Obedient (The Plunge Crew Book 2) by Heather Stone Read Free Book Online

yourself?”
    “Um, what do you want to know?”
    “This isn't a test, Charlotte. I just want to know something about the girl I’m with.”
    “The girl you’re with? I thought this was just sex?” Please say it’s not. Please say you want more.
    “Honestly, Charlotte, I won’t lie. It started out that way.” My stomach plummets and I think I might be sick as I wait for the rejection that’s surely going to follow.
    “But when I’m with you, it doesn’t feel like that. When I’m with you, it’s like a breath of fresh fucking air in my crappy life, and I’m pretty sure a girl like you won’t want to spend time with me for long. So until that moment comes, I plan to bask here as long as you’ll let me.”
    My heart aches at his words. For someone who appears so confident, I realize now that’s just a façade. He’s just as insecure about himself as I am. I realize there is so much more about Bryce Decker then I ever thought, and even if in the end he breaks my heart, I want to find out everything and I want him to know everything about me as well.
    “Okay, hmm. So I’m a teacher, but you know this already.” I declare, ready to open myself up to him totally.
    “Did you always want to be a teacher?” His gaze is locked intently on mine.
    “Yeah, I did. When I was younger, I was pretty much scared of everything. I couldn’t even read out loud in class when I was in third grade because I was so scared I would mispronounce a word or something and everyone would laugh at me. That year, though, I had an amazing teacher. Her name was Mrs. Martin, and she really helped me find my way. She would work with me every day and gave me the encouragement I needed to not be scared of making mistakes. I decided that year I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to help kids like me find their way.”
    “Wow. That’s really amazing, Charlotte.”
    Smiling brightly, I nod. “So what about you, Bryce? What’s your back story?”

9
    Bryce
    I 'm freaking the fuck out. How did the conversation get turned to me? There are so many things that she just can't know about me and my life, but Charlotte Matthews makes me want to spill my guts and tell her everything. The only problem with that is then she’ll leave.
    I should be okay with that. This is only meant to be a fun little side thing. My turn at playing teacher. But there's something about her that I can’t shake. I'm not ready for her to go. I want to know this girl.
    “Bryce? Are you okay?” Her voice is soft as though she’s afraid to scare me off. “If you don't want to talk about you, we can just… I don't know...” her voice trails off.
    “No. It's fine.”
    It’s really not.
    “I just don't have a lot to talk about.” I pause. “My parents are both dead. My brother hates me. I've been in and out of jail… You know, the usual.” I shrug, trying to play the nonchalant roll even though I’m anything but.
    Charlotte assess me for a moment. I’m sure she’s trying to process all of the information. “Why does your brother hate you?” she finally asks.
    “Did you hear the part about my being in and out of jail?” My eyebrows rise to signal it should be obvious, but she doesn’t waver in her curiosity. I sigh and continue. “I've been a major disappointment over and over again. He's had to bail me out more times than I want to talk about.”
    She nods in understanding. “How did your parents die?”
    The question hits me straight in the gut and pulls at my heart. As much as I try to act like I'm a tough guy, the fact is I miss them. Every. Day. “In a car accident, when I was young. My brother raised me.” I can see the sympathy in her eyes, but I don’t want her to feel sorry for me. “He did the best he could, but he became a father and a business owner overnight. That’s a lot to ask of a teenager.”
    “How did he become a business owner?”
    “My dad owned a landscaping company, so my brother had to take the reins. I was supposed to go