Free The Disappearing Girl by Heather Topham Wood Page A

paused. “I wouldn’t mind having a peek inside your head to figure out what you’re thinking.”
    What an appalling thought. I couldn’t stand to be inside my own head, no less wish my thoughts on anyone else. “I’m thinking about how much I don’t want to go home for the weekend.”
    “Why?”
    “I miss my sister,” I insisted, “but my mother is a lot to handle. She’s a critical person and has only gotten worse since my father passed away. Usually when I’m home, she spends our time together lecturing me about how I’m disappointing her.”
    “She sounds intense.”
    “She’ll scare you away when you meet her.” I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. “I’m sorry, that was presumptuous. I mean, we’ve only hung out a couple of times, I wasn’t trying to suggest we’re serious enough to meet each other’s parents—”
    He interrupted my rambling. “Kayla, it’s okay.” He sucked on his lower lip, momentarily allowing me to forget my embarrassment, instead fantasizing about his kiss. “I like you, Kayla—a lot. If anything, I’m worried I’ve been coming on too strong. You seem a little skittish when you’re around me, and I wonder if it’s because I’m making you nervous.”
    I wasn’t uncomfortable around him; I was terrified of being with him. Cameron created a yearning inside of me, a need to be in his arms and forget about the outside world. My heart was too fragile to hand over to someone who could easily crush it.
    “You’re not coming on too strong,” I said softly. “I like you too.”
    “Good, because I’ve wanted to ask you out since I first saw you walking toward me in the Student Center.”
    I could hear the smile in his voice as he talked about our first meeting.
    He laughed. “I was in the middle of talking to another student when I saw you. I think he was pissed when I cut him off mid-sentence to stop you.”
    I tilted my head to the side. “Why?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What was it about me that you liked?”
    It wasn’t the most polite question, and it gave him a peek into my insecurities, but I was desperate to know. Cameron could have any girl he wanted—what was it about me he found appealing?
    He laughed uncomfortably. “Kayla, are you messing with me? Or are you seriously that modest?”
    My eyebrows lifted quizzically.
    He continued, “As soon as I saw you walk out of the bookstore, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from you. You’re gorgeous, but in such an unassuming way, like you have no idea of the effect you have on men.”
    “Now, are you the one messing with me?”
    He shook his head insistently. “Maybe it’s because you’re shy and you don’t notice it, but I swore I was going to get into a fistfight at the bar when I saw all those guys ogling you.”
    I wanted to believe him, I did, but my self-image was warped to the point where I pondered whether I should avoid my reflection altogether. The best tactic was to change the subject. “Thanks for wanting to defend my honor.”
    “Anytime.” He grinned. “I want to be the only guy allowed to ogle you.”
    My spine straightened and my pulse picked up. It was too late to protect myself from Cameron—he was unraveling my defenses and forcing his way into my guarded heart.

Chapter Ten
    “Miss, are you alright? Should I get someone for you?” The female voice sounded elderly and called through the bathroom stall.
    “I’m fine,” I croaked.
    I had waited for the bathroom to clear before I stuck my finger down my throat, but someone had walked in while I was throwing up. As quiet as I tried to be while getting rid of my dinner, the noise had been loud enough to alert the other person using the bathroom.
    It took five minutes before the woman finished going about her business and exited the bathroom. Emerging from the stall, I cringed at my sight in the mirror. I was flushed and my eyes were tearing up. Dampening a paper towel with cold water, I used it to pat down my neck and