Free Last Christmas (Bound Together) by Marie Coulson Page B

another language. The dog instantly calmed down and as she released it, it picked up the toy I had woken it with and headed for its bed.
    Phew.
    She led me to the kitchen and gestured for me to take a seat at her breakfast bar.
    “So who was she?”
    What the fuck?
    “Excuse me?”
    She chuckled and handed me a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
    “The girl who broke your heart and made you go all douchie.”
    I let out a long breath and stared down at my coffee.
    “Kinda personal don’t you think?”
    She snorted a laugh and leaned against the counter with her cup in her hands.
    “We had sex Oliver. I think we’re way past coy, don’t you?”
    She did have a point.
    “It’s a complicated and long ass story.”
    She blew lightly on her drink.
    “Well my coffee’s pretty hot and I happen to like complicated. So why don’t you start with her name.”
    She walked over and sat on the stool beside me.
    Looking across the room at the wall, I told her about Layla, about him, about all of it.
    “Wow. A text? That’s cold. No wonder you’re screwed up.”
    I shot her an irritated look. “I’m not screwed up.”
    She shrugged. “Really? Tell me, how many woman have you fucked since you broke up?”
    I didn’t want to answer. I’d already done to adding up and I was well into double figures.
    “A few.”
    “I bet. And tell me, do you actually feel any better?”
    I got off the stool, placed my cup on the counter and kissed her cheek.
    “Thanks for the coffee. I gotta go. And thanks for last night too. I’ll see you around.”
    She smiled and shook her head.
    “Okay, if that’s how you handle it. Great for you. It won’t work though, just so you know. I tried it. I’m still doing it. You’re number forty five for me. And we both know I won’t see you again. I prefer it that way too. I’ll walk you out.”
    I glanced at Boxer and walked cautiously past the beast.
    The girl laughed. “He won’t bite you. I called him off.”
    I gave her a weak smile. Opening the door, I walked into the hallway of her apartment building. She leaned against the frame and placed her hand on my arm.
    “It will get better. But what you’re doing is just making other people as miserable as you. You know how it feels to wake up and feel used, worthless and unwanted?”
    Yeah, I knew exactly how that felt. It’s how I felt every damn day and whenever I thought about Layla.
    I nodded. “Yeah. Anyway, take care of yourself and that mutt.” She smiled and nodded at me.
    “You take care too, Oliver and it’s Alice, by the way.”
    Alice. I was right the first time.
    I smiled and made my way out to the parking lot where my monster was glistening in the morning sunlight.
    Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my cell.
    I dialed and it answered on the first ring.
    “Amy? I screwed it all up. Can I come home now?”
    ****
    I walked in my front door and my mom immediately came bustling towards me from the kitchen.
    “Where have you been? I’ve hardly see
n
you for two weeks. You stay out almost every night and Patrick has been asking me constantly where you are. Are you on drugs?”
    She cupped my face with her hands and pulled my bottom eyelids down with her thumbs. I batted her hands away and groaned.
    “Will you get off of me? I am not on drugs. I’ve just been…busy. That’s all.”
    She gave me a judgmental look. “I hope you used protection with these things that have kept you so busy.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Well duh, I’m not that stupid. Just because you were a screw up doesn’t mean I am.”
    She fisted her hands on her hips and glared at me.
    “Okay Oliver. That’s it. Enough is enough. I don’t care how you talk to me or treat me, I deserve it. I know I have to earn your trust and your respect but I will not sit idly by and watch you destroy yourself over that girl! I knew the moment I met her that she was trouble and I begged her to let you go. ”
    “ You can hate me, you can never speak to me again but I