Drawn to you by Ker Dukey Read Free Book Online

delays, and it’s only a minor problem so it shouldn’t be too much longer now.”
    “Daddy, it’s fine. Stop worrying.”
    “It’s my job to worry, sweetheart. I’ve wired you some extra money. I thought you and Gaby could go shopping and treat yourselves. I have a meeting now, darling, so I have to go.”
    Just hearing his voice brings a smile to my face, and he’s giving me the means to forget about the sexual explosion waiting to happen in my panties.
    “Gab, grab your bag! We’re going out,” I call.
    Gaby and I decide to use the extra money on a pamper day, and we get manicures and pedicures. We stop for a spot of lunch at a place called Romeo’s where they serve posh sandwiches, if there is such a thing, but more importantly, they offer great coffee.
    I coax Gaby to open up and talk about her thing with Mike. She bites her lip and shrugs her shoulder, there’s hesitation but she also has a pink glow to her cheeks when she tells me how he’s admitted he’s falling for her.
    “He said he always liked me but struggled because he’s my brother’s friend, so when he stayed back one night after Finlay and the others left, I took a chance and jumped him,” she gushes, unashamed.
    She talks enough for the both of us and doesn’t stop to take a breath. It must be a relief for her to tell someone. I’m happy to let Gaby talk; I need to keep my mind busy from the thoughts of Finlay, which isn’t easy. When she brings up his name, all I can think about is him, and my date with Brad is fast approaching too. I feel awkward about that now and after everything with Finlay I can’t see myself dating Brad or anyone for that matter. I didn’t like the way Finlay was acting when it came to Brad or the fact he thought it was ok to read my messages but the addiction to him just kept growing in strength . . . why was that?

I’M WOKEN BY THE sound of men shouting and a kid crying . . . no that’s not a kid it’s Gaby. I leap from the bed and walking groggily towards the sounds.
    “Move and I’ll fucking kill you!”
    I freeze in place. It feels like all the air is being pulled from my lungs; my chest thuds almost painfully and phantom aches burn the scar on my neck. I can’t breathe; the world closes in all around me, and my legs weaken and give way from under me. Then everything turns black.
    “Antonia! Antonia!”
    Voices hum in a fuzzy void all around me, cold moisture dampens my forehead, and Gaby’s voice telling Finlay to give me space becomes clear as my eyes flicker open and closed.
    “Breathe, Antonia. Just breathe,” she whispers.
    “What’s wrong with her?” Mike’s voice clears my mind. My eyes flutter open, taking in Finlay’s worried face hovering a few inches from mine. His dark green eyes are vivid and warm, making my heart seize. Gaby holds a wet flannel to my head. Her face is blotchy and tears leak freely from her eyes.
    “Hey, what happened?” Finlay asks, trying to nudge Gaby out of the way to get closer to me. His tone is soft. Mike paces the floor, tearing his hands through his hair. They were fighting, Finlay and Mike
    “Take her to the couch. I’ll ring a doctor,” Gaby says.
    “No, don’t. Please,” I manage to squeak out, hating that I sound so weak. “I’m fine. I just need a drink and my bag. I’m fine, honestly. Gaby, please.”
    Finlay lifts me from the floor with ease. The throb at the side of my head tells me I must have banged it on impact with the floor.
    He places me on the couch and Gaby hands me my bag. Her face is blotchy from where she’s been crying.
    I’m so embarrassed for falling apart in front of them. Their eyes are burning a hole in my composure and I want to cry and beg them not to treat me differently. Everyone does once they know. I still the tremor in my hand and swallow down the lump forming in my throat. Rummaging around in my bag and grabbing my pills, I pop the lid and slide one into my mouth, not taking my eyes from Finlay who is