Hurricane Butterfly by Mechelle Vermeulen Read Free Book Online Page A

as my insecurities and feelings for Josh are laid bare.
    Thursday flies by. While waiting in line at Frugals for a burger I send another text to Ben, but he doesn’t respond. Alice is working overtime, to finish her current projects before she moves to Seattle. After dinner I soak in a hot bath and go to bed, physically and mentally exhausted but can’t sleep. I stare at Josh’s number in my phone until eventually I drift off.
    Friday morning I wake up from a nightmare. The same one that has been haunting me since the attack. I pull the covers up to my chin and turn on my side, lying in the glow of the fairy lights, watching the glistening snail trails run down the outside of the window, breathing in the silence around me.
    It is almost midday when I get up and dressed in comfy track pants and a sweater. The thick misty blanket covering the mountaintops is messing with my head. I need to get out.
    If Ben were here I would have driven up to the office and spent the day with him just walking around the park. With no one to talk to except the voices in my head, I decide to take my bicycle and paddle down to the fruit and veggie shop and pop into the library. I push the old green bicycle from the garage when my phone jingles.
    “Hey hun, how are you feeling?” Alice chimes.
    “Um, okay…you?”
    “Work, trying to finish editing this article…‌ugh!” she blows into the phone.
    “Anyway, moving on, I’ve been thinking, why don’t you come with me to Seattle…”
    “What?” I interject before she could finish.
    “Just hear me out, okay? You need a break with all this crap going on…”
    “Al, I don’t know—” I start up again, but she stops me.
    “Just listen, I need you there with me. You are the most organized person I know, and God knows I can sure do with that right now.”
    There are a few moments of silence on the line before she speaks.
    “Look, I know what you’re thinking. And the answer is yes. I think you should call Josh and tell him you’re going to be in Seattle for a week.”
    I press my hand against my forehead. “Oh God.” My heart slams against my chest.
    “Just listen, okay? I don’t understand what you feel for him, I’ve never felt it, but I can see what it’s doing to you. You’re fading. I love you, but I have to tell you this. You’re going into that dark place again, and I’m not going to let that happen.”
    She’s right. I know she’s right. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what to do with these feelings that are consuming more of me every day.
    “Have you heard from Ben?”
    She lets out a big sigh. “No, this business with Josh has really fucked with his head. I wish there was something I could do you know. He’s not answering his phone and Luke hasn’t seen him either. It just feels like I’ve lost the last chance I have to tell him how I feel.”
    There is a moment of silence between us. “He’ll be fine, you’ll see. Just give him time.” I try to reassure her and myself, but the truth is I’m just as worried for him, for both of them.
    Twenty minutes later I park the bike in the bike lockers at the library and start to make my way to the door when I see Ben’s truck parked across the road outside the pharmacy. What the hell? I rush across just in time as he walks out with something in his hand and heads for his truck.
    “Ben, where have you been? We’ve been worried sick.” He looks like crap. His bright blue eyes look tired and have dark rims underneath. He smells of beer, his clothes are dirty and there is an ugly cut on his hand.
    “Oh my God, what’s happened?” I reach out but he turns and opens the door of the truck.
    He cracks his neck “Get in,” he barks at me.
    My brows lift in surprise. “What the hell is wrong with you? “
    “Just get in the damn truck. We need to talk.” He groans rubbing his hands over his face.
    I walk around and get in, slamming the door harder than necessary.
    “Would it have killed you to just pick