Chameleon Soul (Chequered Flag #1) by Mia Hoddell Read Free Book Online Page A

sorry. It was the shock of seeing her. I’ve had nothing for a year, and then all of a sudden twice in one day.”
    Dustin’s posture began to relax and his fists uncurled. “I’m sorry for not telling you, but I didn’t know how to bring it up. We’ve never spoken about her and I didn’t want to start anything. I assumed you didn’t want to know.”
    Unfortunately, I saw his point. After Raine left me and ignored all of my attempts to contact her, I decided to cut all ties. Dustin had the sense not to mention her and therefore over the year I’d forgotten how close they were.
    Seeing her again only ripped open old wounds, not that they’d healed completely anyway.
    Thank fuck we were heading to the pub because I needed something stronger than coffee after that meeting.
    “Listen, I know you’re mad with her and I don’t blame you, but…” Dustin trailed off, his gaze pensive. I’d come to know the look well. It was always the expression he wore when he had something he wanted to say and didn’t know where to start.
    “Spit it out, Dust. It’s written all over your face that you want to say something to me.”
    He inhaled deeply and it took him another minute to speak. “Take it easy on Raine, yeah?”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    My brow furrowed in confusion. What did he think I was going to do to her? Sure, part of me still resented her for the way she’d broken up with me, but that didn’t mean I was about to dump a year’s worth of shit on her. At least I was going to try not to.
    “Just…don’t push her to do or say anything. No doubt you’ll see her around if you stay here all of the break, and if she acts a little weird, pretend you don’t notice it. She’s not the same Raine you knew.”
    “Why would she act weird?” I glanced around the empty street. I didn’t really want to have this conversation out in the open. The press were already hounding my manager to explain my earlier outburst or give them the name of the girl, but I wasn’t moving until I got an answer.
    “It’s been a rough year for her, and she’s finally starting to pull herself back together. I don’t want you screwing it up if you’re not planning on sticking around.”
    “Why’s it been rough?” A wave of emotions powered through me; fear, worry, and anger that I’d been left out of the loop. Even if we weren’t together I assumed Dustin would have told me if something bad happened.
    “It’s not my story to tell, Teo. All I’m saying is if you notice things she does and they seem odd, don’t call her out on them. That flat is one of the few places I see the old Raine and I don’t want to lose that.”
    If he thought he was going to get away with not telling me he could think again. “Dustin—”
    “No, Teo. It’s Raine’s story to tell and I will not betray her trust like that. I’ve already done that enough by bringing you here.” His voice reached a level of ferocity I rarely heard.
    “Okay, okay. I won’t ask again. Why did you bring me here, anyway?”
    “You two are better together than apart. She shouldn’t have given up on you, and you shouldn’t have given up on her.”
    “I didn’t—”
    “You did. You didn’t fight for her, but that’s not my point. My point is you both miss each other and are too stupid to do anything about it.”
    “Hey!”
    “What part of what I said is untrue?”
    I pinched the bridge of my nose. “None of it.”
    “Good. Then what are you going to do about it?”
    I ignored him and shifted my hand to the roof of the car. “How about you? How are you holding up?”
    “I’m fine. We’re talking about you right now.”
    “Really? Because your black eye and swollen mouth say differently,” I probed.
    Dustin hadn’t been the same since Elora broke his heart, and even though I didn’t have the full story, I knew she repeatedly left him in pieces. That much was clear.
    “I’ll get over it. Now back to you.” The bastard smirked at me.