Falling Awake by T.A Richards Neville Read Free Book Online Page B

couldn’t believe it. Caleb sat there glaring at me from in the middle of a card game.
    “Here, I got us some drinks.” Drake set down a beer bottle and two small glasses filled with a clear liquid and ice.
    “It’s vodka and lemonade. That’s the closest thing Sully has to a cocktail,” he said taking a swig of his beer.
    “Thanks babe,” Mellissa purred, visibly impressed that Drake even knew what a cocktail was.  I glanced over at Caleb and he stood up and stormed over to where we sat.
    “What the hell’s she doing here?” He barked at Drake, flicking a dark glance in my direction.
    “She’s with Mellissa man. Chill out.” There was a spark of amusement in Drake’s eyes and he didn’t bother hiding his self-satisfied grin.
    “Can I talk to you a minute?” Caleb turned his attention to me.
    “Uh, you two know each other?” Mellissa asked Drake in bewilderment. He ignored her and looked from me to Caleb waiting for the next move.
    “Go ahead,” I said, wondering what he could possibly want to talk to me about.
    “Outside?”
    “Fine.” I stood up and followed him to where he led me outside into the crisp night air.
    It was a relief to breathe something in other than stagnant smoke and my lungs thanked me. I stood impatiently as he dragged his hand through his hair and paced the ground in front of me.
    “Well…” I said. “What do you want? You brought me out here so go on, speak.”
    He stopped and stood directly in front me, his lean frame hovering over me so close, his warm minty breath danced over my skin, leaving me covered in goose bumps. “What do you think you’re doing in a place like this?” I could see he was annoyed, but he was doing a pretty good job of keeping himself calm.
    “I could ask you the same thing,” I replied, crossing my arms in front of me stubbornly.
      “Don’t do that. I wasn’t the one being mauled the other night. What is it with you? Are you looking for trouble? Cause’ I tell you what, you’ve come to the right place,” he fumed. “This place isn’t for people like you.”
    What was that even supposed to mean?
      "I’m just here with Mellissa," I said. "Not that it’s any of your business, but she was meeting Drake and we were supposed to go to jets, but he decided for whatever reason, that this place would be a better idea.”
      I looked over at the dreary building. “Not saying he has no taste or anything,” I said sarcastically.
      He looked at me like a light had been switched on in his head, and his face softened a fraction. “Oh he did, did he?”
      I nodded.
    “Why does what I do, or where I go, concern you anyway? It’s a free country in case you didn’t know. So unless you live here, in this grotty bar,” I said, waving my arm at the eyesore behind me. “Then it’s really got nothing to do with you me being here.” I was really trying and failing to find the connection as to why he had such an aversion to me. It was mindboggling.
      His eyes switched a shade darker and his features hardened.
    “You’re right; it’s none of my business. I would just hate to see you get hurt that’s all.” The slyest of grins tugged at his lips, and his words felt like a secret threat slithering their way up my spine. This time, I shivered for all the wrong reasons.
      “So this won’t be a problem for you?” I asked. “Because I would hate to ruin your card game.” The sarcasm was clear in my voice and only drew more of Caleb’s smug self to the surface.
      “Should we go back inside? Or stay out here all night arguing?” The words tumbled out of my mouth uncontrollably.
      “You can go back to losing, or winning, or whatever it was you were doing, and we don’t have to speak to each other for the rest of the night, deal? In fact make that the rest of our lives.”
    His smile widened and he motioned towards the door.
    “After you.”
    My head was buzzing from all the hot and cold he was blowing me. One minute he’s