Read Online The Dark Light of Day by T.M. Frazier - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: T.M. Frazier
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They were both about the same height, but Jake was blonde with light features and dressed like a member of Hell’s Angels, while Owen’s dark hair and green eyes stood in contrast to his All-American jeans-and-white t-shirt style.
Just as I thought they would pummel each other, another wayward hiccup escaped my mouth. I suddenly felt as if I would be sick. I leaned over the log and almost fell, but I steadied myself before anyone tried to help me. “I see those drinks are working,” Owen said.
“Nope. Not working.”
“How are they not working?” Owen asked. Jake wasn’t touching me, but I could almost feel his presence beside me.
“I still remember how much my life sucks.” It was an honest answer, but one I wouldn’t have given nine beers or so earlier.
“Then, let’s get you some more,” Owen offered, gesturing to his truck. The lightness was back in his voice. The tension from a second ago was gone.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Abby?” Jake chimed in. Alissa appeared from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She peeked out past his shoulder. She looked scared, as she should have been. I had half a mind to throw her into the fire. Jake unwrapped her arms, separating himself from her. She looked offended, but he didn’t seem to care. He took a step toward me.
Owen started to say something, but I interrupted him. I didn’t need him to answer my questions for me. “Nope. Not nearly enough,” I answered. I tried not to slur, but I was pretty sure I had.
The look on Jake’s face looked a lot like concern. For me? I chalked that one up to the alcohol. There was no way the same man—the stranger —who’d pulled a gun on me less than 24 hours ago was in any way concerned for my well-being. “You and Alissa have fun, okay?” I may have placed too much emphasis on her name, as if it tasted bitter in my mouth. He paused to look into my eyes for what felt like hours before looking from me to Owen. Finally, he shrugged and started walking away. Alissa trailed behind him like a lost puppy. “And Jake?” I called out. He stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. “Give the girl a warning next time, okay?” I didn’t stay for his reaction but laughed myself silly all the way back to Owen’s truck.
“What was that all about?” Owen asked. I pretended not to hear him. I decided I’d actually had enough to drink after all, so instead I took my last joint from my back pocket and asked Owen to borrow his lighter. As soon as the smoke filled my lungs, I started to feel better. I held it there good and long before offering Owen a hit. We sat in the cab of the truck for a while with the windows rolled up, letting the high take over, and becoming mesmerized by the lyrics of the Tyler Farr song on the radio. When the joint was spent and the crowd had thinned to only a few people, Owen turned on the engine, and we headed down the trail that led out of the woods.
I was drunk, I was high, and I was pretty sure I couldn’t remember my own name.
Mission accomplished.
CHAPTER SIX
I MUST HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP in the truck because the next thing I knew, we were pulling into the driveway at Owen’s house. At first, I was stunned. I’d made it a rule that I’d never fall asleep unless I was alone. It was a little after three in the morning. I was becoming quite the night owl.
“Thanks for tonight, Owen. It was…interesting.”
“How do you know Jake?” Owen asked, cutting the engine, his mouth set in a hard line, his eyes accusing and cold. He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.
“I don’t.” It was the truth. I had no idea who Jake really was.
“Then, how did he know your name, Abby?” His voice was getting louder. His eyes were red and blood shot. An open bottle of Jameson sat in the cup holder of the center console; his fist was wrapped around the neck. He took a swig and set it back down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I don’t like
Just as I thought they would pummel each other, another wayward hiccup escaped my mouth. I suddenly felt as if I would be sick. I leaned over the log and almost fell, but I steadied myself before anyone tried to help me. “I see those drinks are working,” Owen said.
“Nope. Not working.”
“How are they not working?” Owen asked. Jake wasn’t touching me, but I could almost feel his presence beside me.
“I still remember how much my life sucks.” It was an honest answer, but one I wouldn’t have given nine beers or so earlier.
“Then, let’s get you some more,” Owen offered, gesturing to his truck. The lightness was back in his voice. The tension from a second ago was gone.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Abby?” Jake chimed in. Alissa appeared from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She peeked out past his shoulder. She looked scared, as she should have been. I had half a mind to throw her into the fire. Jake unwrapped her arms, separating himself from her. She looked offended, but he didn’t seem to care. He took a step toward me.
Owen started to say something, but I interrupted him. I didn’t need him to answer my questions for me. “Nope. Not nearly enough,” I answered. I tried not to slur, but I was pretty sure I had.
The look on Jake’s face looked a lot like concern. For me? I chalked that one up to the alcohol. There was no way the same man—the stranger —who’d pulled a gun on me less than 24 hours ago was in any way concerned for my well-being. “You and Alissa have fun, okay?” I may have placed too much emphasis on her name, as if it tasted bitter in my mouth. He paused to look into my eyes for what felt like hours before looking from me to Owen. Finally, he shrugged and started walking away. Alissa trailed behind him like a lost puppy. “And Jake?” I called out. He stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. “Give the girl a warning next time, okay?” I didn’t stay for his reaction but laughed myself silly all the way back to Owen’s truck.
“What was that all about?” Owen asked. I pretended not to hear him. I decided I’d actually had enough to drink after all, so instead I took my last joint from my back pocket and asked Owen to borrow his lighter. As soon as the smoke filled my lungs, I started to feel better. I held it there good and long before offering Owen a hit. We sat in the cab of the truck for a while with the windows rolled up, letting the high take over, and becoming mesmerized by the lyrics of the Tyler Farr song on the radio. When the joint was spent and the crowd had thinned to only a few people, Owen turned on the engine, and we headed down the trail that led out of the woods.
I was drunk, I was high, and I was pretty sure I couldn’t remember my own name.
Mission accomplished.
CHAPTER SIX
I MUST HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP in the truck because the next thing I knew, we were pulling into the driveway at Owen’s house. At first, I was stunned. I’d made it a rule that I’d never fall asleep unless I was alone. It was a little after three in the morning. I was becoming quite the night owl.
“Thanks for tonight, Owen. It was…interesting.”
“How do you know Jake?” Owen asked, cutting the engine, his mouth set in a hard line, his eyes accusing and cold. He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.
“I don’t.” It was the truth. I had no idea who Jake really was.
“Then, how did he know your name, Abby?” His voice was getting louder. His eyes were red and blood shot. An open bottle of Jameson sat in the cup holder of the center console; his fist was wrapped around the neck. He took a swig and set it back down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I don’t like
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