Free Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters Page A

know, isn’t it? Not every relationship is only about sex.”
    Novak says, “I love Dante.” She picks up the pack of Orbit beside her. “I’d do anything for him.”
    Yeah, like betray your best friend
. I snatch the gum out of her hand.
    She sits back and makes herself comfortable. “Can I live with you?”
    I glare over my shoulder. “No.”
Hell, no
.
    “Mom kicked me out.”
    “Wh-what?” My voice falters.
    She drops her head, finds the pricker on the cushion and rolls it between her fingers. “She says I can stay until graduation,then I’m out. She says she knew what was going on all these years. She’s always known.”
    She can’t know
all
of it.
    “It’ll only be for the summer.” Novak bends forward, sets the bur on the table, then presses her hands between her thighs. “Please?”
    She can’t be serious. “Why don’t you live with Dante?”
    “I can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “His mother hates me.” Her head twists to face me. “Every time I come over, she looks at me like I’m a blight on her darling baby’s butt. She doesn’t even say hello to me.”
    “Get a place together,” I say. “He works. You could work.” She’s never had to work in her life. Dante works construction part-time, which has to be good money.
    Novak sits up and arches her back, raking fingers through her hair. “We want to save our money for the future.”
    “So you figure you can live here for free? Move in and leech off me?”
    She casts me a withering look. “Did I say I wouldn’t pay you? Did I say anything about living here for free? I fully intend to pay you rent.”
    Sure. It’s getting warm, so I cross the room to put distance between us.
    “Johanna. Please.”
    No, I think. Don’t do this. “What about Dante? You know he’ll end up staying here too.”
    “He’ll contribute his share.”
    Like hell. The three of us living together? “No way. It won’t work, Novak. I’m sorry.” I head down the hallway.
    The divan creaks and I feel her rush up behind me. “Okay,” she says. “It’s okay. I understand. This won’t affect our friendship.”
    She gives me a hug from behind and my breath catches.
    Novak says softly, “Because I am your friend, I have to tell you.” She comes around in front of me. Lacing her fingers with mine, she presses down. She’s so close I can smell her sweet breath. “Don’t get involved with Reeve Hartt. I mean it, Johanna. You’ll be in over your head.”

 
    We walk along the sandy beach. We’re barefoot. We step on glass
.
    Back up
.
    We mount horses and ride. We ride bareback. We canter along the shore. We’ve both chosen enormous Thoroughbreds. Lacquer black. Only Reeve is willow white. Her legs hang free and her slender thighs press against the horse’s flanks. She laughs, high and light, her happiness dispersing in a spray of seawater caught by the wind. Extending her arms to either side as far as she can reach, she spreads her fingers like wings
.
    I ride up beside her and touch her wing tips to mine. We close in, steeple our hands. In silent communion, we interlock fingers and press our palms together
.
    Slowing to a steady lope, we ride in mirrored strides. Our horses bump rumps and snigger, nuzzling like lovers
.
    We telepath our thoughts and feelings
.
    Reeve: Let’s ride to the rocks
.
    Me: You’re on
.
    I jam my heels into Black Beauty’s flanks and the horse spurts ahead. Behind me, Reeve whoops a war cry. She gallops past and heads straight for the water
.
    Danger. “Wait, Reeve.” My head drops and my thighs clench hold. I grip my horse’s mane and urge her on. “Catch them. Catch Reeve. Don’t lose her in the waves. Don’t let her drown.”
    Reeve cries again. She’s under
.
    Reeve!
    I call to her, “Hold on, baby. I’m coming.”
    The last thing I see is a spray of black foam
.
    • • •
     

Chapter 11
     
    S aturday, on my way to work, I stop by the Ishtar Café. No one even remembers we were there. Did I dream it? But I