Read Online The Awakening (Entangled Series Book 1) by Jill Sanders - Free Book Online Page B

attend nightly bible study classes instead.
    Her grandmother had been so determined to get them to allow her to attend the dance that they had fought. It was the first and last time she’d ever heard her grandmother raise her voice.
    From that moment on, Xtina had a new respect for the older lady. She’d never stood up for her before. Not the many times her parents had punished her for being different or when she’d been sent to her room with no food because she’d had a vision when holding hands to pray over the meal. She’d skipped a lot of meals. So much so, that she’d been a very skinny and weak child.
    She had always dreamed that her grandmother would sneak food to her on those occasions, but her grandmother never had. Instead, she’d remained silent. Almost like it had never really happened. Which, in Xtina’s mind, meant she condoned her parents’ actions.
    But she was still family and Xtina knew she had to visit her and make sure the woman was well cared for. After all, she would be paying the bills to the retirement home soon.
    She cringed inwardly as she turned over in bed. She dreaded going through her parents’ papers in her father’s downstairs office. She couldn’t imagine they were in debt; the house had been paid for generations ago. Both of her parents’ cars were so old, she doubted the bank had loaned them any money for them.
    Her father had worked down at the hardware store all his life. She’d seen enough of her parents’ childhoods through their minds that she probably knew them better than they knew each other. But, in all the memories, nothing had ever hinted as to why they had treated her the way they had.
    She must have drifted off since a few hours later she was jolted awake by someone knocking at her front door.
    “Sorry,” Jessie said, holding up a cup of coffee and a brown bag. “I bring peace offerings.” She wiggled the bag on the other side of the glass door.
    “What are you doing here so early?” Xtina yawned and opened the door.
    “I felt so bad for bailing on you last night. I didn’t mean to get freaked out.” She handed over the coffee and opened the bag. “I made these yesterday, but we can heat them up really quick. I have about…”—she glanced down at her watch— “half an hour before I have to be into work.”
    “Come on back.” She took a sip of her coffee as she walked into the kitchen. “This is good.” She frowned at her cup. “Why is this better than what you sell at the shop?”
    “Because I made it on my very own maker.” She smiled. “You will have to get one for yourself.” She glanced around the kitchen. “You need to start someplace in order to bring this kitchen into the current century.”
    “I don’t normally drink this much coffee.” She frowned down at the cup, but when the warm liquid spread through her, she couldn’t hold in a sigh. “But, I suppose buying a coffee maker would be nice just in case I want a cup once in a while. Not to mention a microwave.” She groaned when she pulled out a pan and flipped the oven on.
    “So.” Jess sat down at the bar and watched her put the rolls in the oven for a few minutes. “How did it go with Mike after I left?”
    “Fine.” She turned back towards her friend. “Are you sure things didn’t work out between you two?”
    “Yeah.” She saw a shiver run through Jess. “It’s hard to explain. I mean…” She rested her chin on her palms. “I’m very attracted to him and I think he was with me, too.”
    Xtina nodded slightly. “I can see that. After all, you are pretty hot stuff.”
    Jess laughed. “Okay, so there is mutual attraction.”
    “Then what happened?” Xtina already thought she knew, but wanted to hear it from her friend’s mouth before saying anything.
    “I’m not sure. I mean, one minute we’re going hot and heavy and the next second… fizzle.” Jess made a diving noise as her hand swooshed downward.
    “So? You wouldn’t feel weird if I told you he