Tough To Love by Marie Rochelle Read Free Book Online Page A

or did you forget?” Sage stole a look at him and cursed how her heart jumped a beat when Rally’s green eyes held hers.
    “Of course, I didn’t forget,” he replied. He placed his hands on her shoulders and eased her body to his. Rubbing his nose against the back of her head, he whispered. “Sage, I apologize for what I told you earlier. I didn’t mean it. You know how I am. Why don’t you place everything back and sit down?”
    Pushing down her emotions, Sage shook off Rally’s touch. She was leaving and there was nothing he could tell her to make her stay here a moment longer. It was time she proved to him that she no longer needed his support for anything in her life.
    “Rally, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I’m quitting. I know I will be very easy to replace. I should also let you know that I’m moving out of the house since everything is going so well between you and Vanity now.”
    She didn’t know why he was pretending to be so upset by this. He was getting what he wanted. “You’re going to want some privacy with her. I know a lot of times you wanted to bring her home and couldn’t because of me. You won’t have that problem anymore.”
    “You have nothing to do with the reason I don’t bring Vanity home more,” he denied. “Why do you think you would? Tell me what’s going on. Sage, are you alright?”
    Rally spun her around and forced her to look him in the eye. “Has something happened that has you doubting I want you living with me in your family home?”
    She was dying inside and Rally had no clue, but she wouldn’t ever let him see it. She wasn’t ever going to allow him to see weakness in her again. “I think it would just be best for all if I lived by myself. Despite the fact he’s older than me, Shawn isn’t as mature as I am and he lives by himself. So, I know I won’t have a problem taking care of myself. It’s past time you didn’t have any more responsibilities.”
    “Shawn is a guy. He should be out on his own,” Rally said, frowning at her. “He needs to be able to carry his own weight. It’ll help him become a man.”
    Frowning, Sage jammed her finger into Rally’s chest. “You can’t be like that. I should get the same respect as him,” she complained, slipping out of his embrace.
    Moving around Rally, Sage strolled into the small kitchen and found her coffee mug. She paused and fought back tears as the memories rushed her. Her favorite recollection was when Rally surprised her and she splashed coffee down the front of his new expensive white shirt.
    “That shirt you ruined that day cost over two hundred dollars,” Rally said behind her.
    Sage didn’t say a word as she walked back around Rally over to her desk and finished packing up the last of her belongings. “Did you get a chance to call the guy about this job?” she asked when she felt him standing behind her.
    Rally stood back and continued watching her while she cleared out the last of her things, making the office look as if she was never there. If leaving this job was hurting her this badly, how was she going to feel when she moved out of the house?
    He had been a constant in her life since she was a kid ; however, she was twenty-four now and it was time she found out if she could be on her own without him.
    “Julian said something to you, didn’t he?” Rally accused, breaking the silence in the room and totally ignoring her question. “What did he tell you that had you running back here and so eager to quit? I’ve threatened to toss you out before and you didn’t go. Yet, after one lunch with my best friend, you’re practically out the door as if your life depended on it. Tell me what occurred between the two of you.”
    Shocked wasn’t the exact word she would use to describe how taken back she was by Rally’s attitude. He usually handled situations better than this. Now, he wasn’t big on keeping his opinions secret, but Julian was one of his best friends since forever and