Free EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Debby Conrad Page B

disease. “You’re just a kid.”
    Hollin’s spirits sank. “I’m mature for my age,” she said defensively. “My mother and stepfather tell me that all the time.”
    “Really? You think wearing tight clothes and makeup makes you mature?” He jerked his head toward the trailer. “Do you have any idea what your sister and Randy are doing in there right now, while I’m out here babysitting you?”
    “Babysitting?” Hollin straightened her posture. “Of all the nerve.” She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and glanced at the trailer. “Rachel wanted some time to talk to Randy alone.”
    “He’s fucking her.”
    His foul choice of words came crashing down on her like an avalanche, and even though Rachel had hinted that she and Randy had been intimate, Hollin hadn’t wanted to believe her sister would do . . . that.
    Her breathing accelerated, her pulse nearly skidding out of control. “I don’t believe you.”
    “Why don’t you go see for yourself,” he said, opening his arm wide in invitation.
    Was he crazy? No way was she going inside there. Besides, Rachel was a big girl. She could take care of herself. Or could she?
    Falling from the swing and landing on her butt was nothing in comparison to the humiliation she now felt. Her cheeks burned with intensity and she refused to look at Griffin.
    Sliding from the trunk of the car, she landed on the gravel drive, but twisted her left ankle. “Ouch,” she said, righting herself.
    Griffin’s hands shot out to steady her. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine,” she said, shrugging from his hold. “I’m going to get my sister.”
    He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “Don’t, Hollin.”
    It was the first time he’d said her name. She hadn’t even been sure that he knew it. Something inside her mellowed, and she stared up at him. “Do you think they’re really . . . doing it?”
    “Yes. I do.”
    She crossed her arms in front of her and shuddered. “They must be so in love.”
    “You don’t have to be in love to have sex,” he said, searching her face. Digging in the pocket of his T-shirt, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and shook one free, offering the pack to her.
    She looked at it with disgust, then tossed her head from side to side. “Don’t you worry about getting lung cancer?”
    “Nope. I don’t worry about a whole lot of things.” But rather than light up, he dropped the cigarette back into the pack and returned the pack to his pocket.
    Relaxing somewhat, Hollin leaned against Rachel’s blue mustang and lifted her face to the sun, feeling its warmth seep into her skin. “My mom doesn’t do a very good job of taking care of us either. It’s not her fault, though,” she said, lowering her head to see his reaction. “She has Fibromyalgia.”
    He shifted his weight and pushed his hands into his jeans pockets. “What’s that?”
    “She suffers from muscle pain, stiffness. She’s constantly tired and weak, and doesn’t sleep well. She takes lots of medicines, but nothing seems to help.”
    “Is it contagious?”
    She shook her head. “No. She’s in England right now, she and my stepfather. Supposedly, there’s this doctor who John thinks might be able to help her. John is my stepfather.”
    He nodded. “Must have cost a fortune.”
    “I wouldn’t know. My mom didn’t want to go, but somehow John talked her into it. He’s always doing research in the hopes of finding a new treatment for her.”
    The wind kicked up a notch, blowing her hair in her face, and she pushed it behind her ears. “Brad thinks this doctor is just another quack who’s trying to take their money. Brad is my stepbrother.”
    “I know who Brad MacDougal is.”
    “Oh, of course. He was a year behind you in school.” She silently berated herself for mentioning school again, but Griffin didn’t so much as flinch. “Anyway, I sometimes think my mother doesn’t want to get well. I think she likes all the attention.” She met his gaze, then