Back to the Top (Ross Records) (3) by Jl Paul Read Free Book Online Page B

my nostrils and I longed to fall into his arms. But I kept my composure as he continued down the steps.
    “Maybe I did,” I whispered as he stopped right in front of me. My pulse pounded in my throat as I craned my neck to look into his eyes.
    His face softened into I look I recognized from our happier times, making my eyes mist. He inched closer, reaching for my hand, as he opened his mouth to speak.
    But I never got to hear what he had to say. Someone stepped onto the porch, breaking the magic.
    “Jake, your dog took my shoe and chewed it up.”
    He released a huffy breath as his head fell.
    Glancing over his shoulder, I recognized the newcomer as the blonde from the show. And she was not happy.
    Lifting his head, he rolled his eyes in that old, familiar way, and took my hand.
    “Come on, Iz. I’ll show you around. It’s changed a bit since the last time you were here,” he said.
    I attempted to jerk my hand out of his but was unsuccessful. “Don’t you think what’s-her-name with the chewed up shoe is going to be upset that you’re holding my hand?”
    He shrugged, a grin toying with his lips. “Let her. She’s just a girl.”
    Anger clouded my eyes as I put more effort into freeing my hand. “Just a girl? That’s kind of cruel, don’t you think?”
    His hold tightened as that smile exploded into a smirk. “So? She knew the deal when she came here.”
    “The deal?” I asked, outraged. “Meaning what? You’ll sleep with her but she shouldn’t expect anything more?”
    “Something along those lines,” he said as he tried to lead me up the steps.
    I wouldn’t budge. “So, what? You expect me to hang around here, watching you two make out or listening to you screw her?”
    He turned to me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “She can sleep on the couch and you can room with me if you want. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer it.”
    Anger turned everything inside of me red hot. I raised my free hand to slap him but he was expecting that and caught my wrist.
    “You’re still so easy,” he said, grin widening at the shock in my eyes. “Easy to annoy, remember?”
    “Jake, are you going to do anything about my shoe?” the girl asked, stomping a foot.
    Eyes still on me, Jake answered. “I’ll buy you a new pair.”
    He twined his fingers through mine as he pulled me up the steps. I stood before the irritated girl, unsure what to say to her.
    “Cyndi, this is Iz, my ex,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Iz, Cyndi the dancer. Chill out about the shoe, Cyndi. I’ll take care of it. For now, I’m going to show Iz around.”
    Without another word to the girl, he dragged me into the house, pointing out the differences in the living room. Not much had changed there except for new paint and a couple of art prints on the wall. We walked to the kitchen and Jake showed me the addition he’d added that contained a guest room and a bathroom.
    “Nick’s crashing in that room for the time being,” Jake explained. “He just went through a messy divorce and doesn’t want to buy a place of his own yet. That’s his excuse, anyway. I think he’s just trying to babysit me.”
    “Nick was married?” I asked.
    “Iz,” he sighed, clicking his tongue. “Keep up, huh?”
    I didn’t say a word. I was still ashamed that I hadn’t kept up with what was going on in their lives. Some friend I was.
    He yanked me down the basement steps to show off the finished rec room complete with a bar, pool table, and huge flat screen TV.
    “This is great,” I said, admiring the black and white photos on the wall. They were mostly of the band but there were quite a few with Greta and who I assumed must be Ronnie’s new wife. And a couple of old ones with me and Jake, wrapped in each other’s arms.
    “Greta wasn’t sure if she should put those up,” Jake whispered as he walked up behind me. I couldn’t resist the urge to lean into him as I stared at a picture of him and I on the dock behind this house. How happy we’d