Dismantled (Girls on Top #2) by Yara Greathouse Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t mind.”
    “Oh, sorry – that’s not what I meant… You shaved, and… got a haircut, you look nice.”
    He rubs his jaw with his palm. Smiling, he replies, “Yeah, it was way overdue. I wanted to be able to look in the mirror and recognize the person looking back at me.”
    Although Traxx usually had some stubble, he had quit taking care of his appearance for several weeks and had let his beard grow, which would have been cool if he at least would have groomed it, but it made him look disheveled and lost. I guess it was a reflection of the way he felt inside. This is a good thing. I smile at him and nod.
    “Good, then. As I was saying, I’m ready if everyone else is.”
    Notso is the first to get up. “Let’s go! I’m starving!”
    I laugh. “Does that mean we are headed for an ‘all you can eat” pizza buffet?”
    “Nah, that was during my broke days. I make good money now and I don’t mind spending it on my dear friends at a “classy” pizza place.” He winks at me.
    “Wow! What a big spender!” I laugh at his antics. “I like it when others pick up the tab, I’m going to eat so much that you won’t even recognize me!”
    “What does that even mean? That instead of a bowl of salad and one slice you are going to eat TWO whole fucking slices? Pleazzze, girl, just don’t.”
    Everybody’s snickering at this point. “I don’t know, Notso. I may feel hungry enough to forget the salad and eat a whole pizza! What you got to say to that?
    “Dang, Ciara, you got me! I’ll believe it when I see it.”
    As we get to his truck, I don’t really need help getting up in it, but I let Traxx help me up and Notso is assisting Keagan. The truck has a lift and I like to see guys show their Southern manners. “Do you care to place a wager, Mr. Winslow?” I look at Notso expectantly. We are best friends and he knows that I’m a competitive bitch when I need be.
    “Do you think I’m stupid? I know you well, and you get some kinda’ crazy when it comes to bets.”
    “Party Pooper!” I yell at him crossing my arms in front of me. Traxx looks at me smiling, then at Notso, and frowns.
    “Notso, what the hell?! Look at her tiny size, for goodness sake. You actually think she can eat a whole pie? You chicken shit!
    Keagan and I are smiling from the back seat. I may not be able to move after, but I will eat a whole pizza if it’s going to make me some money. Not that I need the money, but it’s a matter of principle. Notso knows me well enough he recognizes he will lose his money. I’m sitting right behind him on the driver side of the truck and I can see his sky blue eyes looking at my sapphire blue ones… He’s getting ready to fall for it… three, two, one…
    “I’m betting low because I feel I’m just throwing my money away. If you eat a whole pizza, that will get you a crisp $50 – if you leave even a small bite of crust, I win. Deal?
    “Ha! Yeah, deal! Sucker!” We laugh like we are kids, carefree and teasing one another as we drive towards the restaurant.
     

Traxx
    I’m sitting here at the table feeling a lot of pride in my Nibblet, as she is polishing off the last slice of the cheese pizza that Notso ordered for her. It’s the first time I feel… free since the incident. I have been living in my own condemned hell, sort of a way of punishing myself for what happened. It’s my way of assuming some kind of responsibility for what Marcy did. It doesn’t mean that I no longer feel guilty, because God knows I do. Guilt consumes me. If I was able to get to her just few seconds sooner… Well, but today… today it’s the first time I get a glimpse of what my life could be once I learn to forgive myself and heal.
    Ciara winks at me as we start chanting: “Go! Go! Go!” as she is chewing the last bite. The last swallow, then a sip of her Diet Coke and she leaps off her chair with her hands up,
    “I did it! Pay up, Notso! Woohoo!”
    On an impulse, I get off my chair and go to her