Free Keep Breathing by alexia purdy Page A

reek something fierce!” I gave a small laugh, but cleared my throat as our annual family portrait came next into view. It was the last we’d taken together. The last time my brother, mother and father had stood before that notorious tripod and smiled at the lens, oblivious to the bleakness of the future. The picture was three years old.
    I hadn’t spoken to them in that amount of time. I’d cut them off, just like that. Gone from my life.
    The sting of tears prickled at my eyes, and I swerved away, heading to grab my purse at the entrance table and checked my drying hair one more time in the ornate silver mirror on the wall above. It was drying well into soft, golden brown spirals which looked like I’d done the style on purpose. Turning the fake smile back on as I shook off the sadness, I faced back toward Seth, who was watching me intently. Once again, I was grateful he didn’t ask many questions and had tucked away the obvious unanswered ones he’d kept from asking.
    “Let’s go.”
     
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Seth
    SHE WAS STUNNING, and the way her hazel-brown eyes glinted with a sheen of tears building, and the slight pink blossoming across her face as she stared at her family’s portrait made me want to run to her, pull her into my arms and kiss her gently, even though I knew she would pull away almost immediately. She was utterly alone, but she didn’t have to be. Not if I had anything to do with it from that point on.
    “ So, come on, where are you taking me? You know how much I hate surprises,” her voice echoed from the passenger side of my SUV. I made my way around, and saw her eyes flashing as I opened the door for her. She slipped into the clean and new leather interior. It was obvious she hadn’t ridden in too many fancy cars before and it made my confidence shoot up a notch. I was happy to see that I’d impressed her somewhat, even if she’d hidden away that surprised look in the hopes I hadn’t caught her looking so stunned. But, I had seen it. That was all that mattered.
    “You’ll love this one.” I smirked, knowing it was going to make her a little flustered. I knew s he didn’t like surprises. At one point in our lives, I’d known her as well as any lover should know the object of their affection. How quickly she’d forgotten the good between us, the ache that touching always brought. I hadn’t forgotten the way her kisses burned my skin trailing down my chest and stomach, leaving me with a desperate, primal need for her. It was this utter surrender that always had me wanting to get under her skin the way she did to me. My power of surprise was my only reprieve. I always surprised her back then, knowing full well it would piss her off, so what was to stop me now? The memory made my lips twitch into a small grin. Those days had been the best of my life, yet I had thrown them away like a fool.
    My smile slipped. So here we were once again, years later, and I was making up for lost time.
    “Nice set of wheels.” She ran her fingers over her thighs, looking nervous enough to fill the empty space with indifferent chatter.
    “Thanks.”
    “Guess your business is doing really well from the looks of it.”
    “It’s doing pretty good.”
    “Why’d you pick me up in a taxi yesterday?”
    “ My car was being repaired. The AC wasn’t working right. In this heat, have to get it done ASAP. Plus….” I grinned as I waited for her to buckle in. “Sometimes it’s nice when someone else is driving.”
    “That’s for sure.” She settled in, but avoided eye contact as she took in the interior of my vehicle. It was fairly new, the one thing I hadn’t bought used in a long time. I hoped it didn’t make me look superficial. I really liked the safety ratings on the SUV.
    Turning the radio on, I stopped the dial when Smash Mouth blasted through the speakers. It reminded me of my high school, and I left it on, the hard, catchy beats relaxing me as I turned the ignition. Penny didn’t