Read Online The Redemption of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen - Free Book Online Page A

the breeze as she looks at me. Even though it’s been only about a month since I’ve seen her, she’s aged a lot, but that might be because she’s in her pajamas and her hair and makeup aren’t done. “I don’t remember you being a fan of getting up early.”
    I shrug as I zip up the jacket and then pull the hood over my head and hug my arms around myself and shiver. “I slept in the truck during the drive over here,” I lie. “So I wasn’t very tired.”
    She eyes me over with skepticism. “Who gave you a ride here?”
    I’m wary to answer. “Um, Luke.”
    “Luke who?”
    “Luke… Price.”
    Her shoulders stiffen and she wraps her robe tighter around herself. “Kayden’s friend?”
    I nod. “Yeah.”
    She thrums her fingers restlessly against her hips as she clenches her jaw and stares at the door to the garage, trying to see through the frosted window. “Callie, I don’t want you hanging around Kayden.”
    The wind decides to kick up and snowflakes sting my skin as they swirl around us in a flurry. The wind howls against my eardrums and the reflection of the daylight discomforts my eyes.
    “Why?” I chatter, rocking my body to attempt to keep warm.
    “Because I don’t want you having any association with Kayden.” She looks at me and I see loathing in her eyes. Or maybe it’s fear. “He’s obviously got a temper and even your father said he was trouble when he was on the team.”
    “I doubt dad said that,” I argue. “He always liked Kayden. And besides, you talk to Kayden’s mother.”
    “Not by choice.” There’s judgment in my mother’s eyes like she’s blaming Maci Owens for Kayden’s mistake. If that’s the case, would she blame herself if I told her what happened to me?
    I hide my hands in my sleeves and tip my chin down into the collar of my jacket. I’m wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and the fabric is thin and the cold air easily trickles through. “Can we go inside and talk about this? It’s cold.”
    She glances at the door of the room above the garage again and then redirects her attention to me. “Is your friend in there? The one who…” She lowers her voice and her eyelashes flutter against the snowflakes gusting around us. “The one who likes guys?”
    I sigh, turn sideways, and squeeze between her and the railing without uttering an answer. Thankfully, she follows me and Seth is off the hook. At least for now.
    When I walk into the kitchen, that night smashes into my chest, the night Jackson sat at the table eating pie and Caleb tormented me with my secret. The night Kayden found out who broke me. The night where he let me cry and then slipped out of my life as effortlessly as if he were made of sand.
    I walk over to the cupboard and take out a bowl and a box of cereal. I set the bowl down on the counter and open the box as my mom walks in, letting the cold air and snow in. She slams the door and then slips off her boots beside the door and winds around the table, heading across the kitchen toward me.
    “I was going to make you breakfast.” She reaches for the drawer above the oven that holds the pans.
    I shake my head as I pour cereal into the bowl. “That’s okay. I’m not hungry enough to eat a big breakfast.”
    She drops her arm to her side and scans my tiny frame. “You look like you’re losing weight again.”
    I look down at my short legs and my petite waist hidden under my pajamas. “I’m just stressed out.”
    “Stressed out over what?” she asks. “About school? Or about what happened with your friend?”
    I can’t hold it in. It’s too much and it’s pissing me off. “Oh, now he’s my friend, but back when you first found out, you were so excited we were a couple. In fact, I think you told everyone in the whole damn town.”
    “Watch your language.” She reties her pink rob and gathers her hair out of her face. “Callie Owens, you will not talk to me that way.” She turns around and extends her arm toward the cupboard that holds