Scars and Songs by Christine Zolendz, Frankie Sutton, Okaycreations Read Free Book Online Page A

were falling down his cheeks.
    Tucker jumped up, more of his sandwich dropped to the floor. “No, she’s going to take some time to bang.  I gotta take a leak.”
    I glared at Ethan when Tucker was out of the room. “What are you trying to do? I don ʼt want to hear about him and Grace, or him having a threesome.  What’s your problem?”
    Ethan stood up and pushed his chair out. He grabbed his empty plate and walked over to the sink, placing it in. He turned around and leaned against the counter. “Just watching your reaction, Shane.”
    I knew it .
    He folded his arms across his chest. If anyone else w as standing there looking at the features of my giant friend, they would have called them menacing.
    “Shane, you had me running all over the bar last night because you wanted to meet a girl when you saw the color of her eyes . You looked like a lost little boy until you saw her sitting there with Lea.” He dropped his hands dramatically to his sides. “You said nothing was up last night, but left before everyone else did to go home. Alone .”
    I sat down on one of the chairs and started lacing up my sneakers tight, being as nonchalant as I could about the topic of his conversation. “Yeah, so. What ʼs the big deal? Sheʼs beautiful. I didnʼt hide that fact from you last night, I wanted you to help me find her.” I stood up to leave.
    “Shane, I didn ʼt say these things to see if you liked her. Thatʼs obvious. I said them because I wanted you to see your reaction to someone like Tucker, who wanted to just sleep with her.” He stepped forward and pointed his finger at me. “This is one of Leaʼs best friends. And Conner is one of ours. Grace isnʼt the sort of girl you could just sleep with without consequences. Everyone will get hurt in the process. But, the way you acted last night and now, dude, Iʼm your best friend...you like this girl. Donʼt screw it up by trying to sleep with her immediately.”
    I chuckled. “Yeah, well I ʼm hoping when I get to know her I can shake whatever illness Iʼve caught and shake her from my mind.”
    “What if you can’t, Shane?”
    “You know I don’t get into relationships. You know I don’t ever lie about it. I don’t need to lie to any of them. It’ll be her choice.”
    He put his hands up in the air as if I was robbing him at gunpoint. “Shane, your fists are clenched, your face is red and you’re planning on running over there right now, and it isn’t to workout with Conner. All because you don’t want Tucker to do what you want to do with her?  Shane Maxton never gets jealous, ever .”
    “Yeah, I got you, thanks.” I left before Tucker came back and before Ethan could say anything else.
    I grabbed my keys, phone and wallet off the bar, stuffed them into the pockets of my sweats and ran out the door. On the way there, I thought about every word Ethan said to me. He was right; I just couldnʼt tell him anything. I certainly couldnʼt tell him I once wore wings and because of the one relationship I did have in my life, Iʼd spend the rest of my existence in hell and this wonderful place again. I couldnʼt tell him that I never had relationships because no one in this world could ever replace Selah.  Ever.
    There was no way I could tell any of them. They would all have to assume I was just a player, because before I got here and my soul got slammed into Shane’s body, that’s who Shane was .
    When I got to their apartment, Conner and Lea were both awake watching cartoons. Lea jumped up to make coffee when I came in. Conner and I helped her in the kitchen with the cups, our normal routine.
    “So, Shane...how was your friend last night? Sorry if I was being rude, I guess I drank way too much.” Leaʼs cheeks were bright red; the rest of her was a bit green.
    “Eh, I thought you were pretty funny. I think that chick ended up at Alex ʼs,” I shrugged and pretended I didnʼt know.
    Conner slapped me on the back, “Dude, coffee first, or a run?”
    I