Nerdy Girl Nation (Nerdy Girl #1) by Lindsey Gray Read Free Book Online

over two days. They finally came to the last room. Surrounded by her most prized possessions, her home office was the only place Emma ever felt like herself.
    She began with her figurine collection. From her first edition Lando Calrissian to her newest Thor collectible, they were all precious in her eyes. Small boxes held all her character Lego Minifigures. Emma sighed at the sight of each one in their separate plastic prisons, wondering when she would be able to display them again.
    “Added a few more over the years,” Mick spoke in awe while he thumbed through a pile of plastic sleeved comic books.
    “This is my nirvana, Dad. This room is the real me.” She wrapped Lando and placed him in his box.
    “Your mother and I always worried about what you were going to be when you grew up.”
    “What do you mean?” Emma asked while her father sat on the floor beside her.
    “With Harry, he showed us earlier on he would follow in your mother's footsteps. The law was in his blood. You? Something new and different every day.” He laughed as if flipping through years of memories in his mind. “One day you couldn't get enough of astronomy. The next, sculpting. There were all the comic books and science journals. We were sure you'd never be able to narrow your choices down.” He took her hand in his. The conversation turned down a more serious road. “After your attack, you changed. Obviously you would after the ordeal you went through, but we never thought you would pack most of yourself away.” He motioned to the room packed with Emma’s real personality.
    Emma couldn't stop the tears at the thought of the vicious attack. She didn’t remember the attack itself in her conscious mind, but the memories seeped into her nightmares constantly over the years. Therapy and hypnosis attempted to bring the memories forward, but the evilness lived in her dreams. She would wake to remember flashes, but never enough to know who hurt her with such vicious cruelty.
    “I never asked you directly, but was the attack the reason you broke things off with Derek?”
    “Sort of.” Derek was wonderful and supportive, but she could never be honest with him about that night. A week after graduation, she tried to break up with him. Derek wouldn't give her up completely, and they created a few special moments over the next few years.
    “We were going to different schools and I was so skittish about everything. Derek needed someone stronger.” She tried to concentrate on wrapping all her Iron Man action figures.
    “I hope this new job isn't going to hold you back, Princess. I would love to catch you sculpting in the workshop again. The cameras won't be on you all the time. Why don't you let your hair down, relax, and start dating again.”
    “Dad, please. Let's not get into my love life.”
    “I'm saying, don't hold yourself back anymore. People will love the real you.”
    She rolled her eyes. Such a dad thing to say. Secretly, she hoped he was right.

    “Get the hell out of here!”
    A shocked Emma walked into her friend’s gym to find him screaming at an equally irate man.
    Mitch stood in front of Emma while Al and Ben recorded it all from over her shoulder.
    “Bill?” Emma called in a firm but worried tone.
    Her friend, Bill Bell, and the other man turned toward the sound of her voice. Emma’s stomach flipped and acid billowed when she recognized the man. The former IWA General Manager, Curtis Sharp, stood before her.
    Emma stepped around her father to address Curtis. “Mr. Sharp, I’m surprised to see you here.” Emma hoped the shake in her voice went unnoticed.
    “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Terrance Hunt’s former lap dog. You looking for another juicy bone?” Curtis sneered.
    Emma put her arm out to hold her father back. “I came to visit my friend.” She walked around Curtis to hug Bill.
    The retired IWA wrestler’s hugs helped her through several bad days over the past five years. “Sorry about him,” Bill said and