First Light by Samantha Summers Read Free Book Online Page B

after a few more moments of pointless thrashing, I vomited into the bowl.
     
    It didn’t take long for me to dry retch. I hadn’t eaten all day. But once the alcohol, drug and all other contents of my stomach had emptied, I was released. I fell back against the cool tiled floor, dizzy. As the fog began to clear I could make out the person standing above me. I expected Mae, but should have known she wouldn’t have had the strength to hold me. I squinted up at Kalen’s face. He was talking to someone outside the door.
     
    Mae was shouting to be let in and threatening to call the police, while he was telling her to calm down.
     
    He helped me stand and with a grunt of disgust, said, ‘I’m getting you out of here.’
     
    I thought about telling him where to go, but something stopped me. Instead, I leaned against him and let him help me out. I stared sheepishly at Mae and the crowd of whispering girls around her.
     
    ‘You her friend?’ Kalen asked Mae abruptly.
     
    ‘Yes. Who the hell are you?’
     
    ‘I’m taking her home – you too, come on.’
     
    ‘No, let go of her!’ Mae shouted. I was about to tell her I was okay when two bouncers appeared in the doorway.
     
    ‘What’s going on in here?’ the smaller and stouter of the two asked, directing his question at the only thing holding me upright.
     
    ‘This is my girlfriend,’ Kalen answered casually, without pause. I saw Mae open her mouth to speak and I widened my eyes at her desperately. With a dark stare she quieted.
     
    ‘You ain’t allowed in the ladies’ toilet, mate. I suggest you get your drunken bird outside before we throw you both out.’
     
    I felt Kalen tense beside me, but he politely agreed and said all he wanted to do was get me outside. Before I could say, ‘ What the hell’s going on ,’ we were walking out of the front doors into the icy night air.
     
    He led me to a nearby bench and told me to sit as he went to the McDonald’s on the opposite side of the road. He returned with a bottle of water.
     
    ‘Drink this,’ he said coldly.
     
    I took it from his hand, half temped to throw it back at him. But I unscrewed the lid and gulped it back. When the bottle was practically drained I turned to face him. As usual, he was dressed in dark clothing, with a round-necked sweater that seemed to cling tightly to the muscles beneath. I swallowed the last of the water and tried to focus on what he’d just done, instead of how good he looked.
     
    Mae’s ringtone broke the silence. Flushing, I located my phone in my purse and held it to my ear.
     
    ‘Er, what the hell?’ Mae yelled over the music inside.
     
    I cringed. ‘I’ll explain later, okay?’
     
    ‘Are you okay? I can get the bouncers–’
     
    ‘No! I’m fine, honestly.’ I looked at Kalen, who was leaning his elbows on his knees and staring at the ground.
     
    ‘I’ll call you later, okay?’
     
    ‘Do not go home with that guy, Ronnie, are you crazy?’
     
    ‘I won’t. Speak later.’ I ended the call and stared at Kalen. ‘Why did you do that? Why are you here?’
     
    ‘I could ask you the same questions. I won’t be around every time you wallow in self-pity, you know.’ He leaned back on the bench and stared straight ahead. Some people tumbled out of the club and their laughter carried over to us.
     
    ‘I mean, why are you following me around?’
     
    His eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t flatter yourself. This dive is the only place to go in this ridiculous town, right? It’s not that big a coincidence.’
     
    ‘So what, you were just out?’
     
    ‘Something like that,’ he said acidly.
     
    ‘ Maybe you’re my guardian angel.’ I ventured.
     
    ‘Guardian angel?’ he snorted. ‘And she asks me if I’m mental! No, you couldn’t be more wrong. I am most definitely not your guardian angel.’
     
    ‘But maybe you are and you don’t even realise it.’
     
    He looked indifferent once more. Just when I thought the conversation had ended,