Read Online The List by Kate L. Mary - Free Book Online Page A

left.
    â€œI’ll text you, every night. Just to let you know I’m okay. How does that sound?”
    He took a deep breath. “Thank you, Annie. You know how much I love you, right?”
    â€œI know Dad, and I love you too. This is just something I need to do.”
    â€œText me tomorrow then.”
    He sounded so sad that tears almost choked me, but I managed to keep them inside long enough to say good-bye.
    The sun was getting low on the horizon by that time. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a walk by the bay. To watch the sun set over the Ravenel Bridge.
    I sent Cami a quick text before heading down Calhoun Street. The crowds had started to thin out, and the traffic going out of the city was heavier than coming in. Soon there would be dozens of people on foot heading into downtown, just like the night before. Off to whatever bar or club they had chosen for their night of partying. There was no doubt in my mind that Cami would be furious for not letting her dress me up so we could go out. But I needed to cool off. Talking to my dad always wore me out emotionally.
    The street ended at the South Carolina Aquarium—already closed for the evening—so I headed right, following the bay deeper into the city. I passed joggers and tourists taking pictures, parents pushing children in strollers and rowdy college students headed who knows where. It was the first time I had ever walked anywhere by myself that I could remember. After only a few minutes my steps were lighter and the tension in my body started to melt away. I felt bad for my dad, but in that moment, as the sun began to set over Charleston and the sky slowly turned from blue to orange and pink, I knew I had made the right decision.
    Just as I passed the Maritime Center, a guy jogging toward me caught my eye. He was shirtless and sweaty. The sun was setting behind him, so I couldn’t get a really good look at his face, but I could make out every muscle that rippled under his skin as he moved.
    When he was ten feet away it hit me that I was staring, but I didn’t even try to stop. This was the kind of stuff I’d been missing. The simple pleasure of checking a guy out. Something made nearly impossible when you constantly had a bodyguard with you.
    The jogger came to an abrupt stop about two feet in front of me. He tilted his head to the side, grinning. “You checking me out, Buttercup?”
    â€œRyan!” I stopped dead in my tracks. Instead of being embarrassed, I laughed. “I didn’t know it was you.”
    He grinned even more and wiped his hand across his forehead. A bead of sweat dropped off his chin and ran down his chest, right over his six pack. My knees wobbled a little.
    â€œWhat are you doing out here by yourself? It’s going to be dark soon. It isn’t a good idea to be walking around the city alone at night.”
    He was trying to be nice, but the words started a fire inside me. They were too familiar. “You’re by yourself,” I practically spit at him.
    His smile faded and he stepped back. “Yeah, but I’m a guy. You’re just—”
    I cut him off before he could finish the sentence, because I knew what was coming. I’d heard it my whole life and I was tired of it. “Just a girl, I know.”
    Waving at him, I spun around and stomped away. I was acting like a child, but I didn’t care. There was no way I was going to stand around and let some guy I’d known for a day try to put me in a corner the way my dad had my entire life.
    â€œButtercup!” Ryan yelled, but I kept walking. His footsteps pounded on the pavement behind me, but I didn’t slow down. “Annie!”
    He grabbed my shoulders and turned me around. He shook his head and frowned, but all I wanted to do was kick him in the balls. Him, my dad, my brothers. All of them.
    â€œDon’t tell me I can’t do something because I’m a girl!” I practically