Free Broken by Rachel Hanna Page B

side?”
    They started to maneuver the enormous mattress. “Jeez! Where did Lori get this thing?” he asked as his face turned red. It was heavier than any mattress he’d flipped. Adding to that was the fact that the room was not very big, and the bed took up most of it.
    “Hang on, let me try this…” Bella said, growling and turning red herself. As she maneuvered, she lost her footing and went over the mattress head first and toward Grant. Like a sliding board, she flew down his side and right into his lap as he hit the floor. Before they knew it, she was firmly laying on top of him as the mattress covered both of their lower bodies.
    “Yeah, that didn’t work,” he said, grinning. She was so amused, all she could do was press her face into his chest and laugh. His hand came up and touched the back of her head as she raised her face to look at him.
    “Are you okay? Did you hit your head?” she asked.
    “I’m great,” he whispered as he pulled her face in and kissed her nose.
    “Why did you do that?” she asked, fully understanding that they were still pinned by a mattress.
    “Because I know you, Bella. You need time. So, I started with your forehead, then your nose. Maybe one day I will get a chance at your beautiful lips,” he said with a smile as he let go of her head and kicked to free them of the mattress. She sat up as he pushed the mattress back onto the bed. “I think we need a new plan.”
    “This room is just so small,” she said, getting to her feet. Hands on her hips, she stood there trying to figure out what to do next. “Maybe we could flip it up and lean it against the wall and then…” she started to explain. But Grant was mesmerized by her hair, her eyes and those unobtainable lips. “Earth to Grant…” she said, waving her hand in front of his face. This time, he blushed.
    “Sorry. I was thinking…”
    “About?”
    “Nevermind. Not important,” he said, shaking his head.
    They pushed the mattress against the wall, and Bella gasped.
    “What’s wrong?” Grant asked.
    “Lori’s journal,” Bella said reaching down and picking up a red leather notebook. “I bought her a new one every year. She always kept them. Since we were kids.”
    “Oh, wow…” Grant said, eying Bella for a reaction. Instead, she just stood there rubbing the front cover of it with her thumb. “Do you want me to leave?” he asked as he backed toward the door.
    “No! Please don’t.” She was surprised at just how much she wanted him to stay.
    “Are you going to read it?” he asked.
    “I think I need to. Maybe it will help me know what she wanted for Ethan…” Bella said as she walked back out into the living room. Grant quietly followed her and sat down on the sofa next to her as she opened the journal.
    Grant left her alone while she stared at the pages of the journal. He didn’t want to pry or look over her shoulder, so he focused on his glass of wine, refilling hers a couple of times.
    Suddenly, Bella broke down into sobs that she couldn’t control or stop. She dropped the journal onto the floor and put her face into her hands, unable to catch her breath.
    “Bella, what’s wrong? Breathe, honey…” he said, trying to calm her down. “Can I get you some water?”
    “She… she…” Bella stammered and stuttered. She couldn’t get her breath back enough to speak, so she pointed at the journal. Grant slowly picked it up and began on the page where Bella dropped the book. It was the night before Lori was killed.
    Times are tough right now. I never seem to make enough money to support Ethan and myself, but that just means I need to work more hours. If it wasn’t for my sister, I don’t know how I’d ever make it. Sometimes I envy her. She’s gorgeous, smart and has a great career in California, and I’m here in this little town struggling to get on my own two feet. She’s all I’ve ever had, and she’s always protected me from everything. I wish I had her strength so Ethan