Forcing Gravity by Monica Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

the foot she was holding and succeeded in smudging the polish she’d just applied.
    ***
    I wasn’t sure if I needed to clear it with my mom that I was going out, so after Skylar fixed my toes, I ambled downs tairs to see if I could find my darling mother .
    “Mom?” I asked tentatively as I walked outside. She was on the deck, face down on a massage table, while a very ripped , shirtless man kneaded the muscles in her back.
    Both the masseuse and my mother looked up at the sound of my voice.
    “What is it, Logan?” she asked curtly. “You know I don’t like to be interrupted during my massage s .”
    Actually, I do n’t know that, because I don’t normally live here, but okay.
    “Um, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going out with Ethan tonight. We’re going to grab some dinner and go to a party. Is that cool with you?”
    My mom had never really imposed curfews on me, but I was so used to checking in with my dad before doing anything with friends , that it felt normal to ask. The look on her face told me I shouldn’t have bothered.
    “You’re eighteen. Do whatever you want,” was her response before she buried her head back in the face hole of the massage table.
    Okay, well that stung just a little. I really wished she’d care just a tiny bit .
    “Do you w ant to know when I’ll be home?”
    “Not particularly,” she said, from the hole in the table , not bothering to look up . She sounded annoyed. I could read her hidden message that said, ‘now go away and leave me alone’.
    “I might stay the night at Ethan’s,” I said, just to see if it would get a reaction from her.
    Her head snapped up. Mission accomplished.
    “Logan Nicole,” she cautioned. “Don’t you dare come back pregnant. Do you hear me? You will regret it for the rest of your life!”
    Gee, thanks Mom.
    I didn’t even have the energy at that point to argue with her and remind her that I was not sleeping with Ethan.
    “Fine, we won’t have sex,” I said instead, turning away from her and rolling my eyes because she couldn’t see me.
    “You’ll thank me later,” she called out as I started to walk away, not even realizing how much her words had hurt me. Did she really have to constantly remind me that she regretted getting pregnant with me?

 

     
     
     
     
     
    - 5 -
     
    “That’s a lot of sushi,” I commented when the waitress walked away, having noticed how many rolls and pieces Ethan had ordered.
    “I’m hungry,” he said, shrugging and looking over toward the front entrance of the restaurant where there was a bit of a commotion going on . We were at Katsuya in Hollywood , so celebrity sightings weren’t rare , and it seemed we were in the midst of someone noteworthy .
    “Then be prepared to eat all of it,” I said , looking back from the loud group at the front of the restaurant . I couldn’t tell who the celebrity was, but he or she sure had a large entourage. “I’m good for two, maybe three roles, but the rest is all you.”
    Ethan didn’t respond. His eyes were trained on the slew o f half-naked women s tanding by the hostess station. I watched him as he checked them out and noticed that around the restaurant other guys were taking notice – and rightfully so. All of the women were rail thin, gorgeous , and had an air about them that said they knew they were being watched.
    They were all sporting heels that were at least four inches high and short, tight dresses, making their legs go on for miles. A nd they all looked to be around my age. Not that I was trying to compete with them, because truthfully, I’d fall over if I tried to take one step in shoes that high, but I suddenly felt completely underdressed in my skinny jeans, layered boyfriend tanks and flip-flops.
    I should have listened to my sister. Not that Ethan cared what I wore, or that I cared what he thought, but I suddenly felt so out of pla ce. It seemed my Florida surfer girl u niform might not cut it out in L.A .
    “Hello,