Torn: Part Two (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) (The Torn Series Book 2) by Sky Corgan Read Free Book Online Page B

television.”
    For a few moments, everything is silent except for the sound of my breathing. I wait for Earl's footsteps to retreat back into the living room, but they don't. My arm is getting sore from me holding it out, but I feel so frazzled that I'm practically frozen in place.
    Finally, he moves. Not away from me, but towards me. Stubbornly, I refuse to acknowledge him. All I want is to be left alone. It's taking everything in me not to say that much. If one rude thing comes out of his mouth, I know I'll snap. I can't hold myself together any longer.
    “Here.” He kneels beside me and picks up the screwdriver.
    Against my better judgment, I look to see what he's doing. He jams the head of the screwdriver between the bracket of the latch and the wood of the door and wiggles slightly. Almost immediately, it starts to come loose. Within seconds, he has it pulled out.
    I move back to give him room, expecting him to lay the latch at my feet and return to the living room. He doesn't though. Silently, he sets the latch down, then picks up the new doorknob and begins installing it. All the while, I just sit there and sniffle.
    When he's done, he gathers the old doorknob and the trash from the floor, then he stands. “There. All done. You don't need this stuff anymore, do you? If not, I'm going to throw it away.”
    “No.” I shake my head.
    I stare at the newly installed doorknob as Earl steps out of view and walks down the hall. It's such a surreal moment, and I'm still in shock that he actually came to help me. I've been horrible to him, and he came to help me.
    “Earl?” I twist around.
    He pauses at the end of the hallway, turning his head but not actually looking at me. “Yeah?”
    “Thanks,” the word is so soft that it's barely audible.
    “You're welcome.”
    My gaze falls to the floor and I smile. Maybe this is progress.
    “Piper?”
    “Hm?” I glance back up at him.
    “Would it be okay if I got a lock for my door too?”
    “Yeah.” I wipe my eyes with the back of my arm. “Sure. I'll pick one up for you next time I go to the store.”
    “Thanks.” He grins back at me, and for the first time since moving back home, I feel like things might be okay.
     
    ***
     
    I lie on my back in bed, thinking about so many things. Crying in the hall depleted all of my leftover energy, so I decide to stay home. Besides, after that strange bonding moment with Earl, I started to feel bad about wanting to go out.
    I take a shower followed by a nice, long bath. Thoughts of the things that Ann said and the kindness that Earl showed me gives me hope for a better future. I begin to consider how things could be. I'll never be the boys' mother, but at least we can be a family. Family is there for one another.
    By the time I return to my bedroom, I'm oddly content. It's only 8 PM, but I'm already tired. The thought of going to bed so early makes me feel old. I have nothing to stay up for though.
    “I can't believe I slept so much today and I'm already ready to sleep again.” I toss myself onto the bed.
    My mind drifts to what might have happened had I gone to Club Fet tonight. Would Sir Suit have been there? Probably not this early. Maybe not at all, since it's a Sunday. Businessmen typically get their kicks in on Fridays and Saturdays. I'm likely not missing much.
    I sigh, hugging myself. The robe I'm wearing is plush and comfortable. Tonight I'm craving a man's embrace though. It's not too late to get up and get dressed, I think briefly. But then laziness takes over and my grip relaxes as I realize that I'm not leaving this bed for the rest of the night.
    There's no point in pretending that I'll suddenly get a second wind. I'm down for the night. Submitting to that fact, I pull off my robe and crawl under the covers.
    It's nice to be able to sleep naked now that I don't have to worry about being barged in on. It was one of my favorite things about having my own apartment. Back in Utah, I used to walk around naked all of