Spill Over by Jolene Perry Read Free Book Online Page B

KISS?”
    Her voice is slowing me down, helping me focus , helping me relax . It’s the first thing that’s dulled the pain ripping me apart. “Can you read it?”
    “Now? On the phone?”
    “Yeah.” My body slumps down , relaxes into the bed . “But I might not stay awake for long.”
    There’s a short pause , and she actually does it. She starts reading. Her smooth voice tells this man’s story, and it’s crazy interesting. His writing voice isn’t stellar, but it’s honest. It’s him. It feels better than anything that’s happened to me all night. I’m drifting back off, but I can’t tell her to stop, her voice is…
    - - -
    I don’t know if it’s morning or not, but my whole body aches, churns and swims .  Gem . Shit. I’m pretty sure I remember Gem sleeping next to me, but now she’s nowhere to be seen.
    I’m still dressed . That’s good. Do I want to know what happened? I’ve never passed out like that before. The though t of it kind of freaks me out— not knowing what ha ppened . P hone ’s in my hand and wallet’s still in my pocket . That’s also good.
    I stumble into the living room. There are a few people passed out on the couches, wrapped in blankets from last night. I start to look for my suit jacket, but don’t really care. I never want to see the damn thing again anyway.
    Dad’s probably pissed. Mom would be pissed, but she’s not around to be pissed anymore. She’s stuck in some damn metal coffin.
    I keep trying to blink the scratchiness off my eyes, but it doesn’t work.
    My feet stumble me into the elevator , and I hit the button for the lobby. When I step onto the sidewalk, I know where I was. I was at Gem’s house. Probably shoulda figured that out when I was still inside. Or, maybe I did, and just don’t remember.
    Fortunately for me, h er building ’s next to mine. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I slide it out. Twenty missed calls. Eighteen from Dad and two from… Amber? Amber’s name pricks at my chest. We talked. Didn’t we? I asked her to read to me. The air leaves my lungs. How crazy does she think I am? Then Gem ’s smile and large brown eyes hit my memory . I’m immediately defensive. What the hell does it matter what I did with Gem last night? Amber’s barely even a friend.
    I’m nuts.
    “Morning, Mr. Preston .” A man opens the door to my building.
    Now I gotta get my ass upstairs to sleep off the rest of this hellish feeling. The elevator feels like a roller-coaster and every second feels like an hour. I just need to lie down.
    My key fumbles in the lock until the door jerks away from me, revealing a scowling Dad.
    “What the hell happened to you?” His voice is the most animated I’ve ever heard.
    “I’m going to bed.” I rub my sandpaper eyes again.
    “Look, Antony. I’ve tried to be really understanding about all of this, but you ca n’t be gone all night with out letting me know where you a re!” The door shuts behind me.
    “Sorry, Dad.” I rub my hand over my face. “I’m fine.”
    He stops, takes my shoulders, and looks slowly between my eye s . “What did you do ?”
    “Something I’ll never do again, okay?” I jerk away from his gaze and stumble into my room.
    “Antony.” Dad follows and sits on the bed. “I know you don’t want to, but we’re leaving for DC tomorrow. Do you want to sort through some stuff here first?”
    “No.” I fall face first in my bed. “I’m keeping the apartment. I can afford it. I’m coming back here for school.”
    “Mom thought you’d go to Harvard , or to Paris .”
    “I’m coming back to New York. Harvard and Paris was before she …” but I can’t finish it. “It’s different now.”
    Dad relaxes next to me. I feel it. His hand rubs up and down my back. I open my mouth to tell him to stop, but I can’t. After a few minutes, I start to let myself relax and drift off. One of these days this nightmare will be over.
    - - -
    Something’s different. Dad and I are different. I now see