Free Secret Love (Love Stings Series Book 2) by Evan Grace Page B

inside.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    Carrington
     
    I stick my pencil behind my ear as I read through my notes. I’m taking my retest in a month because I want to give myself ample time to study. There is no way in hell that I’m going to fail this test this time. I can’t. I grab the study guide that I paid almost $200 for and the sticky tabs I bought so I can hopefully resell the guides when I’m done. My phone beeps, and I pick it up to find a text from Abby.
     
    Hey girl, can we have lunch someday soon? I miss you.
     
    I smile at my phone.
     
    Absolutely! How about you and Natalie meet me Tuesday?
     
    Since Abby’s attack, she’s been very protective of Natalie, like never letting her out of her sight protective.
     
    Sounds great, maybe we can pick up lunch and bring it to you.
     
    Abby’s embarrassed about her nose, which is still swollen, and there is still some bruising under her eyes. Plus, she sounds very nasally when she talks. The bastard who raped her is set to go to trial soon. I’m surprised by how swiftly everything is happening, but I’m glad. I just want Abby to get the closure that will help her move on.
    After agreeing with her, I place my phone back on the table and pick up my study guide, beginning to study about how to assess someone with mid-sternal chest pain.
    My latte is cold now since I’ve lost two hours while in the study zone. I tip it back and drink it down anyway because I still need to study for at least another hour and I’m freaking exhausted. I need to come up with a proper schedule so that I don’t study and work myself into exhaustion because then my parents might find out that I’m stripping. I’m afraid what my dad would do or what they would think of me. Since high school, I’ve been their problem child, especially when I discovered boys and began dressing a little provocatively: short shorts, short skirts, tight shirts and tight jeans. I used to skip school, and a few times I got busted drinking and making out with boys.
    I hated high school. The boys all wanted me, and the girls hated me and loved calling me a slut and a whore. The worst was when my English teacher my junior year came on to me, promising me an A if he could “play” with me. I was so freaked out I didn’t go to school for three days. My dad and mom finally had an intervention as to why I wasn’t going to school and hiding in my room.
    When I told them what the pervert said to me, my dad was beyond livid. He hopped right in his truck and took off. My mom and I had jumped in her car and went up to the high school. As soon as we walked into the office, we could already hear my dad yelling at the principal, demanding that Mr. Travis be fired immediately.
    At the end of it all, Mr. Travis resigned and moved away. For a long time, my dad acted like he couldn’t even look at me, and the kids at school loved the pervy teacher so they all blamed me for what happened. It had been such a dark time for me. I started acting out—smoking weed and drinking until my dad and I hashed things out. I still feel like I’ve been nothing but a huge disappointment to them. The dancing is just another thing for me to do to make him disappointed.
    I was really trying to do better, to be better. I graduated from nursing school with a B-plus average and felt confident when I took my boards, but then I found out I didn’t pass.
    I walk to the little coffee shop inside the library and order another latte, trying to keep any negative thoughts from my mind. Once my hot beverage is in my hand, I head back to my study area. My phone beeps at me, and I pick it up to find a text from Damien.
     
    What are you doing?
     
    I’ve been studying for the past three hours. U?
     
    He answers me almost immediately.
     
    Nothing. I just got up. Feel like taking a break? I could come get you.
     
    A warm tingling sensation fills my belly when I read his words. He wants to spend time with me. I should really