Irrefutable (The Apprehensive Duet Book 2) by Kimberly Bracco Read Free Book Online Page A

warring emotions.
    I’m going down.
    It’s pulling me under, suffocating me slowly but surely.
    Holding me prisoner and I can’t break free.
    I’m going to drown.
    “Whoa,” Billy calls out. “Stop.”
    I hear him but I can’t seem to make my body stop moving. My arms keep going, punch after punch aimed at the mitts until Billy somehow morphs into Alex. Why is my mind picturing Alex? Alex has the least to do with my constant turmoil. Maybe this is karma’s way of punishing me for what I did to him. Everything he said to me that day he came to my place for answers was correct.
    I am a coward. I didn’t want to know the truth about us. I did what I do best and pushed the feelings down so I could force Alex into a box he didn’t belong in. Simply because it was easier for me. He has shown me the man he is time and time again but it was easier for me to push him away.
    I wonder if taking the promotion away from me all those years ago was just the beginning of my father’s plan. My father had to know that I’d never agree to leave a boyfriend of my choosing to marry a man of his. The motherfucker knew even then threatening my job was the way to manipulate me into doing anything. How he knew that Alex would give me the opportunity to twist something to fit my deranged way of thinking is beyond me. How does everything seem to work in his favor? How can one piece of shit asshole get everything to go right for him? And I can’t get a single fucking thing to work out for me? Not a single one. Everything comes with a stipulation and consequence. I can’t fucking take it anymore!
    I don’t know when the anger leaves me and turns into sorrow, but before I even realize what’s happening, loud sobs rip from my throat as I fall to the ground and crack. The battered soul inside finally giving in, splintering into so many pieces that I’m sure a few of them are lost forever.
    Strong, sure arms wrap themselves around my shaking body and a soft, comforting voice whispers in my ear, “It’s okay, angel. Let it out.”
    Warmth immediately spreads through my body at the sound of his voice. I’m so far gone my mind is imagining Alex to protect itself.
    It must be time for me to head into a padded room because my illusion of Alex is now rocking and shushing me in the middle of the gym while I have an emotional breakdown. I look up to see what the hell is going on, and I find the real Alex staring back at me.
    He’s an amazing sight for sore eyes. His fit body covered in a tank top and basketball shorts. A green towel thrown over his shoulder that’s almost a perfect match to his eyes. His beautiful hair is tied in a bun that’s nicer than mine. He’s really here.
    “You’re real?” The words slip from my lips before I can rope them back in. “How?”
    “I’m real,” he whispers. “I came here to do the same thing you’re doing, but I didn’t know you’d be here.”
    “But you’re not Billy,” I state the obvious since my brain has decided that today is the day it wants to quit working.
    “No, I’m not,” he laughs before his voice turns serious. “You gave Billy a little scare there. You were so far gone. Did you even notice your knuckles are bleeding through the tape on your hands?”
    I look down at my fingers through tears pooled in my eyes and see the white tape is stained with streaks of red and my hands are a bloody mess. I didn’t feel it at all. Nothing. Not a damn thing. Maybe I’ve finally reached the point of no return and have officially lost what little was left inside me.
    “It’s time we finish our talk, angel,” Alex says gently. “You can’t keep going on like this. You need to talk to someone. I know something else is going on here, and whatever it is scares the hell out of you, but keeping everything all bottled up inside is killing you. You just scared the hell out of me too. So here’s what we’re going to do: you’re going to head into that locker room and take a hot shower.