Free Hiding Away (Anchored Hearts #1.5) by J.M. Witt Page A

Her house was just as big, if not bigger, than James parents’ house.  It was ridiculous.  She led me up to her bedroom, which was probably three times the size of mine.  There weren’t any audacious furnishings.  In fact, it was simple in decoration, with some memorabilia from high school decorating the walls.  There was one picture in particular that caught my eye.  It was a younger version of her, James, and another guy.
    Walking up behind me she said, “That’s my brother Jason.”  She didn’t seem sad; he’d been gone a long time. 
    She had already given me the cliff notes version of what happened to him yesterday after the incident between James and Cassidy, and before we had all gone out.  It was horrible what happened to Jason.  Drug overdose at seventeen was such a waste.  We were all very close in age, and it was hard to fathom losing a sibling at such a young age.  When Jane had been mourning her brother, I was dealing with the aftermath of my own mother’s death.  I vaguely remembered hearing the stories about the rich kid who OD’d on New Year’s Eve, but nothing more. 
    Changing the subject I told her, “Jane, I have to work tomorrow night.  So unless you’re prepared to stay up all night, I should head home to try to get back on schedule.”
    She seemed to be processing my words as she looked at me.  “I’m up for an all-nighter.  We have a pretty cool theatre room.  We can watch movies and what not, if you like.  Besides, if I get the job at the hospital I’ll be working midnights too.”
    “Sounds good.”
    Later that night we were playing twenty questions.  There had been no startling revelations about one another.  First kisses, first loves, things of that nature.  I wasn’t trying to pry, but couldn’t help asking about her last relationship.
    “So what happened with your last relationship?”  I didn’t miss that she slightly stiffened, but tried to cover it up by flashing her brilliant smile at me.
    “The same thing that happens in most relationships, things fizzled, he cheated, I left.”  She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t lose eye contact with me.  “My turn.  What happened with your last relationship?”  She turned the tables on me.
    “What do you mean by last relationship?”  I smirked as she picked up a pillow and threw it at me, calling me a pig while she did it.
    “I knew you were a player Calvin Charles.  I’m just one of many notches in your belt, aren’t I?”
    “How many is many?”  She balked at me and I started cracking up.
    I had my share of friends with benefits.  Being in the military, and then in the academy before making the force, it was kind of the only thing I had time for.  Besides, the fact was that nobody else had burrowed their way in like Jane had.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d had a couple of serious relationships, but they never lasted more than a year or two.  Brittany couldn’t handle me being overseas, and Hannah couldn’t handle me being a cop.  It was what it was.  
    The only time I recalled having my heart broken was by Stacey, in high school.  We’d dated all junior and senior year.  She stood by me after my mom died and was even a role model for Cassidy.  After graduation we were making our college plans.  Apparently she’d changed her mind and wanted to go to Texas for school.  That was news to me.  We’d discussed getting our own place and going to community college together.  Her change of course utterly depressed me.  To say I was devastated was an understatement.  Looking back I know that I was just a love sick boy.
    That September, 9-11 happened.  I was working full time and going to school part-time while living at home.  I had a heart to heart with my Dad, he gave me his blessing, and that’s when I enlisted.  I dropped out of school and was headed to basic training within a couple of months.

 
     
     
    C hapter Fourteen
    ~ CALVIN ~
    “Calvin?”  I was lost in my