Free Broken by Tanille Edwards Page B

like that!” Sierra said. I noticed it was 7:30, according to the clock on the dash. I needed to get inside before dinner with my grandparents. “She was just asking about your brother at the Saloon on Friday. Now she’s hooking up with him. Wow!”
    â€œI will text you in the morning.” I hugged Sierra. Forget Dimitri! I was going to find Noel.
    The next morning, I woke up bright and early. I did the deed. The phone number was on its way. I looked at my cell anxiously every two minutes, awaiting some news. It was the first Monday in a long time I wasn’t at work or at school. If Noel had gone off to college, this would be a lost cause. In my heart, I didn’t believe he would go off to college without seeing me. Frenchy always saw things differently than I did. She was a little strict, but she would know better.
    I went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water in my face. That’s when I came face to face with myself in the mirror. I studied my eyes. Would he even recognize me? I was trying my best. In the back of my mind, I knew that if he found out he would have a few thoughts about it. I felt shame whipping through my veins. Things were just snowballing every day I continued to pretend. Love was supposed to be unconditional.
    At the thought of that, I went back to check my phone.

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Chapter 7 The Hotel
    We had been home from SH about a week. Two days ago, things had gotten a little serious. I realized how close we were to something serious. I remembered saying, “I want it to be special.” And he said, “I have an idea, princess.” And, like that, today was the day. I looked at myself in the mirror. This was me. I was a little excited. Over the summer, things just kept building. I kind of looked forward to his texts and visits. I was sure I didn’t love him yet. That was dangerous territory, I thought. Too complicated for today. There was something rapturous about the way he called me “princess.” I would never tell anyone, though. Plus the jury was still out on the information on Noel. No word, no sign, just absence! This wasn’t making my heart grow any fonder.
    â€œAre you ready?” Merek texted me.
    â€œI’ll be down in a minute,” I texted. I ran out of the bathroom.
    â€œI’m in the elevator,” he texted. I didn’t want Dimitri to know I was going off for a secret rendezvous to a part of town where no one would notice us. I put on my most discreet baseball cap, my biggest black sunglasses, nude lipstick, and a tennis jacket zipped up to my collar. I took a big handbag and filled it with my cosmetics, some pretty undies, and my first lingerie one-piece.
    â€œDon’t ring the doorbell,” I texted.
    â€œI just did,” he texted.
    I felt a jolt of blood rush through my heart. Daddy wasn’t home yet. On Fridays, he usually worked late at his office or went out. It was impossible not to think of how different things would be if—no thoughts of Mama, I reminded myself.
    I rushed to the door. I was walking so fast the wind was in my hair. Dimitri seemed to be following me. “Get off my case,” I said to him. He said nothing. I turned around and opened the front door. Merek kissed me.
    â€œExcuse me?” Merek asked Dimitri.
    â€œWhat?” I asked. Merek stared Dimitri down. Dimitri brushed past us and rung for the elevator. He got on the elevator ahead of me. Merek rolled his eyes in disgust. I walked to get in the elevator. He