Haven from the Storm (Storms of Life #1) by Sarah Dosher Read Free Book Online Page A

painfully slow. I tried to pay attention to Mr. Roberts’ rambling, but it was difficult. All I could think about was Lily and how I could attempt to make things right with her. The only plan I could come up with consisted of making her listen to my side of the last four years, even if I had to force her, but I didn’t know if it would change her mind. Even I had a hard time believing my excuses were enough for what I’d done.

The end of the day had finally arrived. The first day back at school was worse than I could have ever imagined. Apparently Dean’s arrival at the school stirred more emotions than just mine. I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing a female voice yammering on and on about him. Even now, as I walked to my locker, I could hear a group of the more popular Barbie-like girls trying to get information out of Adley about him. She saw me coming and used it as her opportunity to escape. She practically ran to my locker and threw herself against the one next to me.
    “They are wearing me out. Like, seriously exhausting me with all the Dean Haven questions. Like I know a single thing about that boy. Who they should be asking is Y-O-U.” She pointed her finger in my face while accentuating every letter.
    “Why do I even allow you to speak to me? I can’t figure it out,” I snapped at her.
    “Because you have no choice. If you didn’t, Violet would hound you until you loved me again. We both know that old lady gets whatever she wants from whomever she wants it from and that includes Y-O-U.” She smirked at me and then laughed at her attempt at humor.
    While I was pulling my books out of my locker, I saw a piece of plain paper folded several times with my name written on it. Either I had a new bully wanting to torment me or I had an annoyingly handsome man from my past wanting to torment me, just in a completely different manner. There was no way I was reading this while Adley was with me. I’d wait until I dropped her off to see which of the two evils I’d been blessed with. I placed my bet on the latter.
    “Hello? Earth to Ms. Cold Hearted Fool. How many books you gonna put in that backpack? What’s that? Did someone pass you a love letter?” She gasped and tried to grab it from my hand, but I shoved it in my pocket quickly.
    “Get a move on before I make you walk five miles home.” I glared at her.
    “Puh-lease you would never leave me so you aren’t fooling anyone. Plus, I could just get a ride with Dean anyway,” she said, trying to play my bluff.
    “Fine by me, traitor.”
    I stomped off to my car with Adley right on my heels like I knew she’d be and it put a smile on my face. I’m not sure how we’d gotten to this point in our odd relationship, but what started as Violet trying to make us be friends had turned into a weird kinship. I didn’t trust that she’d never abandon me, but I allowed her into a small part of my heart that was already hardened so it couldn’t be broken again. Adley and Violet were the only two that were allowed in any part of my heart, but that was mostly because trying to keep them out proved too difficult. But the rest of my heart, the only part that could still be shattered, was well guarded against intruders and I had an iron clad protection plan to ensure I wouldn’t suffer that same fate twice.
    When we got to Violet’s, she was sitting on the front porch swing. I assumed she had timed her need for fresh air perfectly with our arrival. She waved for me to get out of the car and of course I did, even though I wanted to speed away and never look back.
    “Good afternoon, dears. I hope you both had a great first day back at school.”
    Adley and I looked at each other, smiled, and nodded our heads in response.
    “Well good, good. Adley, why don’t you go on inside and get ready for work while Lily and I talk.” She gave her sweet, innocent smile while patting the swing for me to sit next to her.
    I gave her a small smile, knowing it probably showed