Free The Broken Parts Of Us by Ker Dukey Page B

know from the news articles that six years ago her then boyfriend was abusing her, murdered people including her father, and attempted to murder Sammy, Jasper, and Derek. He then came back for River nearly a year later and she killed him.
    This was something I had never lived or been around. My life was curfews and church on a Sunday; I can’t even imagine myself going through what she has and surviving every day, getting up and living a normal life. 
    I wasn’t sure what caused River’s overreaction to Mikey’s bad behavior, but something was troubling her.
     Jasper sent her home with Sammy and Mikey, and then stayed to help clean the mess and lock up.
    I’m now back in the cream room at Derek’s, freshly showered in sweats and a sweater. I just want some cocoa and to go back to Denying Heaven; I would rather live in Bulk’s heartache and love problems than my own right now. Fictional men have always been a better option for me. I shake my head at my own pathetic past with men—or man—in my case.
    “Hey, I made dinner,” Jasper calls though the closed door. I open It to find him leaning against the frame. He’s still in his jeans and shirt from earlier; the dark blue is a sexy contrast with the light cobalt of his eyes, his mussed hair even more messy than usual. He holds a pizza box, the pepperoni and cheese scent rising from it with the steam. My stomach growls in approval. Junk food is perfect for the mood I’m in.
    “Made dinner, huh?” I raise a brow.
    His smirk isn’t getting any easier to ignore; he is stunning—should be gracing billboards stunning.
    “I made the call.” He wiggles the hand braced against the frame. I see his cell in his hand and smile, grabbing the box from him before I race down the stairs. “Run all you like, Beautiful, there’s no way that body can consume all that pizza.”
    I turn half way down the stairs and grin. “This body burns calories at a rapid rate from dancing every day, therefore I can consume them at a rapid rate, too.” I hold up the box. “This is a medium Pepperoni Passion, next time XL this bad boy!” I chuckle and continue my race to the couch.  
    “Soda?” Jasper smiles, walking in to the room and placing sodas on the side table next to me. I was already devouring the first slice and preparing for another.  The cushion dips next to me, then his warmth presses all up my side as he takes the seat next to me. He sits too close; my stomach has turned into a spinning top, the slight brush of his arm against mine has chills racing through me, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake.
    “Xbox?” he asks, picking up the remote and pointing it towards a huge flat screen. I struggle to push the last bite of pizza down my now dry throat.
    I grab the soda and guzzle it, trying to coat my mouth, so I can answer him. “I don’t know how,” I murmur.
    He beams at me, then winks. “Well, I’m a fantastic teacher in all things, darling. Grab a controller.” He points to a console under the TV.
     
     
     
     
     

 

    N othing! That’s what Hans brought me. Evan was AWOL; his parents hadn’t seen or heard from him in years. He’s dropped off the map, not so much as a parking ticket flagged. He’s a ghost, and I’m the motherfucker he is haunting.
    I called Sammy to ask if Kyra could stay with them until this was resolved, and to tell River Kyra had had a break-in and was looking for a new place. It wasn’t a complete lie; she will be getting a new place, she just doesn’t know it yet.
    I get out of the car once I’m home and mentally prepare myself for seeing both Kyra and Jasper inside. I turn the handle and the front door opens. Rage from Jasper’s stupidity furies my already frayed nerves.
    I march through the lobby to find him and Kyra laughing and fucking around on his Xbox.
    “What the fuck is wrong with you? DID YOU LEARN NOTHING FROM DANNY?” I holler, startling Kyra.
    Jasper jumps to his feet, throwing his controller on the