Free One Thursday Morning: Inspirational Christian Romance (Diamond Lake Series Book 1) by T.K. Chapin Page B

rubbing elbows and making everyone around him fall in love with him. It came more natural to him than breathing did. No matter the occasion or the event, he’d have people eating out of the palm of his hand. My theory on it was that John hated himself so much that if he could convince a room full of people to love him, maybe that, in turn, would help him love himself.
    “Amy?” Kathy said, breaking my concentration.
    “What?” I asked, turning to her.
    “I asked how the car was working for you.”
    I nodded. “Oh, it’s great. I’ve had zero problems with it.” Pointing out the sliding glass door, I continued, “I’m going to go mingle, I think.”
    “Could you help me with something first?” she asked, pointing to the counter. Looking over, I saw tomatoes and lettuce sitting on a cutting board. “I need that all sliced and chopped for the burgers.”
    Smiling, I reluctantly said, “Sure.”
    “Thanks,” she replied and went into the living room. Heading over to the counter, I picked up the knife and began slicing a tomato. There was a window right in front of me, so every few cuts, I’d glance up and locate John out in the yard. Why does he have to be here? With John being at the barbecue, things could become tense and awkward as soon as Charlie arrived. The best I could do was make sure to get to Charlie before John did.
    Slice.
    The blade cut through my index finger, sending gobs of blood oozing out. “Ah!” I shouted, dropping the blade and hurrying a few paces over to the sink. Glancing over my shoulder, I called out to Kathy, “Could you get me a Band-Aid? I cut myself.”
    “Okay . . .” Her tone made me feel stupid. It was an accident, lady, I thought to myself.
    Letting the water rush over the cut, I glanced over and saw a spot of blood on the counter. Should have paid better attention. Kathy soon came in with a Band-Aid and helped me get it bandaged up and the counter cleaned. “Sorry about that,” I said, returning back to the cutting board. Peering out the window, I couldn’t see John.
    Kathy shook her head and smiled at me as she came over. Taking the blade from my hand, she said, “It’s okay. I’ll take care of this. Run along outside and mingle.”
    Should have cut myself in the beginning, I thought. Leaving through the sliding glass door, I surveyed the yard and the roughly two dozen faces that were on the lawn. Where did he go? Wait . . . Pulling my cellphone from my pocket, I saw it was 7:45pm, fifteen minutes past when Charlie was supposed to be there. No, no, no! Hurrying toward the corner of the house, I was stopped by Emma.
    “Where you off to in such a hurry?” she asked.
    “I can’t talk right now,” I replied. Side-stepping her, I continued to the corner.
    Pieces of my heart crumbled as I rounded the corner and saw Charlie walking away from a conversation with John. If Satan had a doppelgänger, I was convinced John was his. How could a man who claims to love me seek to destroy everything I care about? How could one person be so sadistic?
    “What did you say to him?” My words were sharp as I approached John and shoved him backward. There was no threat of him retaliating. There were too many witnesses.
    He laughed. “Just told him who you actually were. Like your real name, for starters. You’ve been living a lie with these people.”
    “How did you even know who he was?”
    John broke out in song. “ Every step you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you! ” He stopped singing and shook his head. “I saw your little passion fest down at Riverfront Park with him the other day.”
    Pushing past John, I ran down the driveway and out to the front to see Charlie crossing the street over to his car. “Charlie!” I called out.
    He turned back to me for a moment and then opened his car door.
    Sprinting, I kicked gravel up in the driveway as I made my way out to the road. “ Please. ”
    He stopped and looked back at me like he didn’t even know who I