Free Break You by Jennifer Snyder Page A

to see you have some damn clothes on,” I replied. “That was sick, man, don’t ever walk through the apartment naked again please.”
    He chuckled and took a swig of his beer. “Well, next time coordinate with me a little better about when you’re coming back, don’t leave me guessing how much longer, because I apparently suck at that.”
    “That you do.” I leaned against the counter and smirked.
    “So, how was the trip? You get everything you needed to get done?” Brain asked. He knew everything I’d been going there to deal with. He also knew there was a possibility he might have to find a new roommate if things went south and were going to take longer than I anticipated them to, which was pretty much my life story.
    “Mostly.” I fingered the bottle cap I had yet to throw away and stared off into space. “I plan on going back next weekend. There’s still a few things I need to get done and my mom should have the list of repairs by then.”
    “Okay, so I hate to even bring it up, but do you think you might be gone for a while?” he asked.
    I knew what he was getting to, but Brian was too decent of a guy to come right out and ask.
    “I don’t think I’ll be moving out any time soon, if that’s what you’re getting around to,” I said. “I know I’ll probably have to go there more than one weekend over the next month, but I’ll still find a way to pay rent and all that shit.”
    He shrugged a shoulder like it was no big deal, but I knew it was. Brian couldn’t afford to float the rent for me. He had a roommate for a reason.
    “No worries, man,” he said.
    “If I think I’ll be moving back or something for whatever reason, I’ll give you a heads up. I wouldn’t leave you hanging.”
    “I never thought you would,” he said.
    We both took a swig of our beers and ended the conversation.
     
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    BLAIRE
     
    I had taken Tinley back to Bonnie’s around four in the afternoon. Bonnie had gotten a lot done in the sewing department and there was a large stack of boxes varying in sizes by the front door ready to go to the post office tomorrow. I’d pulled away from her house, realizing I needed to make more of an effort to spend time with both Bonnie and Tinley. My cell chimed from in my cup holder, alerting me of a new text. I waited until I was stopped at a traffic light before I picked it up to read it. It was from Paige.
    You eating here tonight?
    Yeah, on my way. Why? ~ Blaire
    The light turned green and I set my phone back down. When I got to the next light, I picked it up again to read her response.
    Ordering in Chinese and wanted to know if I needed to get extra.
    I smiled.
    Yes, please! ~ Blaire
    My stomach grumbled at the thought of food. Chinese food was a favorite of mine. A song I hadn’t heard in a while came on the radio and, for whatever reason, it instantly made me think of Jason. I turned it up and thought about the message he’d sent me last. Why I’d shot him down I had no clue. I’d already gotten my little bit of revenge and spoke my mind about what I thought about him and what he’d done back in high school. My declining him really wasn’t about that. It was more along the lines of I knew the type of guy he’d grown up to be and I didn’t want, didn’t need, to be around a guy of that kind. He was bad for me. He’d reel me in like a freaking trout and then toss me back, bleeding, like I was nothing. It was catch and release with guys like him. I’d witnessed enough of Paige and Lauren’s past relationships to be able to spot a guy like that early on.
    Jason Bryant was definitely someone I needed to avoid.
    The drive to my apartment was long, nearly forty minutes. When Calmount Apartments came into view a sigh of relief escaped me. I was dog tired. Lugging my exhausted ass up the minimal stairs leading to our apartment, I opened the door and was greeted by the heavenly scent of Chinese food.
    “Hey, chick,” Paige said from the couch. She was