A Flawed Heart by April Emerson Read Free Book Online Page B

his
shoulder and he rests his hand on my knee. Our conversation moves from music,
to books, to Ben, to Lydia. He tells me how close he is to his sister, and I
confess how great a friend she has been to me. We talk and laugh in the
darkness for what feels like hours until I feel my eyes getting heavy…
    I wake to the buzz of an alarm clock.When I open my eyes, it’s not my apartment I see. It’s Jason’s
perfectly sculpted and intricately inked chest in front of me.I pop my head up.He sits up and shuts off the alarm. I look down and find that I’m
fully clothed and Jason’s only wearing his boxer briefs.
    “How did I get here? What time is it?”
    “Calm down. You fell asleep on my shoulder, on the fire
escape. I carried you in. You sleep like a rock.”
    “So, we just…slept?”
    “Yes, Claire, we slept. I’m not an animal you know. Taking
advantage of sleeping girls is not my style. I want you fully in the moment,
when I’m with you like that.”He
smiles and kisses my forehead.
    I look at the clock. “It’s eleven already? I should really
go.”I stand up, looking for my
clothes, when it hits me—Lydia has probably left the apartment already.She saw that I wasn’t on the couch.Then I noticemy rain boots have been placed by Jason’s door.
    “Did you bring my boots in here?”
    “No. Lydia must have.”
    I turn to look at him and see the apprehension I’m feeling
reflected in his eyes. Lydia saw us. Lydia knows.

 
 
 
    Chapter Four

 
 
    I fumble with my rubber boots trying to pull them on while
standing. I feel him place his hands on my hips and his lips on my shoulder.
His soft touch stops my frenzied rush to leave.
    “Relax, Claire. Calm down.”
    I turn to face him, take a breath, and look into his perfect
face. “Don’t you think this will upset Lydia?”
    “Well, it’s not like we did it on purpose. This is just
happening, Claire. We’re not trying to deceive her. I’m sure she’ll be
fine with it…with us.”
    As much as I love the way that sounds, I need to be
respectful of Lydia . “I really think she’ll be hurt. She’s my roommate
and my friend. I’m not willing to hurt her, and being that she’s your sister, I’d think you’d feel the same.”
    He takes a step back from me and looks away. “Give me your
cell phone.”
    “What?”
    “Give me your phone. I’m putting my number in it.”
    I hand it to him and he steps toward the window, working to
program in his number. He compares my phone to his, and adds my number to his
contacts. He’s still in his underwear. I can ’t believe I just got out of this gorgeous man’s bed. This is my
first opportunity to ogle his perfectly sculpted ass. I’m tempted to get back
in his bed with him, but instead, I zip up my sweatshirt. Jason returns to me
and places my phone in my palm and folds my fingers over it.
    “I want you to call me or text me later.” Intensity sizzles
in his eyes.
    “Okay, I will.”
    He steps closer, places his lips on my forehead, and buries
his nose in my hair. I put my hand on his tattooed chest. The scent of his
unwashed skin is intoxicating. As much as I want to stay, I have to go.
    “Bye, Jason.” I turn and rush out the door.
    “Goodbye, Claire.”
    I push through the front door of his building. It’s
beautiful and I squint at the brightness of the day. This is truly a walk of shame. Rain boots on a sunny day. As I
move farther from his apartment, I feel a sense of unease—as if there’s a
rubber band attached to me and it wants to snap me back into Jason’s arms
again.
    I look at my cell. New
message from Lydia…

 
    I’m
at my studio but call me later. I want to talk to you.

 
    I reply.

 
    Okay.

 
    My savings will only pay rent for one month, so I need to
focus on getting a job. I shower and dress, grab my bag and iPod, and head out
into the neighborhood. On the way home from the café yesterday I saw a
bookstore, so that’s my first stop. The bell chimes when I enter