Read Better (Stark Ink Book 2) for Free Online

practically flew to the front doors. He spotted Pop’s car in one of the spaces. Ava must have borrowed it. The doors slid open and he stepped into the store’s warm interior. He didn’t take any time to adjust to the change in temperature; instead his eyes scanned the store for familiar faces.
    He spotted Ava and Zoey off in a corner, whispering to each other in earnest. Sienna, Ava’s best friend, was just a few feet away, looking unsure what to do. Zoey’s back was to him, but he could recognize that dark, flowing chestnut hair anywhere. God knew he’d run it through his fingers enough times.
    As Dalton strode toward them, his brain went on overdrive trying to decide what to say and in what order. He could start with an apology, though it seemed only polite to congratulate her on her engagement first, much as it would pain him to do so. Maybe he would play it by ear, instead. As much as he wanted to speak to her, perhaps she wanted to speak to him, too. Or yell at him. He deserved it, he knew. Zoey hadn’t wasted any time with arguments and accusations on the day she left. She had just gathered up her things while he’d been at work and walked out the door. If she had anything to say to him, any names to call him, he vowed he would listen. He owed her at least that.
    He slowed as he approached them. Zoey must have realized from the look on Ava’s face that he’d made it, because she suddenly stopped talking. She didn’t turn to face him. Ava looked upset, though. Dalton immediately forgot the introduction he’d been piecing together. He moved to the side as he came up next to them. Zoey still wouldn’t meet his gaze, not that she could. She was wearing sunglasses. He frowned. Rapid City wasn’t exactly Mayberry. It wasn’t as though Zoey needed to be in disguise to go shopping, but then again Ava had stopped her. He glanced down at the basket Zoey had in her hands and his frowned deepened.
    Dalton hadn’t gone to college, this was true, but he did not consider himself a stupid man by any means. He’d made choices based on what was best for everyone around him, or at least he used to. So while he didn’t have a degree, he could have earned one. That said, it took several moments to piece together exactly what he was looking at. Once the picture was fully formed in his mind, he felt a rage like no other rising inside him. Instead of speaking, he reached into his front pocket and pressed the coin between his thumb and fingers. Thankfully it wouldn’t break or bend since Dalton needed something solid to ground him right about now.
    God grant me serenity , he thought to himself.
    After a long, incredibly tense moment, he said, “I didn’t know you were in town.”
    Zoey worried her bottom lip nervously. “I just got here tonight,” she finally said quietly.
    He looked down into the basket again. “Guess you left in a hurry.”
    She shivered under the weight of his gaze, even though she was wearing a heavy wool coat and they were all indoors. Dalton carefully took the basket from her and handed it to Ava. Then he reached into his back pocket and dug out his wallet. He counted out several bills and handed them to his sister. “Go pay for this,” he ordered. Ava nodded and scurried off.
    Zoey watched her go and bit her bottom lip again. "Dalton-"
    "You want to talk about this here?"
    “No,” she whispered.
    His tone had been sharper than he meant for it to be with his anger threatening to boil over at any moment. He took a few seconds to calm down before holding out his hand. She hesitated. "I'm not him," he reminded her.
    It was tempting to say, "I'm not me, either." He'd changed and he wanted her to know it. In fact, he’d come here with the sole intention of telling her this, but seeing her now made it obvious that it wasn't the right time. Making anything about him right now would be a douche move. He gently took her arm and ushered her past Sienna and toward the front doors. Once in the parking