Read Deer in Headlights (Hearts and Arrows 1) (Good god series) for Free Online Page A

Travis? I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to leave, but I don’t know if I can stay.”
    “Well, sister, you never want to leave any of them, not until you have a tangible reason to, at least. And I’m pretty sure you’ve never said you loved any of them, either.”
    “It’s true. And to top that off, I’ve been a serial girlfriend for the last ten years.”
    “Since David Clark, junior year. He was so cute.”
    “Seriously, the longest I think I’ve gone between guys is two weeks, and I cried the entire time that I would be alone forever. How is it possible that I’ve never been in love?”
    “Well, the minute they get to be too much, care too much, need too much, you jet.”
    “I like to think I live in the moment. That I enjoy what I have when I have it, and move on when it’s over.”
    “Is it over with Travis?”
    “I don’t know.” Lex took a sip of her tea, and they sat in silence for a moment before she continued. “This is all because of my mom, you realize that, right?”
    Kara nodded.  
    “She’s still not over my dad leaving, and he’s been gone since I was nine. It didn’t matter how she tried to hide it. She cried almost every night for him and probably still does. After he left, she just … fell apart. No child should have to take care of their parents like that before they hit puberty.”
    “But her crazy doesn’t have to be your crazy, Lex.”
    “I can’t help it. I watched her for all those years as she waited on him to come home, never able to understand how someone she loves so much could just leave her. I don’t want that. If that’s what love is? If that’s what happens when it’s over? I don’t want it. And even though I want to care about someone, I can’t. Not if there’s a chance they’re going to hurt me. I see her face in my mind, and all I can do is be angry at my dad. Men leave. They betray. I can’t really trust them, and I can’t care, because if I don’t care, then I can’t get hurt.”
    “Do you think Travis is going to hurt you?”
    “No, I don’t think he’d do anything to hurt me, not on purpose. But it’s not like I can choose to fall in love, or decide to let someone in. So does it mean redefining love and my expectations? And is that fair to Travis? Is there some girl out there who will love him like Juliet loves Romeo? Like Orpheus and Eurydice? Because if there is, he deserves that.”
    Kara reached out to touch her arm. “You’re the only one who can figure that out, and I know you will.”
    “I hope so, because right now, I am so confused.”
    “You will. And trust me, things could be a lot worse.”
    “Don’t you jinx me, Kara.”
    “You are so superstitious. Hurry, burn some sage,” Kara said, laughing. “I know you’ve got some around here somewhere.”
    “Don’t make fun of me. It works, even though it smells dank.”
    “Define ‘works.’”
    “If nothing else, it makes me feel better.”
    “Well, in that case, burn away.”

    Dita lay on her overstuffed red velvet couch, lost in the creases and folds, eyeing Perry, who sat lotus style at the end of the couch, annihilating an enormous chocolate donut.
    Dita propped her head up on a bright, hand-woven pillow. “You’re dead meat if you get Bavarian cream on my sofa.”  
    “Mmmph hmm,” Perry mumbled. Bisoux’s tongue hung out as he panted at Perry’s elbow with his eyes fixed on the donut.
    Dita grabbed her cashmere throw off the back of the couch and pulled it onto her lap. “So Dean’s hot, huh?”
    “Hubba, hubba.”
    “He’s going to be tricky. I kind of did a number on his mom, which screwed him up pretty bad.”
    Perry snorted.
    “Emotionally, that is, although that pun was totally intended. He’s so damaged. It was a good choice for Apollo.”
    “For once.”
    “Right? He seems to be on his game, though I doubt it will be enough for him to win.”
    “Well, you never lose.”
    “Not when it comes to love.” Dita pulled a small pillow