Bound Together by Marie Coulson Read Free Book Online Page A

morning. I would have to talk to Mel about
it all. She was my best friend and knew me better than anyone in
the whole world. She was sure to have some insight or advice on the
week’s events. We turned onto our street and I saw our
house. Home . I
felt my whole body relax as I let out a satisfied sigh. It was good
to be back.
     
    We pulled into the
driveway and dad turned to me. “It’s good to have you home kiddo.”
I beamed at him. A feeling of pure contentment ran through me.
“It’s good to be home dad.”
     
    As I got out of the car I
scrutinized the exterior of the house. The porch swing had a new
coat of paint and the once broken shutter on the window had been
fixed. The lawn was cut and there were some flowers freshly planted
around the edge. Dad had clearly been busy.
     
    I was just about to follow
dad into the house when I was ambushed from behind. I fell to the
ground with a hard thud and turned over to find Mel, her arms
wrapped tightly around me and her head buried in my chest. I
laughed breathlessly and tried to push her off but she just gripped
me tighter. Giving up, I lay back on the grass and rested my hands
underneath my head. “Hey Mel. How’ve you been?”
    I watched her in amusement
as she crawled backwards off me. Rising to her feet she began
brushing herself off. Giving me a shrug she put on the best
performance of indifference that she could manage. “Oh you know. Chilling, shopping, and perfecting
my sneak attack. Same old shit.”
     
    I laughed and clambered to
my feet. Brushing off my own clothes, I smiled at her. She was
grinning at me like she hadn’t seen me in a year. Gripping my
shoulders she pulled me to her for a hug. “I missed you so much
Layla. How dare you leave me to go be a big shot California State
student! I hardly spoke to you all week. Where the hell have you
been?” She finally released me and it was
my turn to shrug at her .
    “It’s a long story. Wanna
come in for a snack? I’m starving.” She nodded and followed me into
the house.
     
    Sitting in my room, I
filled her in on the events of the past week. I told her
everything. Meeting Oliver, Jared, Amy, getting a job at
Lorraine’s, fighting with Jared and finally the text he’d sent me.
When I told her about my performance at Benny’s Bar she applauded
me and laughed. When I was finally finished I let out an
exasperated sigh.
    “Well one thing’s for sure
Lay, you have two guys that want into your panties.”
    Was she serious? I could
understand her assumptions about Oliver, but Jared? She must have
seen the confusion on my face. “Layla don’t be so naïve. He’s
pulling your pigtails! If we were in high school he’d be calling
you names and pretending he didn’t like you. But we’re not in high
school. So he’s acting like an ass to get that reaction out of you
that, apparently, you are more than willing to give him. I bet he
likes his women with a little fire in them. And it’s obvious you
like him too.”
     
    My mouth fell open and I
almost choked on my own breath. “I do not like him! I hate him. I
told you what he said to me. How he treated me with utter contempt.
I even showed you the text he sent me. How the hell can you think I
like him? Yes, he’s hot and yes, this morning at the coffee shop I
felt something between us. But I’m a hot blooded woman. A guy gets
that close to me and my body reacts. It’s a primal instinct. I do
not like him.”
     
    Mel shook her head and
laughed. “Oh Layla. Thou doth protest too much. Plus if you really
didn’t like him and he really irritated you so much, how would you
explain your heated reaction to him whenever he’s around? Ok so he
says things to grind your gears, but if you really didn’t care then
it really wouldn’t bother you. Would it? But, whatever you say
sweetie, I believe you. So what did you say to him after he texted
you?” She sat back on the bed and stared at me, waiting for my
answer. She was giving me a knowing look. She