Live for You by Marquita Valentine Read Free Book Online Page A

wobbly smile,
falling for her act. I barely restrain myself from rolling my eyes.
As soon as they leave, she hisses, “That’s how you
pretend.”
    I stand, holding out the
flowers and not saying a word. The hatred fades from her eyes,
replaced with a wariness that I don’t like. She’s scared of me, of
my height that towers over her.
    For all her faults, she has
been abused by men. She has been taken advantage of by men, men she
pleaded with me and Parker to call daddy so they’d stay and love
us.
    But it still doesn’t give
her the right to treat us like shit. Weaker preying on the weaker
is like truly believing two wrongs make a right.
    Finally, she takes the
bouquet and I walk away, finding a place in the corner by the
window. I look out over the hills, the manicured flower beds and
the zen garden in the back. Crystal might be in a prison but it’s
nicer than the freedom we live in.
    I rub a spot over my ear
and glance at my mother. She’s laughing at something Parker’s
saying. Kelly is sitting firmly in Crystal’s lap, her little arms
around our mother’s neck. Kelly will live off of this for days,
weeks even.
    And I’m okay with that. She
needs her mother more than I do.
    I have my brother, my
friends and my bar. That’s enough for me.
    Crystal’s eyes narrow at
me, hatred coming off of her in great waves. I press my thumb
against the corner of my eye and rub the spot slowly.
    Or so I try to convince
myself.

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
     
     
    Violet
    Since driving any car was
out of the question for three more months, I had to come up with my
own workout plan instead of going to the gym each day. So the woods
behind Nana’s house have become my track/obstacle
course.
    I have been running for
what seems like hours, thinking about Cole and my life. Okay, so
mostly about Cole. I can’t get him out of my head and it scares
me.
    This was how it started
with Jaxon. A chance meeting, heavy flirting and then six months
later, I’m backstage at his first sold out concert, losing my
virginity on a couch in his dressing room. Three years later, I’m
still not sure what I regret more: giving Jax something I
considered special or wasting all my time and energy on
him.
    Not that it matters
anymore. He’s obviously moved on and so should I, but it’s not that
easy for me.
    Stopping by the creek that
marks the property line between Givens and Perry land, I stare at
the water. It’s completely translucent. On the bottom is nothing
but soil and large smooth-looking rocks. Minnows swim by and
dragonflies hover above the waterline. Cattails sway in the breeze,
the wind cooling my skin as it blows.
    When I was little, this was
my secret spot. Countless hours were spent playing here. Sometimes
I was a pirate, captaining my ship and searching for buried
treasures. Other times, I was a fairy-princess, ruling over my
land.
    But now I’m grown and have
no control over anything. Solitude and privacy are my priceless
treasures. Rare and near impossible to find.
    Until now. And I’m hot as
blue blazes. Sweat trickles between my breasts and down my
back.
    Plopping down on the grass
bank, I take off my shoes and socks, then dip my feet in the creek.
The water is cold on my feverish skin and I fight the urge to pull
my feet out. Closing my eyes, I lean back on my hands. The opening
hymn from this morning’s service suddenly comes to mind. I hum the
first few notes and before I know it, I’m singing.
    And for the first time in a
long time, it feels good. It feels right. And there’s no one around
to hear me. So I sing louder, keeping my eyes shut tight. I don’t
want the real world intruding. The words wind through me, easing
the pain in my heart just a little. Though I don’t think I deserve
forgiveness, in that moment I feel it. So real and true that I want
more.
    I touch the stitches sewn
into my stomach.“Please…I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. So very
sorry.”
    The door opens and my
ex-boyfriend is suddenly by my