The Trouble with Bree (Spotlight #1.5) by Kristen Strassel Read Free Book Online

buried his head against my shoulder. “Is he okay?”
    “This is Lucas. His son.” I motioned toward the slider, where the lights from the cruisers still whirred red and blue shadows over the room. Troy’s head bobbed in silhouette in the back seat of the cruiser. “That’s why I can’t totally break ties with him. But he wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.”
    I double locked the door behind the officer when he finally left, and slumped against it. Landon came up to me, hugging my legs. “Are you okay, Mama?”
    “I am. How about you?” He nodded against my thigh. I winced, a bruise was blossoming in that spot and it hurt like hell. I was still shaking when I crouched down to hug him back. “I have an idea. Wanna sleep in Mama’s bed tonight? I’ll read you guys some stories?”
    Landon smiled and nodded, and I sent him off to get some books while I cleaned myself up. My cheek was swelling, and my entire thigh was turning purple. My head was pounding, but my heart hurt the worst.
    Once I stop shaking enough to concentrate on the words, I read to the boys until they fell asleep. I lay awake, terrified that Troy was going to come back, even though I was pretty sure he would be spending the night in jail. Even things like that didn’t go as planned. One of his friends could bail him out, or they could decide they didn’t need to keep him overnight. Troy had never acted like that before. Controlling, demeaning, and unreasonable, but besides the night he tried to choke me, he’d never raised a hand to me. And I was going to do everything I could to make damn sure he never did again.

Chapter Eight
    “Have you ever been to the waterfront festival?” Josh called me the next night. “I was thinking of checking it out.”
    “Oh yeah?” I tried to keep my voice even. I didn’t want Josh to see me like this. My whole body ached, and more bruises had bloomed overnight. It wasn’t just because I looked bad. I was ashamed of what happened. That anyone had so little respect for me. That I lost control so quickly. That I didn’t stand up for myself in front of my boys.
    He hadn’t actually invited me, but I knew that’s what he was hinting at. I needed to come up with an excuse, fast. “I’ve heard it’s really crowded, and kind of expensive.”
    “It would be my treat, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He knew something was up. Damn it. I didn’t say anything. “What’s wrong, Bree?”
    “Nothing.” I said too quickly. “I don’t want you to waste your money.”
    “It wouldn’t be a waste of money.” His words were slow, confused. “I had a really good time last night.”
    “I did too.” It now seemed something that happened to someone else compared to what happened to me once I got home.
    “Do you want to do something else? You don’t seem to be into the festival.”
    “Not really.” I panicked. “I just want to chill. It’s been a rough week.”
    “Okay.” He sounded so disappointed, and I almost changed my mind, but I just couldn’t see him right now. I got off the phone with him so fast I’m not even sure if I said goodbye.
    The boys were exhausted too, they’d been restless all night in their sleep. None of us got out of our pajamas today, we’d all spent the day cuddled on the couch, watching movies.
    Landon hadn’t asked any questions yet, and I knew I had to say something about last night, I just wasn’t sure what. I didn’t know how to explain that he wasn’t in danger without making it sound like what happened was okay.
    I jumped off the couch cushion when someone knocked on the door, pulling the boys in closer to me. We weren’t expecting company. I had no idea what had gotten into Troy last night, and I didn’t know if he’d come back to finish whatever he’d hoped to accomplish. Daisy always called or texted before coming over, so most likely, it was Kim from downstairs coming to bitch me out over my life choices. She was late this time. I’d actually