Free Nearly Broken by Devon Ashley Page B

my fisted hand, I quickly turned the lock,
ignoring the sounds that seemed to use these precious few seconds to
amplify around me, closing in faster and faster. My heart pounded
against my ribs, yelling at my shaking hand for taking three attempts
to get the key into its matching groove. I shoved myself through the
door and locked it quickly behind me, not caring if I looked the fool
to anyone outside. Stepping backwards, I allowed myself to blend into
the shadows of the dining room, escaping the reaching tendrils of the
outside light.
    I began to register
the familiar sounds in the kitchen behind me: the hums of the coolers
and freezers, the buzz of the light by the back door that we always
kept on at night, and the gentle whirring of the fan that kept Paul’s
hard-drive cool.
    I puffed a burst of
air past my lips. My heart coming down from its high, the beating
began to slow, and I shuffled off towards the bathroom, weaving
through the maze of tables with ease. Hell, I knew the room so well I
could’ve shut my eyes and danced my way through and never
bumped a single thing.
    Shaking my head at
myself in the mirror, I silently berated my flushed cheeks. It wasn’t
the cool night air that gave me that rosy complexion. My reflection
also reminded me of the last time I was in here. My fingertips
caressed my lips and when I closed my eyes, I could almost feel the
pressure of Nick’s mouth on mine, rough yet gentle all at the
same time. Hard to believe that was just two hours ago. After that
heart-stopping kiss, my crazy grin was so wide I could’ve
played back-up for the Joker in Batman .
    Bringing myself out of
that beautiful La-La Land where Nick’s lips and arms never
pulled away, I was half tempted to grab the flashlight under the
counter, but again decided I’d rather be stealth in the
darkness than draw attention to myself. Even if it meant putting my
heart through another marathon and baring flushed cheeks. I gulped
down half a glass of water and made my way around the counter, the
thought of seeing Nick giving me the courage to face my demons yet
again.
    I smiled. I could
already tell this journey would be easier than the last.
    Movement out the
corner of my eye locked my feet in place, the weight of my body stuck
on my left leg, my right heel caught mid-air. It was like one of
those horrible horror films where slow-motion kicked in, just in time
to torture you. A man strutted down the sidewalk, a long drag of
smoke smoothly rolling past his lips, scattered by the wind that
swept it away quickly.
    Him.
    BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! My heart had skipped the steady rise it gave me on the way to the
diner and went from calm to hyperdrive in two seconds flat.
    His dirty blond hair
was long enough on top to get caught up in the wind, and it
continually flowed like the waves on the ocean. His cheekbones were
sharp and angled, his square chin almost chiseled, with a dimple dead
center that most women probably swooned over.
    But not me.
    His rock hard muscles
were probably a turn-on as well, but I saw them for what they really
were – just another weapon to immobilize me against my will.
    The way he walked with
one hand in his pocket, the other cycling back and forth to his mouth
to supply his urges with continual satisfaction, showed he was in no
hurry to move. Reeking of confidence, he knew he’d get what he
came here for. No matter what.
    I inhaled a breath so
sharply my throat and chest felt cut. Then I cringed and stumbled
back, dropping to the floor, scurrying backwards until I rammed into
a metal stool. It screeched roughly against the tiled floor before
slamming into the counter wall.
    Shit! Surely he
heard that!
    My lungs screamed for
air as my will to breathe came to a dead stop. He acknowledged the
sound, his head slightly shifting my way through the glass, the tilt
of his face aimed directly at my spot in the darkness. The way the
light cut down on his angled eyebrows shadowed his eyes.
    Acute pain pierced
my chest,