Lover's Road by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online Page B

her? Diane wasn’t this insane when you and Penelope were together.”
    I glared at her. “Never say her name again.”
    She rolled her eyes. “It’s true. As soon as you and I became official, she spiraled out of control. Do you think she needs medical attention? Maybe she’s becoming bipolar or something, a sickness that could be improved with medication.”
    Mike shook his head. “No. She’s just a fucking bitch. And there’s no cure for that.”
    “I agree,” I said. “My mom has been pretentious and judgmental my whole life. She has a skewed view of the world and how it really works. Never working a day in her life, and never being poor have clouded her mind and her judgment. She doesn’t appreciate my dad for the amazing man he is. She despises him for it.”
    Scarlet turned to Mike. “Does Cassandra know?”
    “No,” he said quietly. “She needs her space. It can wait.”
    I really hoped Mike didn’t fuck things up with Cassandra. She was a sweet girl and I liked her. Scarlet adored her. If my brother blew this, I’d beat the shit out of him. I wished someone had done that for me when I hurt Scarlet a year ago.
    Scarlet prepared dinner then set the table. My dad came down then smiled.
    “Something smells good.” He sat down and folded the napkin across his lap.
    “Pot roast,” Scarlet explained. “I can do more than just edit.”
    “I’ve never doubted that.” He took a bite then moaned. “This is amazing, dear.”
    “Thank you.” Scarlet beamed with pride.
    Mike scarfed down his food like a gorilla and I ate quietly. Scarlet ate more than anyone, like usual. We didn’t talk about my mom or the divorce. My dad seemed to be in a better mood but it could all be an act. I wasn’t sure.
    Even though the meeting was under bad circumstances, it was still nice to spend time with my family without any drama. My mom wasn’t yelling at me to leave Scarlet, and she wasn’t berating Mike for his horrible table manners. My dad wasn’t ridiculed for being pleasant company. It was peaceful. It was nice.

6
    Mike
    I hadn’t spoken to my girl or seen her in almost a week. How much time did she need? She was really starting to freak me out. This situation would have been very different if I didn’t tell her the truth about the guy I used to be. But I did. I told her everything. So why was this a big deal? I wanted to go home and sleep with her in my own bed. I wanted to make sure she was safe every night. If I were there, I’d be the guard dog against everything. If her ex decided to pay her a visit, I would look forward to the meet-and-greet. But I didn’t think he would.
    When I was at work, I had to force myself not to go down the elevator and into her office. I forced myself not to text her. But that was so fucking hard. She d isappeared off the face of the earth. I had no idea what she was thinking or feeling. I just wanted to talk to her.
    After the silence and distance became unbearable, I left the office and went to the liquor store. There were Snickers bars right by the register. I grabbed one then headed back to the office. When I reached her floor, I walked down the hallway until I reached her office.
    She was sitting at her desk, her legs crossed under the long cotton skirt. It was black, and she wore an orange top that fit loosely around her body. I could still see the curve of her breasts. And she looked beautiful.
    Her eyes were deep like the forest, buzzing with life and mystery. I could stare into those depths forever, wondering what she was thinking at any given moment. Her lips were full and slightly open. She scribbled on a paper, her head down. When I looked at her hands, I noticed the red color of her nails. She was so strong and sporty, but she was feminine at the same time.
    God, I missed her.
    I couldn’t see her legs beneath her skirt, but perhaps that was for the best. I already had a hard-on in my slacks and I prayed no one noticed. After a deep breath, I walked inside