Next Stop Funnel Cake by Heidi Champa Read Free Book Online Page B

sound like a bad thing?"
    I threw my hands up and tried to come up with a way to make him understand.
    "Andrew, if you lend me money, things are going to get weird between us."
    "No, they won't."
    "Yes, they will. Trust me. Money ruins everything."
    "So you keep saying, but it doesn't have to be that way. This isn't like with your parents. This is something I really want to do. I care about you, and I want you to be happy."
    "You'd be better off investing your money."
    "I do think of this as an investment."
    "Trust me, it's not worth the risk."
    "It's hardly a risk. I know you'll do great, and I know you'll pay me back."
    The conversation was spiraling out of control and I had to stop it.
    "Andrew, I'm really flattered, but I think this is a really bad idea."
    "Please, tell me you'll think about it. Really think about it. I want to do this."
    I shook my head and tried to find the words to make him understand. "You say that now, but trust me, once you start writing checks, your tune will change quick."
    He got up from the couch and his expression had turned from concern to anger.
    "Is that how little you think of me?"
    His anger only made me madder and I started talking without thinking. "I'm trying to protect you, Andrew."
    "From what?"
    "From me!"
    My shout echoed off his high ceilings and hit my ears like an alarm. He seemed stunned into silence, so I went on.
    "When this all goes to hell, and it will, you'll be sorry you loaned me the money."
    Andrew tried to keep his voice calm, but I could tell it was taking all of his effort to do it.
    "So you've already decided this won't work out?"
    "Better than average chance it won't."
    "You don't know that."
    "I do know that tethering yourself to me financially will only come back to bite you. I told you, I'm trying to save you here."
    His temper started to boil over and when he got closer to me I had to fight the urge to back up.
    "You're not trying to protect me. You're trying to protect yourself."
    "No, I'm not."
    "Yes, you are. You're trying to protect yourself from getting hurt. From trusting me...or anyone for that matter. You won't even let your uncle get too close to you."
    "That's not what I'm doing."
    "That's exactly what you're doing. I get that you're scared, but I'm not going to hurt you."
    He put his hands on my arms, and for a moment I let him, but it wasn't long before I shrugged him off.
    "You can't promise that, Andrew."
    "I know, but--"
    "It doesn't matter anyway because I'm not going to give you the chance."
    "What does that mean?"
    "It means I'm going home." I picked up my wallet and keys from where I'd dropped them and shoved them back in my pockets.
    He followed me to the door and turned me around to face him before I could get out.
    "So, you're giving up on us, just like that? All because I want to help you."
    I didn't know what to say. All my retorts sounded stupid in my head.
    "I'm sorry, Andrew."
    "Don't do this, Travis. You don't have to push me away."
    I literally did just that and nudged him back so I could open the door and escape. He called after me, but I ignored him and nearly ran to my car. Once I was inside, I slammed my hands against the steering wheel and let out a scream.
    * * * *
    "So, what should I tell Nick today because, after five days, he knows you're not sick."
    I rolled over in my bed and saw Clayton standing in the doorway of my bedroom. With a groan, I turned to face the wall again.
    "Tell him it's the vacation time he's never seen fit to give me. I really don't care."
    "When are you going to get out of bed and go talk to Andrew?"
    "Never."
    I heard his footsteps walk away, but they came right back.
    "Okay, look, I've let you wallow and be annoyingly emo and all that, but I'm sick of this. Especially since I'm pretty sure this little break-up is your fault anyway."
    I sat up and threw back the covers, then pushed past Clayton and headed to the kitchen. After drinking orange juice right from the carton, which drove him nuts, I threw