn’t indulge in such frivolous things, but since Trent had bought the groceries for me the other night I had the extra cash to treat myself.
I sat down at the table in the corner and Tatum left to order herself something. I pulled my books out of my backpack, sighing heavily at the amount of work I had to do. It never seemed to end. For once, I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be able to sleep in and go out with friends. I wanted to let myself be with someone. But I couldn’t do those things. I had to focus on getting through school and making high enough grades that I got accepted into the nursing program. I had to be able to take care of Ivy and Tristan. My mom and step-dad didn’t do it now. It was all on my shoulders, and I was beginning to bow under the pressure. I was one person and I could only handle so much.
I removed the lid from my coffee so it could cool down. Tatum returned, pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail. She looked exhausted, with bruise like shadows under her eyes. A part of me wanted to ask her if everything was okay, but I knew how much I hated being asked the same thing, so I kept my mouth shut.
I opened one of my books, flipping to the right page. I felt too tired to do homework, but I didn’t have a choice. I only hoped we’d both be able to finish in two hours. I needed to get some sleep before class tomorrow. It was our last day before break and while we weren’t starting anything new, I was sure they’d give us plenty to do for the few days we got off. I had learned early on that there was no such thing as a break.
I took a tentative sip of coffee, not wanting to scald my mouth. It was the perfect temperature though. Griffin, the owner of the coffee shop—that was really a coffee shop, restaurant, and a place for local musicians to perform—always got everything just right. I had never really talked to the guy—he was older and always pretended to be grouchy—but he seemed like a cool guy. He kept the place open round the clock. He and his wife mostly ran the place, with the help of a few employees. They did a really good business with all the local college kids.
An hour later I was out of coffee, had eaten my entire muffin, and thought if I read one more word I might fall over.
“I’m getting more coffee,” I told Tatum as I stood.
She nodded in acknowledgement of my words, but didn’t look away from her laptop.
“Same thing?” Griffin asked as I approached the counter.
I nodded. “No muffin this time, it was delicious though.”
He punched something into the register and gave me the total. “Yeah, my wife makes them from scratch. Best muffins in the whole world.”
I handed him the money and took my cup of coffee.
As I was turning I bumped into someone. “Shit,” I cursed, doing a little dance to avoid spilling my hot coffee all over the person. Some sloshed on the floor, but I managed to miss the guy. “I’m so—you’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned. “Do you have a tracking device on me or something? This is so not cool.”
Trent smirked, tilting his head as he studied me with those piercing blue eyes. “Maybe you’re following me.”
“I
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