Salvation and Secrets by L A Cotton Read Free Book Online

“Come on, you’re on host duties with me.”
    I followed Paul into the kitchen. It wasn’t on the same scale as Fallen House, but it was pretty impressive, all high-gloss units and state-of-the-art appliances.
    “How did you guys score this house?”
    Paul grabbed a couple of beers from the refrigerator and shrugged. “Jamie’s dad is loaded. Like I-can-buy-my-son-the-best loaded. He went to Marcus Donohue directly.”
    “You’re shitting me?” I clasped a hand over my mouth. “Oops, sorry.”
    Paul laughed. “No need to apologize; it’s just good to know there’s some normal in there somewhere.” The sparkle in his eyes told me that he was just joking around, but I was too busy storing the new piece of information about Marcus Donohue—apparently, the stories I’d spent the summer obsessing over really were true.
    “You want a beer or soda?” Paul called, pulling me from my thoughts.
    “Beer?” I wasn’t sure why it came out like a question. I wasn’t sure why it came out at all. Alcohol and I never ended well, but I was in good company and desperate to relax; to try to ignore the taunts of the small knife next to Paul. Its sharp edge calling to me.
    “You sure?” He eyed me suspiciously, but I nodded and snatched the bottle from him, and started gulping it down.
    “Hey, steady,” he said, his forehead creasing.
    I swallowed hard and blinked away the bitter taste. “What? I’m just thirsty.” And desperate to take my mind off that knife. My eyes darted to the blade. Paul caught me and cocked his brow but didn’t say anything, just narrowed his eyes at me.
    We stood like that, watching the other, in some kind of showdown. He was trying to work me out, and I was trying to prepare my excuse for my weird behavior.
    “Cormack, you bringing those beers or what?” Tyson’s voice boomed through the house, and Paul blinked, breaking our standoff. “Coming,” he yelled back before grabbing the bottles off the counter and brushing past me without a word.
    After finishing the rest of the beer, I rejoined the rest of the guys. Paul moved up to let me sit next to him, and I guessed he wasn’t as pissed with me as he made me feel. Since my meltdown at the stadium, something had changed between us. I wasn’t interested in him, not like that, but he seemed genuinely concerned about me. He cared—it was written on his face every time I looked at him. And I liked him. He was easy to be around, when he wasn’t throwing his puppy dog eyes at me. Besides, after everything that had gone down last year, he still wanted to be my friend. That had to count for something, didn’t it?
    As the night wore on, I was surprised at how relaxed I became. Sure, the four beers might have had something to do it, but I was actually having fun. And almost managed to ignore the itch underneath the surface wanting a release. Almost. But being around Elena and the guys was helping. Even Lydia and Cassie made me laugh a couple of times. It was nice.
    “So, hmm, Lyd, you want to come get that book you need?”
    Lydia looked over at Nate with a strange expression. “Book? What book?”
    “You know, that book. The one I said I’d lend you.” Nate narrowed his eyes, clearly trying to tell her something.
    “Oh yeah, that book. Of course. I forgot all about it.” She almost jumped off the seat and ran to him. The rest of us sat trying to stifle our laughter at their poor attempt to be discreet.
    They hurried out of the room, and we all exploded with laughter.
    “They do know we totally know they’re not going to find a book, right?” Cassie snorted through her laughter.
    “I’ve never seen Nate act like such a pussy. Wait until tomorrow; I won’t let him live this down.” Jamie high fived Tyson and they started plotting Nate’s demise.
    “She really likes him,” Cassie whispered, leaning over to us.
    “I think it’s pretty obvious he likes her, too. He hasn’t stopped watching her all night,” Elena added.
    I