A Season for Hope (Sarra Cannon) by Sarra Cannon Read Free Book Online

searches the air above my head, then looks back into my eyes. “God, that was just about the most amazing kiss in the history of kisses. But we’ve been drinking. A lot. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
    My heart aches. If kissing me was so amazing, why doesn’t he want more?
    “It isn’t taking advantage if I want it too,” I say.
    He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter,” he says. “I’m not that kind of guy, Bailey. Believe me, I do want you. You have to know that.”
    “Forget it,” I say, yanking my hand from his. “I’m going home.”
    Even though I’m drunk, I’m partly aware that I’m irrationally angry. I don’t even understand why I’m so mad. All I know is that I wanted him and I needed this tonight. I wanted to feel beautiful. I wanted to feel wanted. And rejecting me now just ruined everything.
    He calls my name again, but I don’t turn around. I just keep walking.
    I stumble slightly in my heels, but catch myself before I fall. I stop and yank the shoes off my feet. I throw them down onto the paved path and just leave them there.
    When I glance behind me, I see him pick up my shoes and keep walking.
    “Bailey,” he says.
    I lift my hand, not turning around. “Leave me alone,” I say. “Just leave me the fuck alone.”
    I walk all the way back to my apartment without turning around again. Still, I can feel him behind me. It takes me a couple of tries to get the key into the lock, but when I finally do, I push my door open and turn to close it, catching a glimpse of Judd standing in the parking lot below, holding two red shoes.
    Chapter Nine
     
    The alarm jerks me from my sleep.
    I moan and slam the snooze button. I sink deeper under the covers, hiding my eyes from the sun shining through my windows.
    My head pounds and my eyelids feel sticky and heavy.
    The memory of last night comes flooding back and I curl into a ball under the covers. My stomach gurgles and I press my lips together tightly, waiting for the wave of nausea to pass.
    I can’t even remember the last time I had so much to drink.
    What was I thinking?
    I pull my pillow over my head, wanting to hide from the realization that I made such a fool of myself with Judd last night. We were having such a great time, and I completely ruined it. One kiss and I was ready to jump into bed with him? I bet he thinks I’m a complete idiot.
    He’ll probably never talk to me again, and I wouldn’t blame him.
    My door clicks as it opens and I groan into the pillow. “Go away.”
    “Good morning, sunshine,” Monica says. She yanks the covers off my body and snatches the pillow out of my hands.
    I sit up and reach for the comforter, but she smacks my hand.
    “No way are you going to avoid me this morning,” she says. “Especially not after you abandoned me at the club last night.”
    I scoot toward the headboard and pull my other pillow into my lap. Monica has a steaming cup of coffee in her hand and she offers it to me.
    “Thanks,” I say. “And I’m sorry about last night. I don’t know what got into me.”
    “Apparently a tall, sexy guy with long, dark blond hair,” she says, a sparkle in her eyes. She sits down across from me, tucking her legs under her slim frame. “Tell me everything.”
    I lean my head back against the wall. “You don’t want to know.”
    “I half expected him to be here when I opened the door,” she says.
    “Then why did you come in without knocking?” I throw the pillow at her. “You perv.”
    She ducks and the pillow sails past. “Hey, if you have a chance to see a guy like that with his shirt off, you take it, okay?” she says with a laugh.
    “You are so bad,” I say. “I’m so sorry to disappoint you.”
    “What happened, then? You guys were looking very into each other on the dance floor, if I remember correctly,” she says. “And what the hell is up with your shoes on our doorstep this morning?”
    “This morning?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “Does that mean you