Free Undefeated (Unexpected Book 5) by Claudia Burgoa Page B

painless
    But after the rain, the flowers will bloom
    The pain rooted in your heart will dissipate
    And only love will remain
    I watch Porter from the window, as he finally finishes the song. Now I believe that he’s also a songwriter. This is the fourth day he’s been working on that song. Instead of heading to bed to be ready for work, I stay awake until he gives up and heads back inside the house. Yesterday when it was raining, he did it from his room, which happens to share a wall with mine. Whoever inspires his lyrics is a lucky person. The more time passes, the more I want to know about him. The less he speaks, the more my curiosity piques.
    Harper, who doesn’t take well to strangers, is starting to warm up to him. Finn follows him around everywhere. They communicate through music and head nods and I want to kiss him for trying so hard to spark something inside my son. There’s just something about Porter that . . . I can’t find the words yet, but something about him calls to me.
    There’s so much more I have to learn about him. He intrigues me. In only a few weeks, I’ve developed this inexplicable need to be close to him. Am I attracted to him? I don’t know if I can think that far ahead. His deep, smoldering eyes could melt anyone into a puddle of goo. He’s handsome and he has a heavenly voice I could always listen to.
    Porter could be a heartthrob anyone could watch serenading thousands of fans from afar while he’s playing on stage. The question remains, though, who is Porter?

A s I watch Harper ride her bike and Finn his scooter, I spot a black sedan approaching my aunt’s driveway. A lady with silver hair and a pair of trendy sunglasses honks twice and waves the moment my aunt comes outside her house.
    “See you guys tomorrow,” Aunt Molly calls out, waving at us. “Rhonda, you look fabulous.”
    See you tomorrow? Who the hell is Rhonda? I don’t get to ask where she is going and why didn’t she tell me before because Rhonda takes off the moment my aunt shuts the door of the car. Those crazy ladies look like they’re ready to raise havoc and I’m happy for my aunt. She spends too much time in her house.
    “Mommy, I’m hungry,” Harper says, and Finn nods, I assume seconding her. I check the time and it’s five thirty. Where did the time go? Feeding them sounds like the motherly thing to do.
    I help them bring their toys inside the house and send them to clean themselves up while I start dinner. After washing my hands, I open the refrigerator and the damn thing doesn’t have anything that I want. Shit. There are multiple perks to living next door to my aunt. For one, she cooks for me.
    Every Sunday, we head to the grocery store where we buy whatever she writes down on her magical list. A list she prepares based on what she plans to cook for the week. I have a list too. My list usually contains a few items like milk, cereal, fresh fruit, and snacks. Of course, I pay for everything that we purchase, but she keeps most of the food because she does the cooking. The only items I keep are mainly for breakfast and snacks. It never occurred to me that my aunt has a social life. Said life includes getting together with her friends to share a meal outside of her house.
    “We’re doomed,” I groan, shutting the door close and leaning my head against the door of the refrigerator.
    “Are we going to die?” Harper is in a gloom-doom stage, everything dies and we’re all doomed.
    I sigh and shake my head. Me and my big mouth. “No, but we’re going to have to head next door to cook some dinner.”
    Without another word, we head to my aunts. As I open the door I spot Porter walking toward the kitchen.
    “Did she leave you without food too?” I ask, closing the door behind me.
    He turns around and nods his head. “Yes, she said, and I quote. “Feed yourself, and if Mackenzie comes over, feed her too.” So I guess tonight we’re ordering Chinese food or you’ll have to eat what I