Read Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) for Free Online Page B

over my face but not before the sound escapes my mouth.
    Both Beau and Drew hear the noise and they look my way.
    Not moving a muscle, I’m hoping that I am hidden enough where they can’t spot me.
    “Alright, whatever. We need to get back before Dad starts looking for us.” Drew stands and returns his focus back to Beau. The two brothers eye each other for a moment. A silent conversation is passing between them and I wish I knew what it was.
    Beau lets out a sigh. “Okay. He is the last thing that I need to deal with today.”
    “I hear you.” Drew pats Beau on the back.
    Slowly, they come closer to me. I sink into the furthest, shadiest part that I can and watch their feet as they pass over me. As soon as I can no longer hear the footsteps, tears once again pour out of my eyes. Although my sobs are silent, they are rocking through me. I am devastated. Over and over I repeat his words in my mind.
    He said he hates me.
    He said he wants to forget me.
    I believed in us and I believed in him. How could he have been friends with me for so many years and then say things like that? But then again, I remember this is what I asked for. My heart shatters and my soul feels lost.
    What type of person treats someone that they supposedly care about this way? Maybe that’s what I should have been asking myself all along, did he ever really care about me?
    Conversations flood my mind as time passes and the sun lowers in the sky. I replay my last day here, from two and half years ago. I should have listened to what I was told and not been so hopeful. The truth has been staring me in the face the entire time and I have been hanging on to nothing and for no reason. I feel stupid and naïve.
    Anger settles into the bottom of my stomach and slowly the tears stop.
    I am not this girl.
    I am not the girl who cries over a boy.
    Somewhere, somehow, a cool peace slides over me almost like ice. A wall around my heart builds and hardens.
    I know that seeing him on a daily basis is probably going to have its setbacks, but it’s in this moment that I decide it’s finally time that I move on from Beau Hale.
     

 
     
    SWEAT DRIPS FROM my hair, over my forehead, and down the side of my face. I’m in the zone and nothing is going to pull me out of it.
    I toss the ball high to serve and watch in slow motion as it flies over the net and Nate responds. His feet are quick but mine are quicker. The muscles in my arms are tense. They’re coiled so tight, just waiting to strike. Over and over the ball comes at me. Its speed has to be close to one hundred and fifty miles an hour and all I can think is the faster the better!
    Tennis has always been my escape. My brother Drew swims and over the last few years, I’ve noticed that Matt has picked up running but for me . . . I need the impact to release the frustration, anger, and heartache that I am consumed with.
    Dad was smart to put me in tennis. Although, I would not, and will not ever hit a person, hitting a little yellow ball brings me great relief.
    Nate hits the ball, returning the serve, and still in slow motion it heads my way. Swinging the racket with as much power as I can, I connect with the ball. It’s as if the harder I can hit it, the more tension releases. I can’t even count how many times I have imagined that the ball is my dad’s face.
    Boxing would probably also do the trick but then I would be hitting with my fist, and just the thought of that makes my stomach roll.
    “Come on, superstar! Is that all you’ve got?” Nate yells at me from across the net. He loves to try and taunt me, get me all riled up, but little does he know, this morning—my emotions are maxed out.
    My eyes connect with him, I’ve completely lost focus of what he said, and the only word that sticks is star. My mind switches to Leila and I grit my teeth. I should have known that it doesn’t matter how big the city is, I can’t escape her.
    Leila is everywhere. She’s in my past, my dreams, my daily