Read My Side for Free Online Page B

face.
    I left quickly before
they saw me. I didn’t even know why. I just didn’t want to be the girl with the
guy in the band.
    When I got back up to
Gerry and Lochlan, the sexy chick was gone and Lochlan had a weird look on his
face. He scowled at me and pushed the cart out to the car. I looked at Gerry
but his expression didn’t help either. They were quiet.
    Had I done something?
    We drove in silence. I
didn’t even dare to try to make conversation; something had clearly gone wrong.
    When we stopped at
Gerry’s apartment, Lochlan got out and helped carry everything up to the door.
I climbed out to help but Lochlan had it all in his huge arms. Gerry gave me a
hug but looked at Loch first, “Lochlan, the hide-away key is under the
mailbox.” He turned back to me “It was lovely to meet you. I suppose we’ll see
you at a show then?”
    I opened my mouth to
say no but I couldn’t. I wanted to see it. I nodded, “Yeah. When is the next
one?”
    He smirked like he was
daring me to come, “Tomorrow night.”
    “Okay, good. I’ll see
you then.” The conversation was awkward. I was awkward. I didn’t know what had
changed. I didn’t want to know.
    I got back into the
car. When he got back in, he gave me a look.
    “What?” I asked.
    He shook his head
dismissively, “You hungry?”
    Not in the mood for
his bizarre behavior, I looked out the window, “No thanks.”
    When he parked outside
of our place, I dreaded dragging everything up the stairs but he grabbed most
of it. I grabbed a couple things and ran and got the door for him. He was
halfway up the second flight of stairs, when a watermelon started to slip from
his hands. I didn’t notice until he had it pinned to the wall and wasn’t walking.
    He nodded at me, “Grab
this.”
    I slid my free arm
under it, cradling the huge thing in my bicep. Our bodies were pressed against
each other. I froze mid-rescue when he smelled my hair.
    Lifting it out safely,
I quickly ran up the stairs with my now full arms.
    He smelled my hair?
What was that? Was he turning on the charms? Shit… Hair smelling was pretty
hot. Unless he was like, what was that bad smell and then smelled my head? Or
if he was a crazy stalker, that wasn’t hot. Shit, did my hair stink?
    I placed down the bags
and unlocked the door for him. He didn’t even thank me. He dumped everything on
the counter and started putting it all away.
    I gave him a confused
look, “What happened at Costco? Why were you and Gerry suddenly not talking?”
    He stopped and watched
me for a second. “He thinks I should ask you out and try to keep my rep a
little cleaner. He thinks a nice girl like you is the answer.”
    I swallowed hard,
“Nice girls don’t like boys like you.”
    He stepped towards me,
“I find nice girls aren’t usually being honest with themselves. They’re trying
so hard to be normal, that they forget to have fun. When you get them to loosen
up, it’s like striking gold.”
    I gulped, “I like
normal. It’s safe. It’s predicable and easy.”
    He gave me a confused look, “You have one chance in life to make it something
special. Why would you waste it on mediocrity? Safe and easy is for pussies. Be
amazing and different. Be grateful for the uniqueness in you.”
    I rolled my eyes,
“Thanks, Tony Robbins.” I wanted to be friends with him but mocking him was
safer.
    He snorted, “That’s
how I want to live my life. You never know when choosing safe is stopping you
from being incredible.” He lifted my new book, “On a lighter note, the Brothers
of County Claire? Maybe you’re not such a nice girl after all. Maybe you’re
naughty girl.” His eyes were on fire.
    I reached for the book
but he lifted it. I ended up standing with my chest against his as I reached
for. He lowered it with a smug look.
    I snatched it from his
hands, “I like reading. Nice girls read.” My stomach was aching. I wanted to be
‘naughty girl’. His motivational speech made me think about the things I