Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) by Kathryn Andrews Read Free Book Online Page A

know that I am completely displeased.
    He chuckles. “I didn’t think that you had a girlfriend.”
    “I don’t.” Walking away from him, I’m hoping that he’ll end the questioning.
    He continues to look at me though; I can feel his eyes boring into the back of me. “Huh.”
    “It’s nothing. Just some girl from my past.” If only that was true, more like past, present, and every second in between.
    “Doesn’t seem like the past after the way you played today.”
    “Well, she’s in the past and I met her new boyfriend today.”
    The thought of Leila with a boyfriend makes my stomach ache. My father’s voice comes crashing through my mind.
    No one will ever want you. Even that little girlfriend of yours left you, she didn’t want you either. When are you going to learn and how many times do I have to tell you, you are nothing special and no one will ever love you.
    For the most part, I’ve convinced myself that he was wrong, but seeing them together this morning instantly made me remember how I felt when I was fourteen and she moved away. I believed him then. After all, if my father couldn’t even love me, why would she?
    Nate grabs onto my arm, pulling me from that depressing thought, to get me to stop walking. “Hold up, she lives here in the city?”
    “Yep, goes to Parson’s.”
    “Huh.”
    “You’ve said that twice now.”
    “All you’ve ever talked about is your brother and his girl. Not once have you mentioned a Leila . I’m just wondering how we get this girl to come around more often, especially after today.”
    “We’re not friends.” I was wrong. It would not be nice to talk about her to someone. The way he said her name, in a curious, yet mocking tone, it makes my stomach continue to ache. He doesn’t understand the history between us and never will. Having her around would make me nervous.
    “Really?”
    “Really.” My tone lets him know that I am done with this conversation.
    His eyes narrow one more time and then he shrugs.
    “Well alright then. Let’s get cleaned up, pick up Matt, and go grab lunch.”
    “Lunch sounds good. Matt will be excited to see you.”
    He grins at me.
    “What’s the plan for tonight?”
    “Don’t laugh, but Matt’s kind of got this thing for running. He found a 5k dash that runs through Central Park at night. I told him I’d run with him. Kid’s pretty fast. You should join us if you think you can keep up.”
    Nate laughs. “Just because you can kick my ass on the courts, doesn’t mean you’ll beat me in a foot race. Challenge on!”
    “It’s not me that you need to worry about.” I slap him on the back.
    “Oh, this is going to be good. You’re little bro is awesome. I’m going to be sad to see him go.”
    “Yeah, he is awesome, and me too.”
    “Oh hey! Did you know that female kangaroos have three vaginas?”
    The comment is so unexpected I throw my head back and bust out laughing. “What are you talking about?”
    “Well, I hear you spouting off all these random things all the time, so I thought I would share one that I know.” Nate smiles at me.
    “That’s interesting and gross at the same time. Why am I not surprised that the fact you know revolves around the female anatomy?”
    “What can I say, on the subject matter, I’m pretty much an expert.”
    “The only part of that statement I’m going to agree with is whatever you say. Did you know that cold showers are healthier for you than hot ones?”
    He grins back at me.
    Walking in to the locker room, Nate punches me on the arm and we part ways to get cleaned up. Standing under the shower, all I can think about is how I told him Leila and I aren’t friends. This actually physically hurts me and it also reminds me of the look on her face the first time I told her she wasn’t my friend. I’ll never forget that look.
     

     
    Following the encounter Leila and I had on the beach, I avoid her every time I see her, regardless of whether it’s on the beach, at the