Free Amazed (Tempted Book 3) by Heather Doltrice Page A

do. Come on, guys. Let’s get out of here,” Ethan said, walking past me.
    That’s it, I was officially done with Ethan Charles. He had hurt me for the last time. But then it hit me, I could act tough but I didn’t know if I could keep that promise to myself. I didn’t know if I could ever be finished with Ethan Charles.
    “Let’s go home, Gracie. I got you,” Holland said, gripping my arm and leading me out of the dining hall.
    We spent the rest of the day scarfing down ice cream and watching reality TV. As much as I tried to get my mind off of everything I couldn’t help but think about him. He had broken up with me and I didn’t know how long it was going to take until I got over him. If I ever could.
    Holland called it a night and that’s how I found myself sitting on the couch wide awake in the middle of the night. I was usually afraid of the dark but not that night. No, that night I was hurting.
    I could care less if a monster made its way out of the dark and sat beside me at the point.
    Sobbing, I tried to go over what I did wrong in my head but nothing immediately came to mind. Was I too clingy? Did he wake up and realize he wasn’t attracted to me anymore?
    I knew I sounded pathetic but I know every girl has been there. Every girl has questioned their self-worth when the only person who had the power to break them did just that. It makes you question everything and it eats away at your confidence. I knew all of that but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling that way.
    Everything was going great and then all of a sudden that was ripped from me. I was left picking up the pieces and I didn’t know why.
    I think that was what hurt the most, not knowing. It let my mind come up with all of these insane scenarios.
    At some point I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember was waking up on the couch to the smell of Holland making breakfast and familiar voice.
    “West, what are you doing here?” I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes.
    “You look hung over,” he said through a mouthful of bacon.
    “Gee, thanks. You’re such a great friend,” I told him, flicking him off.
    Why was he even here?
    “You’re so not a morning person,” he said, sitting at the dining room table.
    “I’m not a West person. There’s a difference.”
    “Impossible. Everyone’s a West person.”
    “Where’s your better half?”
    “Parking the car,” he said with a serious expression.
    “West! You made her park the car alone? You’re a horrible husband,” I exclaimed, walking to the table and taking a seat.
    “I’m kidding. She’s in the bathroom.”
    As if on cue Maddie walked into the dining room and joined us.
    “Good Morning, Grace. You okay?”
    So, that was the reason for their visit they had heard the news and they came to check on me.
    ”No, I’m not. What time is it? I’m going to be late for class,” I asked, forcing myself off of the chair.
    “No, you’re not. I called in sick for you and told them I had to take care of you,” Holland said, placing the food she had prepared on the table.
    “I love you,’ I told, reclaiming my chair again.
    “I know,” she replied, winking at me.
    She was a godsend.
    “So, Holland, did know that Luca wants you,” West said, smirking.
    “Who told you that?” she inquired, trying to cover up her smile with a shocked expression.
    “I heard it through the grapevine.”
    Everyone laughed except me. I couldn’t because I felt numb. I felt used but worse than that I felt heartbroken.
    Without Ethan everything was black and white. I needed some color.
    I loved color and I loved Ethan Charles. He was my color.
    I loved him but I had to face the facts that he didn’t love me.
    I was nothing to me and he was everything to me.
    Everything.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 13
     
    I loved kids and that’s why I chose to get a job at the local daycare with Emma. But after everything that had happened with Ethan I wasn’t my usual peppy self and the