Read Almost Broken for Free Online Page A

returning to normal.
    “The thing I don’t understand is, from what I’ve researched, the cause is usually a traumatic event. So I can understand why soldiers are high-risk, but nothing’s happened to me to cause this. It’s like this guy came out of nowhere,” I say, standing now too.
    “Or. Maybe you don’t remember,” Aidan says solemnly. The thought has crossed my mind. I don’t know if I’d want to remember something so traumatic it’d cause my personality to break.
    “If something happened, this Cal guy knows. He knows a hell of a lot more than I do,” I say, noticing the anger in my own voice.
    “That’s what he has on you. He knows everything you don’t,” Aidan says. I think back to my earlier conversation with Dex and his pseudo-insinuations of the damage Cal can do to my life.
    “I need to know what he knows,” I say almost to myself.
    “If I knew why he existed, and am able to deal with it, I wouldn’t need him.” I say adamantly, and Aidan puts both his hands up.
    “Let’s not go that far, I’m not a psychiatrist or anything, but my understanding is ‘alters have a purpose or use’ if there was no need for him he wouldn’t exist,” Aidan shrugs.
    “I don’t need this guy.”
    “Well somewhere in there,’ he points to my head, “begs to differ,” he says, and I swat his hand away.
    “Soo…the kids mom,” he says, leaning on the railing with a sneaky smile on his face. This is what he brought me out here for.
    “This is why you aren’t staying for dinner.”
    “Your mom made my favorite thing in the entire word. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in months. I’m staying for dinner, just come to terms with that now.” He laughs.
    “One to ten, where’s she scoring?” he says, standing in front of me. I push him, and he pushes me back.
    “Come on!” he laughs, and I put him in a headlock, and in less than a minute, we’re wrestling on the porch.
    “She’s either a one or a ten. You’re putting up too much of a fight,” he says, out of breath.
    “Wow, we’re back to being 12 huh?” I hear Lisa say, amused.
    “One or ten,” Aidan says again, gripping my neck tighter. I manage to elbow him in the stomach, and he lets me go.
    “Your mom says cut it out,” Lisa says before rolling her eyes.
    “Whose white Audi is that outside?” he asks, and I sigh.
    “It has to be Caylen’s mom’s,” Lisa adds matter-of-factly.
    “If she is a one, who cares with a car like that,” he says as we head back into the house.
    “Ms. Red, Chris says I can’t stay for dinner,” he says with a whine that reminds me of when we were kids.
    “Of course, you can stay. Chris, why wouldn’t Aidan be able to stay for dinner? I made his favorite,” my mom says, frowning at me.
    “I just…you know this is Lauren’s first dinner with us. Aidan can be a lot to handle,” I say, trying to give my mom the hint.
    “But Lisa gets to stay!” Aidan says defensively.
    “That’s because I’m not an ass,” Lisa quips.
    “Yeah, you’re an animal of an entirely different species,” he says.
    “Jerk-off!” Lisa pushes him.
    “My mom is right here!” I say, shooting them a glare to shut them both up.
    “Sorry Ms. Red,” Aidan says.
    “Me too. He brings out the worst in me,” Lisa says guiltily.
    “I think Lauren would want to get to know the people important in your life.” My mom smiles at me, and I sigh.
    “Aidan, please try to be on your best behavior,” my mom says, patting him before attending back to her pot. We all head into the living room and sit down.
    “Seriously Aidan. Don’t be a jerk. She’s been through a lot,” I say seriously.
    “She’s driving an Audi. I doubt she’s been through all that much.” Aidan chuckles.
    “I’m not joking,” I say, shooting him a warning.
    “Can we just watch the game?” He waves me off, turning up the volume on the TV. I slouch back into the sofa and turn my attention to the game on the television. My team’s down