Beautiful Broken by Nazarea Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

Branton?"
    "A few days ago? I'm staying with Dane for a few weeks until I get my own place."
    There's a moment of silent surprise, and then: "You and Dane?"
    "No!" I say, quickly and adamantly. "You know better—he's just a friend."
    "That was six years ago, Scout. Things can change."
    The guy she's with make a soft noise, and she turns to him. "This is my boyfriend, Luke Harrison."
    "Nice to meet you," I say, extending a hand. He shakes it with a grin. "I'm the long lost friend."
    "We'll have to go get coffee sometime," Luke says with a smile. He's got a nice smile, and his eyes don't wander, which is a huge point in his favor. "Babe, I gotta get to class."
    Lou kisses him, quick and hard, and he grins once more in my direction before heading down the hall toward class.
    "Come on in, Scout. Tell me what's been happening in your world."
    I follow her into Dr. Randall's office. She tosses her bag onto the weathered sofa that's been there as long as I've known the Doctor. He's missing, and she goes to the mini fridge and fishes a bottle of water out. She offers me one, and I nod, catching it when she lightly throws it in my direction.
    "So. You’re back. For good?"
    I shrug. "Don't know yet. I guess we'll see."
    "You look amazing," she says quietly, and I flush.
    "I've been in rehab since July," I say. Her expression stays even, and I shrug again. "When I got out, Dane took me in. Until we figure out what I want."
    "And you thought you should look me up," She says, leaning against her father's desk.
    I stare at her, at the patient waiting in her gaze, the quiet acceptance. She looks like she did three years ago, the last time I saw her. Her black hair is shorter, sleek around her face, the clothes are different and the boy is new—but my Lou is still under those superficial changes.
    "You said, once, that I was gonna wake up one day and need to face what drove me to drugs. That when I did, you would be waiting to help me."
    Her eyes are wide when I look up at her.
    "I didn't think you remembered that," She says softly.
    I laugh, a little hysterical. "It was one of the few nice things anyone but Atti or Dane said to me in the past six years. Most people were just asking where they could score or if I wanted to give them a BJ."
    Her expression twists, and I see pity in her eyes for a second. I shake my head. "Don't, Lou. It was my life—I chose it. It's not awesome, and it's not pretty, but don't pity me."
    She takes a deep breath, and then: "So are you ready to face it?"
    I nod, quickly, before I can change my mind. She looks away, but not before I see tears shining in her eyes.
    Lou walks around the desk and scribbles a name and number on a sticky note then flips it over and scribbles her own. "This is a counselor a friend saw last year. She's really good—not too pushy, but she won't let you get away with evasions either. I'd suggest her."
    I nod, reaching for the slip of paper.
    "You should come by," I say before I can think. "Dane's place. It gets kinda boring, and I'd love to catch up."
    Her eyes widen. I'm pretty sure she's remembering the last time she came by my place. I had been high as kite, a new guy pawing at me like I was a crackerjack box and he was trying to find the prize. I'd stopped kissing long enough to tell her to piss off.
    Later, I'd remembered, but by the time I had, it was too late. I was too embarrassed to call and apologize.
    Lou grins at me, and, even though there are years between us, I feel the strength of our friendship, and I let myself hope that maybe, just maybe, I won't have fucked this up beyond all repair.

 

Chapter 6
Dane
    I should probably have quit earlier. I botched up two briefs, and my paralegals had to scramble to fix the editorial shit before filing with the court. The stupid part is, it's easy. It's shit I've been doing for years, and I screwed it up because I couldn't quit thinking about kissing her.
    This. This right here is why Scout is such a bad idea. Because I know if I