Read Online Wreck (Bareknuckle Boxing Brotherhood Book 2) by Cara Nelson - Free Book Online

been. So are you. I recognize it.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you’re not doomed. You’re chosen. You may have to fight harder to get where you’re going, but you’re destined to come out on top.”
    “Does he really believe that crap?” Olive asked Shea.
    “With all his heart, so I suggest you back off,” Shea said.
    “Fine. We’re chosen. We’re winners.”
    “We’re also Catholic so we have the inside track on divine mysteries.”
    “Haven’t you seen The Da Vinci Code ? That church is corrupt,” she said dismissively.
    “I’m not sure why you have seen that movie, but I’m guessing that corrupt is your big word for the day,” he said.
    “I’m not Catholic,” She sniffed. “I’m not anything. We don’t do church,”
    “Yeah, well, we’ll work on that.”
    “I’m not wearing a veil and being a nun.”
    “Okay, me neither,” he said, suppressing a laugh, “So, what’s our first stop in the mall? I’m not a native so you’ll have to guide me.”
    “Hmmm…” Olive pretended to be deep in thought. “How about a phone?”
    “I think you just want to cash in on back birthday presents,” he teased.
    “You have ten years of holidays and birthdays and report cards to catch up on. I’m helping you.”
    “How are your grades? I wasn’t very good in school. I was lazy,” he said.
    “I get A’s and B’s, but it’s boring,” she shrugged.
    “That’s really good, Olive,” he said, a small smile tugging at his mouth.
    Shea felt her heart melt at the warmth of pride she saw in his eyes when he looked at Olive. It was really hard to hold back and protect herself in the face of this fledgling devotion.
    “Whatever. Grades mean nothing. It’s the test scores. The tests are crazy.”
    “So I’ve heard.”
    “It’s like, here’s a long story about carrots and how many centimeters apart they’re planted and how many kilograms of seed the farmer used and now you have to estimate his yield based on a seven-week growing season with average rainfall.”
    “How do you even figure that out?” he asked.
    “I have no idea,” she said solemnly, “But it was on the test and the teacher went on and on about how we should have known how to approach the problem. I kind of tuned her out.”
    “So does your mom think you should have a phone?”
    “No. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
    “Not really. It’s not like she approves of me anyway. But don’t see how far you can stretch that idea. I’m not going to go up against her for no reason. Fact is, I want you to have a phone so you can text me and stuff. I mean, your friends too, obviously, but me sometimes.”
    “I could do that. What if I text you during class?”
    “I’d say don’t get caught,” he said, following her into the cell retailer. They emerged half an hour later with a basic phone, a prepaid plan, and some purple diamante stickers for Olive to decorate her phone.
    She busily peeled off jewels and stuck them on the phone in a heart pattern.
    After a foray into Claire’s for headbands, stretchy bracelets, and enough flavored lip balms to satisfy even an acquisitive nine-year-old with a fondness for fake watermelon, Olive scored a chevron scarf and was angling for a silver sparkly notebook as well.
    “How about some makeup?” she asked hopefully.
    “How about no,” Shea said flatly. “I haven’t said much ‘til now, but I’m not going to stand by while you try to play Kyle for all the consumer goods available for retail prices, Olive. I heard you need soccer cleats. Let’s look for those now.”
    Olive rolled her eyes. “Fine, Shea.”
    “Try not rolling your eyes next time,” Shea said with a shrug.
    After they secured soccer cleats, they headed to the food court.
    “Pizza or Japanese?” Kyle offered.
    “Pizza,” Olive decided.
    “Pepperoni?”
    “Veggie. Please,” she added slowly.
    Kyle grinned. He came back with two slices of pepperoni, one of veggie, and drinks. He