Free One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) by Danielle Dickson Page B

B&B, I was thankful that no one was at the front desk when I walked in. Talking right now wasn’t what I had in mind, I just needed to get a shower and to be by myself for a little while so that I could think things through.
    Keeley didn’t seem the type of girl to mince her words and I had to get this right the first time. Turning the water to cold, I stripped off and stepped in. With the freezing water running down my back, I started to feel the tension ebb away as if the water was literally washing it off me.
    “I don’t ever want to see you again, Connor Hartley, do you understand me? Do what you need to do, then get the hell out of town!”
    I shivered knowing I only had the one chance to get this right. I needed her to understand that I didn’t leave her of my own accord. I wouldn’t have ever done that to her, coming back every year and not stopping by to see her was another ballpark altogether. I had no idea how I was going to explain that to her. I guess the truth was a good start. Sighing at the momentous task ahead of me, I shut my eyes and let the water cascade over my head.

Ducking out from under my patchwork comforter to check the time, it occurred to me that Kee still wasn’t back yet. It was gone quarter past eight, where was she? Had she really stayed with Lewis so long again? This confirmed my suspicions, she liked him but was too afraid to admit it. She didn’t get close to people and I guess this was just her way of working it out in her head.
    I’d been in a heaped pile under this comforter and not moved since I’d arrived back in the apartment. I still couldn’t believe what had just happened, I couldn’t have made it up if I tried.
    Every year, I found those key chains. Stupidly, I always thought it was my mom. Finding out it had been Connor this whole time, shook me to my core.
    I threw my head in my hands, I had acted like a crazy person but I was warranted to, right? Why did he have to show up now? Forgetting the past had become a talent of mine and right now was not the time to bring it all back up. I closed my eyes as the image of Connor flooded my mind. As angry as I was with him, I couldn’t deny how he affected me still.
    The familiar ding of the bell went and I heard footsteps making their way up the stairs a couple of seconds later. Rubbing at my eyes, I shot up and started folding the comforter so I didn’t look like Miss Haversham.
    “Sam, you here? We really need to talk. What was I thinking? Sam? What’s wrong?” At her soft tone and worried look, all the emotions came flooding back all at once and the tears started to fall.
    “He’s back. Why’s he here, Keeley?” She dropped her purse and came running over taking me in her arms.
    “Hey! Shush, it’s okay, Sam. Who’s here? What’s happened?” I could tell from her voice I was freaking her out. “Has someone hurt you? Shall I call the cops?” Her voice started to rise and I had to reel in my emotions enough so I could talk.
    “Not physically no, I just don’t know what to do. Connor’s back.”
    She had a puzzled look on her face and I realized I’d never told her about Connor before, preferring to keep him in the past, so I started from the beginning.
    “Well, shit… and he came here to see you?” I shook my head.
    “No, he had no intention of seeing me. But he’s the one that’s been leaving those key chains I keep finding, like it’s some sort of sick joke. He’s been here every year, Kee.”
    She pulled a face. “Do you think he wants to make amends?”
    I thought about that for a second. “I have no idea what he wants and I’m not quite sure I care. He was more than a best friend to me, he was my lifeline back then and I lost both him and Tommy all in the same night. When I saw him today, I didn’t know what to do. My body just had a mind of its own. I froze at first then I just got this blinding rage and went all hulk on him.”
    Getting up to get me a tissue, she looked puzzled. “Were