Read Held (Gone #2) for Free Online Page B

some church took over. I think there are even some other churches that want to help too. We're covered for a while, but thanks."
    Valerie leaned against the door frame. "Oh, good. Okay, you two have a good walk. Be home by dinner, Zo."
    "Okay." Zoey managed to give that one word three syllables. She yanked Alex down the driveway. "Can you believe her? I swear, she never knows when to stop talking."
    He shrugged, pushing some of his bangs out of his eyes. "She's not so bad. Did you turn your phone off? I texted you, like, a million times."
    "I slept all morning and then I forgot my phone at home on the charger."
    "You should at least check it, you know. I was worried something had happened."
    "Sorry." She looked like she meant it. "I just haven't been feeling myself lately. I need more sleep or something."
    "Is that what the doctor said?"
    "Something like that." She looked up at the dark clouds. "It's going to snow again. I hope Macy's somewhere warm."
    Alex's heart sunk. "I hope so too. But she's smart. She can take care of herself."
    "Not smart enough to come home."
    Alex scowled. "It's okay to admit it hurts. You don't have to say crap like that."
    Zoey rolled her eyes. "Did your shrink tell you that?"
    He pulled his arm from her hold. "What's with you?"
    Her eyebrows came together. "I'm. Tired."
    "No, it's something more than that. What's going on? Tell me."
    "Nothing," she said, way too fast.
    "Whatever. Don't tell me. I'm only your boyfriend who loves you." He walked faster, forcing her to speed up if she wanted to catch him.
    "Alex, come on."
    He stopped and turned around, letting her catch up. He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop too. "You're keeping something from me. Why? Just tell me something so I'm not completely in the dark."
    She yanked her arm away. "I'm just under a lot of stress. I'd think you'd understand that."
    "Don't give me that. If you don't want to tell me what's bothering you, just say so."
    "Fine. I don't want to talk about it." She crossed her arms and stared at him.
    "At least you're finally admitting it. Let's go smoke. I really need one after today."
    A strange look came over her face. "I'm going to skip that today."
    "Really? Why?"
    "Because. Got a problem with that?" Her eyes were shining. Was she about to cry?
    Alex felt bad, but at the same time it irritated him that he didn't know what was going on. What was she keeping from him?
    "I've been thinking about cutting back, Alex. Let's just keep walking."
    They walked through the neighborhood, not saying anything. Alex tried to think of what he would have done to make her so mad.
    Irritation continued to build in his chest until he couldn't take it any longer. "If you have something you don't want to tell me, that's fine. Just don't take it out on me. If I did do something to you, just tell me. I deserve that much."
    Sounding bitter, she laughed. "It's not like that. Look, I have some things I need to figure out. Once I've got my thoughts organized, I'll let you know."
    "Does it have anything to do with me?"
    "You're not going to give up, are you?"
    "Nope."
    "Maybe I should just go back home."
    "Maybe you should." He stared at her.
    "Alex, please don't do this."
    "Don't do what, exactly?"
    "This."
    "Congratulations. We're having our first fight. Call me when you're ready to make up." He spun around and headed back home, more frustrated than before. He would have been better off not even going to her house. Ever since Macy disappeared, they had stuck together, telling each other everything. Why was she pulling away now?
    He walked fast, muttering to himself, not knowing if Zoey was following him or not. Part of him wanted her to be so they could talk about whatever was eating her, but part of him also hoped she had turned around and went home the other way. He didn't need her to take her crap out on him. He had the rest of the world for that.
    Hopefully, whatever was going on with Zoey was temporary. But what if Macy's disappearance was too