December (The Oliver Brothers Book 1) by Q.M. Watson Read Free Book Online Page A

him at all. He only presses me more into the wall, purposely rubbing the hard contours of his body into mine.
    Damn, he’s stronger than he looks.
    Fuck.
    “You play rough, but I play rougher. You’ll beg first, December.”
    July steps toward him, her expression calmer than I expected. “Let her go, Jarvis.”
    He narrows his eyes at me and sucks his lip ring into his mouth as if deliberating on her request. “I get that you’re angry, but this feud is between July and me. If you keep this aggressive behavior toward me, you gotta know I’m gonna bite back. I’m not as noble as Danny, December.” 
    How little you know , I think.    
    He lets me go, stepping away from me. His irate gaze shifts to July. “We need to talk. Alone.”
    She nods as if she already lost the battle. “Okay.”
    Rubbing my neck, I stare at their backs as they leave the bathroom.
    God, I hate Jarvis.
    The sound of my phone interrupts my thoughts. I glance down at Danny’s name and roll my eyes. Sliding my thumb across the screen, I answer with a frustrated, “What?”
    “Is that how you answer your phone?”
    “It is when I’m not in the mood to talk.”
    “You ready? I’m outside.”
    I glance at the ornate silver wall clock above the toilet. “It’s only five-thirty. You said eight.”
    “I miss you. Eight is too long to wait to see your face. Come outside.”
    I breathe in deeply and push my face into my palm, wanting to burst into tears for some absurd reason. I have to force myself to swallow the burn in my throat. “Fine. Give me five minutes to pack.”
    “Chloe and I are waiting.”
    “I won’t be long.” Disconnecting, I shove my phone in my pocket and walk out the bathroom door with what’s left of my shattered pride. Stopping by the laundry room, I open the dryer door to grab my uniform and pair of fresh underwear. Once I reach my room, I pull my old backpack from the top shelf of my closet. I stuff my clothes inside and tug on the least attractive Pepto-Bismol-pink bubble coat I own. I push my feet into my old black UGG boots and then push my arms through the straps of my backpack and toss the hood of my coat over my head.
    I make another stop to kiss my mom good-bye on the cheek. She’s still in the living room on the couch, eating chips and sipping from her fruity wine cooler. She’s watching what seems to be a Keeping Up with the Kardashians marathon.
    “Bye, Mom. I’m out like yesterday’s trash. I’m with Danny. Call me if you need anything.”
    She looks up at me and smiles. “Look at my baby. You look adorable. I’m getting flashbacks from when I took you to school. You all grow up way too fast. I’m happy you’re spending time with Danny. He’s a good man, December. And he loves you like crazy.”
    “Mmm-hmm,” I say dismissively. “See you tomorrow.”
    July gives me a wave from the passenger seat of Jarvis’s forest green Range Rover when I walk past. I wave back to my sister and then give Jarvis the finger when he looks over at me. Jarvis winks and smiles.
    I open the door to Danny’s Yukon and climb in. He’s smiling ear-to-ear when I glance at him. “What?”
    “You look cute.”
    “I didn’t wear this to be cute. I wore this to be undesirable.”
    “You didn’t accomplish your mission.”
    “Sucks for me, then.”
    “How I love you, December.”
    My heart lurches frantically. The only reply I have is to press my lips together and settle back in the seat.
    Dear God, this is going to be a long night.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T HE P RESENT
     
     
     
     
    Chloe and I watch Danny from his couch as he pays the pizza man. She excitedly wags her little nub of a tail when he brings the delicious-smelling greasy boxes over.
    He snaps his fingers and points to the floor. “Down, Chloe.”
    She obediently jumps from my lap to sit at the spot where he points, drool gradually dripping from the corners of her panting mouth. Chloe looks to me, silently asking me to save her. Those big