All Falls Down by Ayden K. Morgen Read Free Book Online

towel," he insists, taking the final step.
    My hand is on the doorknob when his voice sounds again.
    "Savannah, dammit! Stop."
    The instant the curse leaves his mouth, I freeze. Tears begin burning at my eyes again. Defeat courses through me, and my head droops. Why can't I ever do anything right by him?
    "I'm sorry." The apology is little more than a whisper.
    I think I hear him sigh. I don't dare look up at him to find out though. Yet again, I've managed to anger him, to upset him. Nothing I do is right. It's Italy and Toby all over again, and I don't have the strength to go through it again here, now. Especially when Jared sounds so different, as if he gets no satisfaction from hurting me. I don't even know why I'm so certain of that, but I am.
    Jared is different. Confusing.
    It's so frustrating !
    The wood of the porch creaks when he takes a step.
    "I'm sorry," he says, his booted feet coming into view. "I shouldn't have yelled at you." His apology is so different than Toby's were. There is no but involved, no excuse. It's just… an honest apology.
    "I'm sorry," I offer in return, my gaze on the boards beneath my feet.
    This time, I'm certain he sighs. And it's a heavy, frustrated sigh.
    "Why do you do that?" he demands.
    "Do what?" I risk a quick glance up only to find him staring down, as irritated with me as ever.
    He closes his eyes, pinches the bridge of his nose.
    "Never mind," he says. He drops his hand and mutters something under his breath, speaking so quietly all I can make out is scared kitten .
    It makes no sense to me, but I don't ask for clarification. Instead we stare at one another for a long moment. My nerves are shot, but I'm not sure I want him to go just yet.
    Licking my lips, I muster up some courage. "Do you want to sit?"
    His expression changes between one heart beat and the next. It's warm again, soft.
    "Yeah." He nods, smiling. "I'll sit."
    Finally, I've done something right.
     

Chapter Four: The Gift
     
    Jared stares at me for a long time without saying anything. I'm caught in his gaze and the way it causes warmth to steal over me. I know I should break away, but I don't want to. He seems so… I don't know how to explain it. Conflicted. Like he's struggling with something beyond his comprehension.
    I want to tell him that it can't be that bad, but sometimes, it is that bad.
    I say nothing instead and pull my gaze away from him to stare out at the rain. Lightning ruptures the sky at regular intervals. It's almost as if a disco ball hangs in the clouds and the rain dances beneath it.
    Snort at the thought, I shake my head.
    "You can sit again, you know," Jared says, lowering his tall frame onto the porch swing. The chains creak.
    It's a familiar sound, one I've heard a thousand times before.
    " Sav!"
    I lift my head from my book to see Kit bounding up the steps, her blonde hair tossed up into a messy ponytail. The setting sun causes it to gleam.
    I scoot over on the swing just in time for her to drop down beside me.
    " Kit." I close my book, knowing I won't get any reading done now. She has that air about her, as if something weighs heavily on her mind. I sit the book down beside us and turn to her. "What's up?"
    She reaches over and grabs the book instead of answering. Her eyebrow lifts. " Candide again?"
    I shrug one shoulder in response. I love Candide and the simplicity of his mind. His life wasn't easy by any measure, but there's something peaceful about knowing he comes out the other end okay. When I read about him, for a little while at least, there's order in the universe. A place for everyone and everyone in their place.
    I envy Candide and his never-ending well of optimism.
    Not that I'll ever tell Kit that, of course.
    She laughs before handing the book back to me.
    Within moments, her laughter fades, replaced by the symphony of nature song: the high pitched chirp of crickets, the lower croak of frogs, and the rush and rustle of wind through tree branches. It's soothing.
    The chains