Free Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 by Antoinette Candela Page B

joint where I’m taking you tonight. He needs a bouncer to man the door. You could be the perfect candidate. What do you think?”
    “I’ve never thought of that,” I say. Perhaps Luke may be on to something. I’ve never done it before, but I’m big enough to do it.
    “So, are you down then?” He asks, examining me amusingly.
    “Yeah.” I answer
    “Cool. We’ll head out around ten tonight. We’ll take your ride. My car is in the shop getting a tune-up.”
    “Fine,” I say. I haven’t driven the Hummer since I came back home because Luke has been the designated driver every night so I can drown my sorrows. “Where is this place?”
    “Cambridge. It’s called the Middle East. Live bands and hot chicks,” he exclaims, wiggling his eyebrows. “Got to like the sound of that, right?”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I need a job to make rent and to eat, man. I’m not worried about hooking up right now,” I answer, watching my roommate devour the bowl of cereal.
    “Fuck, like I said, if you didn’t pull your David Copperfield on everyone, your shit would be straight.” He wipes the milk from his chin with his arm.
    “Thanks for fucking reminding me.” I flinch at the thought of my recent screw up.
    “Dude, I’m just trying to help you out.”
    “Let’s not bring it up anymore. That’s helping me out,” I reply as I grab my keys and gym bag and head toward the door.
    “Start by living, all right? I don’t like seeing my roommate all sad and shit,” he says as he places the bowl into the sink. “Where are you going now?”
    “To the gym,” I say. If I can’t put my energy into Elle, then I need to focus on getting ready for tryouts. I can’t fucking give up on everything.
    “Good idea. Work off some of the frustration.”
    “Yeah, something like that.”
    “See you later tonight. Ten p.m. sharp.” He chuckles.
    “Later,” I reply.
     

     
    I bought a membership at a rundown gym on Commonwealth Avenue right next to Boston University so I can work out. It doesn’t look like a place that Cane or Tyler would frequent. I don’t want to be seen right away, and I don’t want any trouble.
    I head into the locker room to change. The lockers are aged and rusted, but I don’t give a shit. I checked out the equipment and everything is decent and will do the job. I just came to work out my legs and strengthen my knee since the cast on my arm won’t come off for another week. I pull out my iPod and shove my stuff into a locker closest to the showers. I hear voices coming from the showers just as I get ready to lock up and leave to start my workout.
    “Can’t fucking be,” I mumble under my breath. I recognize the voices right away. I look around the corner and spot Jace and Cane coming from the gym. I guess my assumption was wrong. They stop and talk to a couple of other guys who are getting ready to head out to the gym. This gives me some time to decide what I’m going to do. Should I just hang around and face the music? I’m going to have to face these guys sooner or later. I just wasn’t mentally prepared to battle with both of them. I’m not sure I want Jace to go back to Elle and tell her that he saw me before I can do it in person. The thought of her finding out I’m back like that would be devastating, far worse than me leaving her like I did. I can’t have that happening. Pissed, I decide against working out. I grab my shit out of the locker and head out before anyone can see me.
    I only have a couple of other options. I can live in a prison of my own making by going back home to mope around the apartment and channel surf, or I can register for classes. The campus is big enough that I shouldn’t run into anyone. I said that about the gym, though. There’s no way that my damn luck can be that fucked up twice.
    The campus is pretty quiet except for the trains running up and down Commonwealth Avenue; morning traffic is not that heavy yet since it is still early. I pass the main building and head