Stay by Kelly Mooney Read Free Book Online Page B

“It’s
nothing, man. We just found this place we want to take you before
we leave.”
    “I’m starting to feel better. Finally. I swear I
threw up for two hours straight tonight, and I think my fever
broke,” Jeremy said.
    I cranked on the faucet on. “Get some sleep.”
    It was three thirty in the morning, and I was wired.
Sleep wasn’t coming tonight, not without a little help from my
friend. I reached into my bag, popped two Xanax and let the idea of
finally finding Maggie back inside my thick skull. I just hoped I
didn’t wake up to realize this was all one big fucking dream.

Chapter 5
    Maggie
    I nearly jumped out of my skin when the
buzzer rang. I knew it was Max since he texted me twenty minutes
ago that he was on his way. I panicked when I saw Dean, and even
though it was the back of his head, and he was now sporting a buzz
cut, I knew it was Luke. I knew Dean spotted me. Max got me out of
there when he saw my face go three sheets whiter than a ghost.
    Every single emotion flooded me so quickly, I
couldn’t catch my breath. It was like somebody was holding me under
water. My knees buckled, my empty tray crashing to the ground. I
don’t know where Max came from, but he quickly moved me to the back
room, begging me to leave after I told him who was there. Jimmy
wasn’t thrilled that I’d left my shift but understood that I was in
no way going back out there. I managed for almost two years to stay
hidden, and I panicked at the first sign of my old life.
    But why? Every part of me wanted to run into Luke’s
arms and beg his forgiveness.
    A little part of me knew the reason. I was terrified
to have him look at me now that he knew my secret. How he’d pity me
or blame himself for not noticing the fact that I avoided my house
like the devil lived there. How I slept out almost every weekend,
unless I knew he’d be there to protect me. How I kissed so many
boys to cover up my issues, to pretend they didn’t exist.
    I opened the door to Max standing there, his arms
wide open. “Come here.” I dove into him like he was a lifesaver
keeping me afloat in waters I knew I was going to drown in. All the
guilt and shame from leaving came flooding back when I saw Dean and
Luke. I panicked and ran, just like I did before.
    “They left, but they waited until closing. The one
guy definitely suspects you were there. He kept his eyes on me all
night.”
    I grabbed a cigarette, lighting it with shaky hands.
“Which one?” Max pulled one from my pack and lit up with me.
    “The taller one. Buzz cut. He asked for you by name,
and had a picture of you in his wallet.” I knew the exact picture
given him the day he left for Northwestern.
    I gripped Max tighter. “What am I going to do?”
    He pulled back. “Do you want to be found?”
    I thought for several minutes before answering. “I
don’t know.”
    “They’ll be back, Maggie. Trust me. If you don’t
want to be found, don’t come to work for a few nights.”
    “I need the money, Max.”
    “I’ll help you out. Don’t worry.”
    I turned, took a long drag before stubbing out my
cigarette, and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “I can’t
believe out of all the places in New York they showed up at that club. Do you think they knew I was there before?”
    “Nah, I don’t think so. He seemed really
uptight.”
    Max stripped down to his boxer briefs and slipped
into my bed. After I brushed my teeth, Max’s hand reached for mine
as I got closer. “Let’s get some sleep.” I only had to walk about
five steps from my bathroom to my bed in my shoebox apartment. He
pulled me into his chest, tucking me into him and kissing my
exposed shoulder. “Good night, babe,” he whispered.
    More like good morning. How the hell was I going to
sleep? The sun would rise in approximately two hours. Eventually, I
drifted to sleep in the safety of Max’s arms while images of Luke
ran through my head. Every memory crashed around me like a tidal
wave. One after the