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

get the fuck out!  Yeah right!  He was coiled up like a viper ready tostrike, and she wasn’t going to poke him.

“It won’t be long.  I can meetyou somewhere,” she offered, wanting nothing more than for him to leave rightnow.

He chuckled, and even thatsounded threatening.  Maybe everything about him was a threat to her nowbecause she knew how dangerous he was.

“I think I’d rather stay.  Icould use a drink.”

Fuck!  No.  No.  No.  Hecould not have a drink.  Bad idea.  Really bad idea.  Brennan was overby the drinks.

“Take one of my tables, and I’llgo get you one,” she said, her voice struggling to remain calm.  “Crown,right?”

“Don’t worry about it, Dev,” hesaid, walking up to her.  “I’ll just go to the bar.  We can talk after you getoff work.”

“Okay,” she whispered, knowing itwas anything but okay.

He reached forward and squeezedher hand.  “You look good,” he said, raking his eyes over her body.  Then, hereleased her, turned, and walked directly toward the bar, toward Brennan.

Her heart deflated, and air burstout of her mouth in a whoosh.  She reached out, grabbed one of the booths, andheld on for dear life.  She couldn’t even turn around to look at Brennan andReid standing at the bar together while Brennan made Reid a drink, offered uppolite conversation, and joked around.  She couldn’t witness it.  She thoughtshe might throw up.

It took everything she had toreturn to her tables and act like nothing was wrong.  She had never worked sohard in her life.  She was trying so desperately not to look at Brennan andReid that she worked twice as hard as normal.  She needed to keep her mindbusy, and that was the only way she knew how.

Devon didn’t know what she wasgoing to do when her shift ended.  She had been running for so long that shehad completely pushed away thoughts of when she would have to face her lifeagain.  Now, it was here, sitting right in front of her.

The after-hours crowd startedfilling the room, which made the distraction a bit easier.  She still had ahard time looking over to see Reid sitting at the bar, but at least, Brennanwas busy enough that he didn’t have to talk to Reid.  She didn’t want them toever have to talk.

When Hannah and another waitresswalked in to take over for Amy and her, Devon thought she might break down intotears.  She couldn’t leave.  Jenn’s was a sanctuary, and her demons werewaiting for her outside the door…or even worse, at the bar, drinking withBrennan.  She knew that Reid wouldn’t do anything in public.  He was tooself-controlled for that.  It was the only reason he had gotten away witheverything for this long.  She hadn’t ratted him out, and no one would guessthat perfect Reid would ever do something like hurt his perfect girlfriend.

She wanted to believe that theirtime apart had showed him how much he had missed her and how wrong his actionshad been.  She wanted him to see her for the woman he had fallen in love with. She wanted him to apologize and beg her to come back.

But those were fairy-tale dreams. When he had walked in, the look Reid had given her had been enough to show herthat none of those things would be her reality.  This was Reid after all.  Hecould never be wrong…ever.

“Hey, Devon,” Hannah said,walking up to her.

“Hey, Hannah.”

“I wish I had the mid-shift thisweek,” she said with a sigh.  “But I’m stuck working late.  What are you doingtonight?”

Devon stared at her blankly. Hannah never made polite conversation with her.

“Um…nothing.”

“Sounds riveting,” Hannah said,straight-faced.

That’s more like it, shethought.

“Well, have a good time,” Devonsaid, untying her apron.  “I’m out of here.”

“Lucky,” Hannah said under herbreath.

If only she knew…

Devon bit her lip and stole aglance at the bar.  Both Reid and Brennan were looking directly at her.  Sheaverted her eyes as quickly as she could and hurried through the swinging doorinto the kitchen.  Her heart was pounding as she walked stiffly into the breakroom.

Only a couple hours ago, she hadsat here with Brennan while he played with her hair.  Before that, they hadbeen kissing, and he had her backed up against the lockers.  Couldeverything that had happened since then be real?

She grabbed her purse and slungit over her head, letting the strap cross her body.  She leaned forward againsther locker and tried some breathing exercises to calm her racing heart.  Tearssprang to her eyes, and her hands swatted them away.  They wouldn’t help hernow.  She just needed to be strong.

The door opened behind her, andshe hoped it was Amy.

“Belle, you okay?” Brennan asked.

No luck.

She straightened immediately. “I’m fine,” she said, the words sounding hollow.  Why did that word sound sohorrible when she said it?

“Fine.  Alright.  Are you readyto head out then?  Kami just walked in to take my spot,” he said, walkingacross the room.

He knew something was different. She could tell by the set of his shoulders.  He was waiting for it.  She didn’tthink he knew what it was, but he knew to get ready.  He was preparing himselffor whatever was to come.

“Brennan,” she said softly.  God,she hated herself.

“So…you’re not fine.”

“I…I don’t know,” she said with ashrug.

His hand reached out to touchher, but it fell halfway through, like he thought better of it.

“Does this have something to dowith that guy out there?”

“What guy?” she said, barelyaudible.

He looked at her pointedly.

“Yeah, it does.”

“I figured as much.”

“I wasn’t expecting him to showup here,” Devon told him.  She wondered if he could tell how scared she was orif her fake bravery was enough to sway him away.

“Who is he?”  He crossed hisarms, already closing himself off.

“That’s my boyfriend.”

Brennan raised his eyebrows. “Boyfriend?”

Devon closed her eyes and shookher head twice.  “Ex-boyfriend.  Sorry.”

“If he’s your ex, what is he doinghere?” Brennan asked cautiously.

“I’m not sure exactly.  We brokeup on rocky terms.  I think he wants to talk to me,” Devon said, looking awayfrom him.  This wasn’t going to be easy.

“Sounds like trouble,” Brennansaid.  “Devon, look at me.”

She obliged, trying not to seethe hurt in his face.

“You don’t have to talk to him. I know it might seem like you have to, but you