Following Me by Linde, K.A. (best books to read in your 20s .txt) 📗

her?  She needed to keep repeating that to herself or else shewould end up texting him back.  She already felt bad for lying to him.  Theyhad been together for so long.  Not letting him know that she was alright feltweird.  But if he found out, he would make sure that she wasn’t.

A knock at her door pulled her outof her thoughts, and then the phone started ringing again.  Reid.  Fuck.

“Hey, Devon?  Can I come in?”

Devon silenced the phone andtried to stay calm.  “What’s up?” she called out to Garrett.

All she wanted to do was lie downand pretend she was back on the boat with Brennan.

The door cracked open, andGarrett cautiously walked into the room.  “Do you think we could talk?” heasked.

“I’d really rather not,” shesaid, not wanting to deal with this and Reid.

“Don’t you think we shoulddiscuss what happened?”

“I prefer to just forget aboutit,” she said.  She really wanted to forget everything at the moment.

“Right,” he said, shaking hishead.  “You would rather run off with Brennan and avoid everything that’shappening in your life.  Does he even know about the things that went on withyou and your boyfriend?”

Devon glared.  “It’s none of yourbusiness what I’m doing and who I’m with.”

“I’m just trying to look out foryou,” he said, taking a step toward her.

“I really don’t want to talkabout all of this right now, Garrett,” Devon said, crossing her arms.

“I’m trying to apologize,” heinsisted.

“I know.  I get it.  I just can’teven think about it.  Reid has been calling and texting me nonstop allmorning.  He won’t leave me alone.  I don’t know what he’s thinking or whathe’s doing, but I’m just sick and tired of it.  So, please just drop it fornow!” She turned away from him.

“He’s been contacting you?”Garrett asked.

“Yes!  All morning.  I have to goto work, and I’m going to be late.  So, please just drop it Garrett.”

“Dev,” he said consolingly.

“Please, Garrett,” she pleaded,hoping he would actually listen.

“Fine.  I just wanted to tell youthat I’m sorry.  I made a mistake.  I don’t want you.  I want Hadley.  And Ishould have never let any of this happen.”  He threw his hands out wide andwalked back toward the door.

“No, you probably shouldn’thave,” she said.  Her emotions were too high right now for her to have thisconversation.  She just wanted him to leave, so she could wallow in peace.

“But it was just a drunkenmistake.”

“Garrett, please just leave.  Ican’t handle anything more right now,” she pleaded.

Garrett shook his head and walkedthrough the doorway.  Turning around to face her, he said, “I’m trying to dothe right thing here, Devon.”  Then, he walked out of her bedroom, shutting thedoor behind him.

Devon gritted her teeth upon hisexit.  It wasn’t that she intentionally wanted to be angry with Garrett, butshe was just too mentally exhausted.  Between her growing feelings for Brennan,Reid’s persistence, and Garrett’s continual reminder of that night, she was toodrained to deal with anything.

Devon quickly changed into heruniform and pulled out her phone to let Brennan know she would be a few minuteslate.  She clicked out of the new missed call from Reid and sighed, knowingthat he wouldn’t likely stop anytime soon.

Another message flashed on thescreen as she was deleting Reid’s call.

I’m going to be a few minuteslate to work.  Can’t wait to see you.

Brennan.  Devon smiled.

She exited the screen andsighed.  She missed him.

Staring down at her phone, shewas full of frustration, doubt, and regret, and then she remembered that Reiddidn’t know she was in Chicago.  As long as he didn’t know, then she was safefrom him.  And she sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him.  She would deal withhim in August when she was on more solid ground.

DEVON SHUFFLED INTO Jenn’sRestaurant a full fifteen minutes late.  After her conversation with Garrettand those texts from Reid, she hadn’t been able to get herself together.  Theonly way she had guaranteed she wouldn’t respond to Reid’s messages was toleave her phone at home.  She had backtracked her steps and picked up her phoneat least three times before tossing it back on her bed and leaving it there. The last thing she wanted to do was thumb through her messages at work whileBrennan was around.  They had too much to talk about tonight after work, andshe didn’t want him to find out about Reid early.

She stood there as Jenn laid intoher for being late.  Devon wasn’t sure how many more times she could apologizebefore Jenn would give up and send her out on the floor.

“Alright, I will be more aware ofthe time from now on,” Devon said.

“That’s right, you will,” Jenngrumbled.  “I need a drink.”

You’re not the only one,Devon thought.

“Brennan,” Jenn called, finallyturning away from Devon, “I’m heading out and leaving you in charge.  Themorning rush has died down, so I think it should be smooth sailing for the restof the day.  If you need anything, call me.”

“Thanks, Jenn,” he said as shestormed out of the restaurant.

Brennan turned to Devon with aserious look on his face.  “You were late.”

“So were you,” she said.

“But I didn’t get caught.  So,don’t get caught next time,” he said, reaching out for her hand.

“Alright, boss.  Is that all?” Her response was cheeky, but she couldn’t help it.

“I think Amy has the frontcovered for a bit.”  He tilted his head toward the break room.

Devon smiled, feeling the weightof the morning drama lift off her shoulders.  “I think she definitely has ittaken care of,” she said, walking through the door.

Brennan looked around to makesure no one else was inside the room, not that it was a big restaurant withmany employees or anything, and then he closed the door behind her.

His hands pushed up into herhair.  Tilting her face up to his, he planted his lips down on hers.  Shegripped his shirt between her hands and pulled him closer to her.  He tastedslightly of alcohol, and she became dizzy with his touch as if she had been theone drinking.  He smelled good, fresh from a shower and she was glad that hisscent wasn’t tainted with the smell of pot.  Actually,