Read Online The Torn, Book One of the Holding Kate Series by LaDonna Cole - Free Book Online Page A

into my eyes for a long moment with a frown on his face. I was too upset with him to give him any reassurances. I turned, took Corey by the hand and started climbing the hill.
    “Kate, wait a minute.”
    “We are gonna get started.” Tara took Ash by the shoulder, and they started off.
    I stopped and looked up at Corey. Trip walked up behind me and turned me around to face him. Then he looked at Corey and shuffled his feet, awkwardly.
    “I’ll wait for you up here,” Corey mumbled, dropped my hand and climbed up the hill until the mist took him from view.
    “Kate.”
    I refused to look up at Trip. I pressed my lips together and stared at his boots.
    He touched my chin and turned my face up to his. I glared at him.
    “Don’t be mad, Kate.” His voice was velvet and pleading. “I have to make decisions that are best for all of us. It wasn’t about choosing Tara over you.”
    My mouth fell open. “Is that what you think I am upset about?”
    “Isn’t it?”
    “Of all the arrogant—I don’t give a flippin’ flea circus if you choose Tara!” I pushed at his chest, futilely. “You can choose her all day long. Go ahead. Choose her! I don’t care if you decide Ash is more your type! This is the wrong decision, and you are just too…too…I don’t know… physical to see that!” I punched his bicep with my finger. “You listen to me Trip Carson! This will end badly unless you start thinking about the reason we are all here. It isn’t about surviving. It’s about…about… healing. You heard the stories. We are all broken, messed up kids, and we aren’t here to earn a campfire badge!”
    It was the most I had ever said at one time in my life, I think. I wasn’t a speech maker or preachy type, but this I was sure about.
    Trip started grinning and I wanted to smack him.
    “Physical, huh?” He flexed his bicep. “I have a feeling you like it that I am physical.”
    I stared him down. He dropped his silly grin.
    “Okay, Kate. I hear you. I will consider what you are saying.” He touched my cheek. “Please don’t be mad at me. I can’t stand the thought of you walking away from me angry. I just got you back. I don’t want to spend another minute without you.” His dark eyes bored into mine pleading.
    “Well then, I guess it is too bad you split us all up.” I gave him a half smile.
    “I wasn’t planning on you leaving my side. That was your idea.” He stepped closer and placed his hand on my waist.
    I wasn’t ready to just let him off the hook. I was still pretty mad at him, but I didn’t want him to worry. “Well, go get your physical stuff done and hurry back.”
    “Kiss and make up?” He pulled me close.
    There was so much of him, like he had his own gravity. I tried to resist his pull. “No, but I will give you a hug. That will give you something to look forward to when you get back.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me off the ground and smothered me with his bear hug.
    “I won’t be long, Katie girl.” He twirled me around, set me down and jogged off.
    I held out my arms until my head stopped spinning and, then turned to climb the hill. The mist was clearing and I spotted Corey sitting on a rock.
    “Well, did you set him right?” He looked up at me.
    “I think so.”
    “Hey, Kate,” Corey’s face shifted from pain to embarrassment and sincerity. “I am really not interested in becoming your ticket to making Trip jealous.”
    My heart deflated, I didn’t want to do this to my Corey. I didn’t know how to sustain Corey’s bliss and be with Trip, too. I sat down beside him. “I am sorry, Corey. I didn’t really plan to use you to make Trip jealous, but I can see why you would think that.”
    We reached for each other’s hands; it was just natural to be touching. We had embraced for a thousand years. “I was just frustrated that they couldn’t see our point, and if we were going to have to be separated, I didn’t want to be with any of them.” I gathered