Wild Heart- Extended Edition (The Wild Heart Series) by Jennifer Culbreth Read Free Book Online Page A

to find her dad who was cutting a sandwich for her.
    “Well good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he chimed, placing the plate down onto the table smiling. “Have fun last night?”
    “Morning, daddy. Yes, we had a good time. Thank you for the sandwich,” she smiled up at him before placing a light kiss on the cheek that he was lightly tapping with his finger before he planted an affectionate kiss on the top of her still damp hair.
    “Surprised you remember any of it. You were passed out and snoring when Cash carried you in last night,” he let out a deep laugh, “we had no concern that you weren’t breathing.”
    “Gee, thanks.” She smirked at the imagery in her head as she bit into the sandwich; the bread immediately settled her empty stomach. She grabbed the soda her dad had sat next to her plate and took a big swig. She paused as the immediate burn of sweet whiskey flowed down her throat. It was everything she could do not to gag. “What is in this drink?” she asked with a half-full mouth, grimacing as she swallowed the remaining liquid down.
    “Hair of the dog,” her dad chuckled.
    “You put dog hair in this?” She looked up at him as shock and disgust spread across her face.
    “No you silly girl. Haven’t you ever heard the expression, the hair of the dog ?” he asked as if it were something she should have known.
    “No, apparently not.” She could feel her headache easing away as she took another swallow; this time taking in almost half of the glass. Her body was so dehydrated that it craved anything cool and replenishing.
    “After a long night of drinking, you should have a drink the next morning. I mixed a little of my good whiskey in with your Coke. That should put a little pep back in your step.”
    She smiled as he headed back down the stairs. As she finished her sandwich, and let the last of the whiskey burn down her throat, she went to the fridge to see what groceries she needed to pick up. She grabbed the notepad and pen from the side of the fridge and began jotting down various items, taking note of some of the things that she could slip into her dad’s diet with little, to no, detection. No more zebra cakes are coming into this house. She grabbed the empty box from the fridge shelf and threw it into the trash. Who eats those cold? Gross.
    “Daddy, I’m gonna head into town,” she called out, grabbing her purse from the counter.
    “Ok, dear. Can you get me some more zebra cakes?” he asked loudly from down the stairs.
    “Nope,” she whispered to herself before calling out to him, “I’ll see what I can do. Love you”
    “Love you too.”
    Shortly after, she pulled up to the only grocery store for miles and parked. She kept her sunglasses on as she went in, hoping that she wouldn’t run into anyone from the bonfire last night. She grabbed a buggy and started milling up and down the aisles, grabbing things as she went. Just as she turned the corner to the coffee aisle, she noticed a woman with a familiar face. Ani caught herself awkwardly staring and quickly turned the opposite direction. She knew this woman, but she couldn’t put her finger on where it was that she knew her from.
    “Ani?” she heard the faint voice of the woman behind her and slowly turned, taking off her sunglasses.
    “Hey!” Ani tried to hide the uncertainty in her voice.
    “Ani, it’s so good to see you. It’s been what six, seven years since you have been home?” The woman’s warm smile engulfed her as she began to remember how she knew her. Her hair was different now, an unnatural shade of red, and curled as if she’d started perming it, and Ani could see a bit more make-up on her face than what she used to wear.
    “Yes, Mrs. Williams. It has been a few years. How are you? Are you still holding the craft sales up at the Baptist church?” Ani could remember all of the crafting projects that her mother had taken up before she’d passed away. Mrs. Williams had been one of her mother’s closest