Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros Read Free Book Online

couldn’t even be bothered with me. Weren’t we supposed to have the perfect relationship? Everything had to be pure and white on paper for his “future political career.” Where was Mr. Perfect tonight? The kitchen counters received an angry bleaching, and then I attacked the cabinets before moving onto the floors, the refrigerator, and even the shelves of the pantry. No surface was safe from my wrath.
    Sweat beaded my forehead by the time I finished almost three hours later, throwing the sponges and gloves into the sink with a little too much zeal. I still didn’t feel better.
    “It smells like lemons.” Gus grimaced, his sneakers squeaking on the wet floor as he hauled his hockey gear back to the laundry room. Mom trained him well.
    “Lemons and pizza.” Josh laughed, setting down three huge pizza boxes on the kitchen island. “As good as cookies sounded, something told me you were missing a few food groups.”
    I blew a loose strand of hair from my face, his smile too contagious for my own good. “And pizza has all the food groups?”
    He reached out, tucking the strand of auburn behind my ear, his fingers grazing my neck by accident. Or, at least I convinced myself it was. “Pizza is the exception to every rule.” He didn’t step back, but stayed within inches of me, and everything in my body became aware of how close he was.
    “Of course.”
    We stood there, staring at each other in a charged silence. There was nothing awkward about being quiet around Josh. No pressure to fill the silence or find something witty to add, but man, the air hummed with electricity.
    “Ah, Mr. Walker!” Grams patted him on the back as she came into the kitchen. “My granddaughter needs to get out of the house, and her boyfriend has yet to do anything about it.” I heard an as usual slip out under her breath. “Could you haul her out of here for me?” Blood rushed to my cheeks, announcing my mortification. It’s like she knew he’d blown me off. Or maybe she’d just expected it?
    “Ma’am?” Josh asked with a tilt to his head, and a curious gaze tossed my direction.
    “She’s turning into a hermit, Mr. Walker. I firmly expect cats to begin arriving at the doorstep at any moment. Please, do the world a favor and take her out.”
    “Where’s Riley?” Josh’s mouth turned down. Double mortification.
    “Breckenridge, throwing some frat party.” Oh, was that a twinge of bitterness slipping through my voice?
    “Mmmhmm.” Grams sighed.
    He nodded once, his eyes unfocused. “Right.” A myriad of emotions I couldn’t place skated across his face, changing the landscape in small, instantaneous, meaningful ways. “Want to crash it?”
    A wave of excitement hit me. Ooh! Surprise Riley! But common sense and reality got the best of me. “I shouldn’t really go that far.”
    Grams sighed. “Nonsense. Josh, she’ll be ready in an hour with an overnight bag. I’m assuming I won’t be seeing you until tomorrow. Just grab the key and stay at your parents’ cabin.”
    The cabin had been Mom’s forty-fifth birthday present from my father; his one splurge to prove they would retire here, and she wouldn’t have to move anymore.
    Nausea gripped my stomach at the thought of doing something fun, like I was betraying Dad. I hadn’t grieved enough; I wasn’t wearing black; I hadn’t cried the requisite number of tears. “I just don’t want to. I’m not ready.”
    “Neither was your sister. Did you really think I would go easier on you?” She arched her eyebrows and dismissed me, turning back to the kitchen.
    Well, I guess that was settled. Grams had spoken. To the party we were going.

Chapter Four
    Two hours later, we wound through the mountains in Josh’s Jeep Wrangler. He insisted he drive, but let me control the radio. Given the grimace on his face when I started playing country, I think it was punishment enough.
    “I’m glad you don’t have the motorcycle anymore. That would have been hell in the