Read Shattered Rose for Free Online Page B

pull away, and I was left breathless, staring at him.
    “We better get back in before Issy starts looking for us. I don’t think she’d be that keen on us kissing.” He looked as surprised as I was by the intense chemistry between us.
    I looked down, trying to settle my trembling hands. “You’re right, we should go.”
    Jake tilted my head back up, lightly kissing my lips again before he led me back into the club. The rest of the night was a blur, dancing and drinking, then more dancing. I felt like I was dancing in the clouds, and Jake never left my side the entire evening. At the end of the night, we all piled in the car. This time Issy was in the front seat and Jake was in the back with me. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. A perfect end to a perfect night...and I was right where I wanted to be.
    When I woke the next morning, I thought it had all been a dream until I was slammed with the most excruciating headache I’d ever felt. My mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls, and I could actually smell alcohol coming out of my pores. I didn’t remember drinking that much, but honestly, I didn’t think about much after the kiss. In fact, the last thing I remembered at all was getting in the car to come home.
    I looked down at my clothes; everything was intact minus the shoes. Did Jake put me to bed? Did I act like Issy had the night before? I was horrified. How could I not remember?
    I pulled myself out of bed and into the shower. My clothes smelled like smoke, and my eyes had large dark circles under them. How in the world could Issy do this every night? It was already after twelve, and I started to panic. There was no way I was going to get my chapters read in time, not when I couldn’t even get my face to focus in the mirror. My body was full of toxins, and I couldn’t stop sweating, even in the shower. I threw my smelly clothes in the laundry bag and put on my running clothes. I had to get this stuff out of me.
    In the kitchen I found a note on the fridge that said, “Hangover juice inside…you’re welcome.”  I was officially starving, but everything I looked at made my stomach turn. I took the green hangover juice and brought it up to my face. It smelled and tasted like the produce department in the grocery store. Disgusting…but I just kept thinking of the transformation Issy had made and somehow managed to drink the thick liquid. 
    My head was swimming. Where was Jake? Did I embarrass him? Did I throw myself at him? The butterflies were rampant in my stomach as I relived every moment of him touching me. “Enough!” I told myself as I grabbed my headsets and headed out the door.
    I could only go a mile, and it was a slow one…lots of walking. The heat of the day and the exercise was making me sweat profusely, and I felt like my body was finally ridding itself of the alcohol. The only positive I could find was that I felt really skinny. I had practically gone twenty-four hours without eating and was sure I’d dropped at least two pounds between the run and the dancing.
    I hated to admit it, but the green juice was really helping.  Issy could sell that stuff and make a fortune. Ok, new plan of action. As soon as I got home, I would get dressed and head to the library. I still had time to get my work done if I really focused.
    I walked into my apartment and stopped short when I saw Jake lounging on the couch watching TV. 
    “There you are,” he said, sitting upright. “Here I was coming over to check on you, and you are already out running again. I’m impressed.”
    My stomach fluttered , and I smiled. “Oh, don’t be that impressed. You should have seen me an hour ago.”  I felt more nervous than ever, not knowing exactly how to act towards him after last night.
    “It’s the hangover juice,” I heard Issy call out from the kitchen. “We brought home some lunch if you’re hungry.”
    “Yes, thank you. Let me go shower first.”
    “Wow, you were hammered last