Free Finding Christina (Wild Rose #2) by Scarlett Jade Page B

don’t want to lose me, they’re keeping peace. But hey, it’s a start, right? I so wish you could’ve come down here, but I understand that your mom was sick. I hope she’s feeling better!
     
    Christina sipped her soda again as nausea roiled her stomach. Ah, hell. Another lie. Oh, Grace, if only I hadn’t lied, I would be in the mansion in Phoenix with you, enjoying my Christmas, safe from the realities of my life for a little bit longer, but alas, here I am. I lied and it bit me in the ass. Mom was never sick. I just didn’t want to face you. Because I can’t bear for you to look at me as the horrible person I am. You deserve a better friend than me. But I’ve fooled you into thinking I am a great person. I only had your best interest at heart with Drake. I didn’t want to see you get hurt. I know what it’s like being used by an older man. Not that Drake was like Earl, by any means, but I wanted to protect you, like no one bothered to protect me. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Not that I can ever tell you that. She groaned and guzzled more of the spicy drink, wincing as she burped. Her finger paused over the keyboard of the phone as she decided what to say.
     
    C: I am so happy for you, Grace. You seem happy.
    G: I am. How about you?
     
    Christina smiled for her friend’s good fortune. Ah, Grace. You deserve all the happiness in the world. I can’t ruin that for you.
     
    C: I’m great. Mom is feeling better. We had a blast around the tree.
     
    Tears filled her eyes as she thought of her Christmas morning spent with a family she barely knew. That’s what families do. The Cotters. Grace’s family. Not mine. My baby deserves something like that. Something real. We both do. Maybe one day we’ll have it. Her phone buzzed again.
     
    G: I am so glad!
    C: Well, I gotta go inside, it’s cold out here and I’ll lose signal. I’ll catch you when I get back to school. Be good or be good at it!
    G: Take care!
     
    Christina shut her phone off in disgust and rolled to her side. My lies are going to drown me. I feel the water splashing around my neck now.
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    The next morning Christina woke to the smell of bacon and her stomach rumbled. Once she cleaned up and got dressed, she ventured into the kitchen, where Addie was serving up pancakes and bacon. Aaliyah had stolen a piece of bacon and shoved it in her mouth, and the boys were munching plain pancakes they’d snuck from the steaming pile.
    “Good morning,” she started, peeking around the doorway.
    Addie glanced up and blew an errant curl of hair off her forehead. “Morning! Are you feeling any better this morning?”
    “A little,” Christina lied, even though she felt even more nauseated than before.
    “How about some breakfast?” Addie offered, turning to see River sneak another pancake. “That’s if I can keep these kids off the food before I get it to the table! You’d think I never feed them!”
    Christina grinned sheepishly. “Sure, I’ll try to eat a little.”
    “Your appointment is at ten. So we have a little time. Can you wrangle these little monsters to the table?” Addie flipped the last batch of pancakes.
    Christina slipped a piece of bacon off the plate and wiggled it at the grinning Aaliyah. “Come and get it, girl!”
    Aaliyah grinned her gap-toothed smile and barked like a dog. The boys laughed and wrestled with each other as they sat down in their chairs. Christina sat in her chair and placed the strip of bacon in front of Aaliyah’s place. She hopped up in the chair and shoved the strip in her mouth, grinning again around the bacon.
    Addie entered the dining room, her hands full of platters. She placed them down on the table and sat down with a sigh. “And now we can eat!”
    The boys began grabbing pancakes and pouring copious amounts of maple syrup over them. Aaliyah took more bacon, and Christina took a pancake. She nibbled at the simple cake dry, not wanting to risk butter and syrup. Addie