Finding Home by Megan Nugen Isbell Read Free Book Online

Riley?  How could you even give that girl the time of day?”
    I sat back forcefully in the chair, folding my arms across my chest.  I watched as he stopped laughing and our eyes met.
    “It’s nice to know you have so much confidence in me, Mandy.”
    “I’m just calling it like I see it.”
    “Well,” he said, a smug smile spreading across his face. “You called it wrong, Miranda.  Do you see Dana sitting here?” I just shook my head, but didn’t say anything. “No, you don’t because I told her thanks, but no thanks.” I felt the scowl on my face soften as I realized I’d misjudged Brandon. “What?  Cat’s got your tongue?”
    He was smiling at me now and I felt like such a bitch for going off on him.  I sat there silently for a few seconds because I didn’t know how I was going to remove the foot from my mouth.
    “I’m sorry,” I finally said. “I just assumed…”
    “That I’d hit that the second I got the chance?” he interrupted and I nodded. “A year ago, I probably would’ve.  Not now.”
    “Why?” I asked quietly, even though I was certain I knew the answer.
    “Because I know what really matters and she doesn’t matter to me.”
    I breathed out as a smile spread across my face. 
    “So, Brandon Seaver has finally grown up?”
    “Not completely,” he said with his trademark smirk and I just laughed.  He stood up, holding his hand out to me. “Wanna dance?”
    “Again?” I asked, thinking back to the night we’d danced briefly at Slate Creek.
    “I kinda liked dancing with you before,” he said, a sweet smile curling up on his lips and I took his hand, standing up.
    “And I kinda liked dancing with you too.”
    He just smiled again and wrapped his hand around mine as he walked me into the crowd.
     

Four
     
    We hadn’t been out to Jesse’s place as a group since we’d had the going away party for Brandon before everything changed.  That had been three years ago, before Jesse broke Riley’s heart and before Brandon’s accident.  That seemed like a lifetime ago and after Jesse left, I didn’t think we’d ever be together again.  I’d been wrong.
    I know they all thought I was oblivious to the awkwardness between Riley and Jesse at his unexpected return and I admit that when I first saw Jesse sitting in Brandon’s living room, I got excited, insisting we all hang out together.  I’d missed my friends.  I was the only one who’d stayed in Carver and a selfish part of me wanted to pretend, even if it was only for a little bit, that everything was okay again, the way it’d been before everyone left and it all changed.  That didn’t mean though that I wasn’t sensitive to their situation.  That was the past though.  Riley had moved on.  She had a boyfriend and Jesse had been gone for three years.  We all had to move on.
    Brandon and I got there first.  Even though it’d been years since we’d been to Jesse’s, it was exactly the same.  Jesse was outside getting the grill ready when we pulled up and we went into the kitchen to get the food together.  I was rinsing a plate in the sink when I looked out the window and saw Riley’s Jetta pull up.  I saw Holly was in the passenger seat and I could feel a pit of excitement brewing in my stomach.  I couldn’t help but think about all the good times we had together and I hoped tonight would be another one of those times, even though Laura wouldn’t be with us and even though it was anybody’s guess how things would go between Riley and Jesse.
    I felt Brandon beside me as I was turning off the faucet.  He smelled good.  I don’t think I’d ever noticed that before.  I glanced to my right and saw his arm was touching mine. His skin was warm and I told myself I shouldn’t be noticing that either.  He was staring out the window, presumably at Riley and Holly, and he had a smirk on his face.
    “Is something funny?” I asked, moving away so our arms no longer touched so I could grab a towel to dry