Free (Once) Again by Theresa Paolo

it wasn’t two years ago. I didn’t want to chance it. She was finally talking.
    I released my grip. Slowly, she pulled her hand back into her lap.
    She bit her bottom lip. Silence spread between us, but then she said, “I think I get three questions now.”
    Happy the awkward silence was over, I smirked and leaned back, resting my hands on the top of my head. “Ask away. I have nothing to hide.”
    “How many girls have you slept with?”
    I tried to stop my eyes from bugging out and let out a slow puff of air. “I’d rather not talk about that.”
    “Why? I thought you had nothing to hide.”
    I didn’t. I never expected her to ask that question. Out of all the questions she could ask me, really, it had to be that one? Ugh. There was no way to answer it without coming across as a total manwhore. To be honest, I’d lost count.
    “Don’t have a coronary. You don’t have to answer it. By your reaction I can tell I don’t want to know.”
    “It’s not like that.”
    “It’s not?”
    “Okay it is, but
. . .”
I was always the guy who knew what to say. Could talk my ass out of any situation. But this one—I was fucking clueless.
    Kat waved her hand. “Seriously, forget I asked.”
    I couldn’t let it go. I needed to explain. “If it helps, I didn’t love any of them.”
    She glanced up, catching my gaze. She had to know that she was the only girl that ever meant anything to me.
    “Actually, I don’t know if it does.”
    And by the way her eyes dropped away from mine, it was apparent she didn’t.

Chapter 8
    Liz was intent on getting my ass out of the house since it was the weekend, and Kat was off. I wouldn’t see her till Monday, and I guessed a break was good, but hell, I wish she would’ve stopped by to see how I was doing and give me a good kick in the ass like she was so good at.
    I knew I should keep my distance, but every time she walked through the damn door with her cartoon character scrubs, all pledges to stay away ceased. The girl was like a freaking drug. One with a million side effects.
    “You ready?” Liz bounced into the room, dragging Zach behind her. My parents had already left to go grocery shopping for the day, and I was snacking on the last bag of chips.
    “Where are we going exactly?” I asked, eyeing Zach over her shoulder. We’d be perfectly content in front of the TV with video game controllers in our hands. But not Liz. She thought my lack of vitamin D was making me “grumpy.” Because you know it had nothing to do with the fact that I’d had a bullet lodged in my leg three weeks earlier. Or that I survived when so many others didn’t. No, it had nothing to do with that. It was the vitamin D. Damn, why didn’t I think of that myself?
    “I was thinking we could head down to the boardwalk. Grab a bite, maybe some frozen yogurt after, and just walk along the shore. You know, absorb some sunshine.”
    “Only if Zach promises to hold my hand,” I said.
    Zach came around Liz, and took my hand in his. “Oh baby, I never thought you’d ask.”
    “Oh god, stop!” Liz yelled and yanked Zach back to her. “Sometimes you guys do that too well.”
    “Afraid your boyfriend might love me more than you?” I bit my tongue after I said it. After all, back in high school, Zach left town and stopped calling Liz, yet he still talked to me. I think my sis held that against me. Especially since I never told her.
    She looked to Zach, and he smiled. “I can give him something you can’t,” she said.
    “Who says I can’t?”
    “Oh. My. God!”
    Zach and I burst out laughing and Liz stomped out the door. I patted Zach on the back and pushed him ahead.
    Since I was unable to get myself into Zach’s Jeep, we took Liz’s car. I sat in the back seat listening to Liz and Zach sing out of tune to some awful pop garbage. My sister seriously had the worst taste in music.
    “Sunshine, here we come,” Liz said as she threw the car into park.
    “Oh goody!” I clapped my hands like a