Read Hopeless For You for Free Online Page A

my leather jacket from the hook by the back door. I pulled the pack of cigs from my pocket and tapped out the last smoke in a cool, practiced motion.
    "You smoke too much." Momma Jeanne said.
    I shrugged, tossing the empty package in the garbage can. "Last one this summer, promise." It really was the last pack I had, though I'd convinced Don to smuggle me in another two on the next supply run. Momma Jeanne didn't need to know that, though.
    "You always say that, then you go back to that city of yours and pick up every bad habit again. Swearing, smoking, drinking. Womanizing." She shook her head.
    "You know me too well. Guess I'm just a disappointment. Maybe I should make it my profession. Disappointing people." I fished out my lighter but before I could duck through the back door, she put a hand on my shoulder, her brows knit together in concern.
    "Don't say that. You're not a disappointment. Not out here. You do good work for us."
    "Yeah, I guess."
    "There's no guessing about it. You do . Your job is important. Falcons aren't meant to be in cages."
    She was right about that. I opened the back door and stepped into the night.
    I flicked the lighter and lit my last cigarette, intending to relish it. I was going to be crabby as hell for the next few days while I worked through the nicotine withdrawal. Considering the hours of driving and hiking we had to do in the coming days, I wasn't doing anyone any favors.
    The crunch of footsteps alerted me to someone's approach. Blaine's familiar broad shoulders grew near, outlined against the building lights.
    "You can see that cigarette from a mile away," Blaine said. "Trying to make yourself a target for grizzlies?"
    "I'm more worried about wolves than grizzlies," I said.
    Blaine shrugged, and then leaned against a nearby tree. "What do you think about Gina?"
    I smirked. "What do you think about her?" I took a deep drag on the cigarette.
    He was quiet a moment. "I don't actually know. Mixed feelings, I guess. She's hot, and smart, but gives off a clingy vibe. I'm not sure I can handle another high-maintenance girl."
    I took a deep drag. "One thing I can't figure out about them."
    "What's that?"
    "They're both premed," I said. "Why fly 3,000 miles for an internship completely unrelated to your degree?"
    Blaine folded his arms. "I wouldn't say it's completely unrelated, but I hear what you're saying." Blaine's brows drew together in that way of his that told me he was debating telling me something. Finally he said, "Gina's on a mission."
    "Really?" I drawled. "A mission. What kind?"
    "Apparently she brought Ash out here for a reason."
    I chuckled, thinking he was joking, but he didn't smile. "Okay. Tell me this reason of hers."
    "She wants to save Ash. Her words."
    "Save her?" I didn't like the sound of that. "From what?"
    "I don't know. Herself? Her past? She didn't say."
    "Well, whatever." I took a deep drag. "I don't really care." Though I was more curious about Ash now than ever. Even so, I didn't want Blaine to suspect anything so I changed the subject. "By the way, when do you plan on getting into Gina's panties?" I gave him a sly look.
    Blaine smiled innocently. "You know the rules."
    "There's always ways around them."
    Blaine's smile deepened. "I hear we're going to be spending a lot of time in the wilderness..."
    I laughed. "Thank God. You picked up what, one chick over the entire winter?"
    "I didn't pick her up, we dated." Blaine sounded indignant.
    "Which was a huge mistake, if you ask me." I put out my cigarette and the two of us headed for the front of our dorm building. "You only dated her because she threatened to kill herself if you didn't. And then when you were together, she sucked the life out of you. You had no spare time. I remember you skipping out on the gym sometimes to take her to the salon. I mean, come on, you were so grateful when you caught her cheating, I thought you were going to kiss the other guy. Cardinal rule, Blaine—never stick your dick in crazy or