Reckless Hearts by Melody Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

friends, creeping in at dawn with sand in my
hair—not that anyone noticed. He packed up and went to go play
house with Jana from accounting, and even thought I felt guilty about
stranding mom to deal with everything, it was a blessing to leave the
tearful fights and anger behind and head off for college. I thought
they’d file for divorce, that it was over for good, but when I
pulled back into the driveway at home for spring break, I found them
both waiting for me, nervous smiles on their faces.
    They
were trying again. Making it work. He’d come back begging with
his tail between his legs, and mom had crumbled and taken him back.
    It
took me a long time to understand how she could forgive him, and I
guess a part of me still doesn’t, after all this time. The
cheating is one thing, but the lies . . . I can’t
wrap my head around it. He betrayed her, betrayed us both, and even
though I’ve done my best to follow her lead and pretend like it
never happened, a part of me will never forgive him for that. When
you trust somebody, and they let you down . . . there’s
no going back, no second chances—at least as far as I’m
concerned.
    Just
one more reason not to think that a relationship is going to last
forever. Once my eyes were open, I saw it everywhere: the lying, the
playing pretend. My college girlfriends crying over a new breakup
every other week; the guys who swore they only cared about you, but
who had their phones buzzing all night with the latest Tinder
matches. It seems like the minute you put a label on a relationship,
or make that commitment, everyone is suddenly desperate to escape.
And not just guys, either. I’d watch my girlfriends tell dozens
of little white lies, pretending to be something they weren’t
just to keep the illusion of whoever he thought they were alive. It
looked exhausting to me, a betrayal of who you really are, so I
decided, once and for all: I’d never put myself in a position
like that, set myself up for heartbreak by believing a relationship
could last. Keep things simple, keep it fun, and nobody has to tell
any lies. After all, if you’re not expecting
happily-ever-after, then you don’t lose any sleep when it all
comes crashing down. I’ve never pretended to want anything
different, that’s why if Will had given me any warning, I would
have told him to keep his bags packed, turn around and go right back
to where he came from.
    Promises
you never make can’t be broken, and that’s just easier on
everyone in the end.
     
    I
decide to add my parents to the growing list of things I’m
ignoring right now, and focus on having a great, relaxing weekend
before the madness of work starts up again tomorrow. After I finish
up my errands, I head over to my friend Sawyer’s place,
equipped with beer, soda, and hotdog buns. Lottie and Kit are already
in the backyard when I arrive, splashing around in their swimming
gear in a bright plastic wading pool while Sawyer gets the grill
smoking.
    “Hey!
You got the party started without me!” I greet them, dumping my
stuff on the lawn. I fish a toy from my bag. “Look who left his
favorite duckie in the backseat of my car?” I toss it to
Lottie, who catches it with a sigh of relief.
    “Thank
you! I thought we were going to have a serious meltdown on our hands,
until Sawyer distracted him with the puppy.”
    Kit
is splashing happily—with a tiny furry friend.
    “You
got another one?” I cry, turning to Sawyer. “C’mon,
I thought we agreed, three was enough.”
    “She’s
right.” Lottie grins. “What’s the male version of a
cat lady? Because you’re halfway there already.”
    Sawyer
shrugs, smiling. “What am I supposed to do? They’re all
so helpless and needy and cute.”
    “Remind
me never to take you to a club on ladies’ night,” I snort
with laughter. Not that he needs to go out to have women throw
themselves at him. As a young, handsome vet, Sawyer is pretty much
the most eligible bachelor in town—or at