Read Take My Hand for Free Online Page A

I’ll just transfer the
standing order over to your bank instead.”
    “Don’t worry about it. Maybe save for some new
furniture or whatever other shit you need to replace.” Wow. Wasn’t expecting
that. Free rent? Get in. I knew I should argue and insist he take the money
from me, but the truth is I’ll have extra money to send over to Aunt Sarah and
there’s no way in hell I’d pass on a opportunity to do that.
    “I really appreciate this,” I said sincerely,
tossing my sodden suitcase on the floor by my new couch-shaped bed. I couldn’t
fit the case on the back of my bike so I had to hail a cab. “And sorry if I
ruined your big date.”
    “Yeah well I almost had that one covered
myself,” he admitted, rolling his eyes at no one in particular.
    “Yeah?”
    “Yeah. I kinda said I was surprised her mate in
the chair had the balls to sport the mad hair and tattoos and stuff. I sort of
implied she had enough reasons for people to stare at her.”
    “Ouch. Not cool, man.” I can’t believe he said
that! What a dumbass. “Never, ever , diss a chick’s friend. It’s like
rule number one.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know. Sometimes I just can’t seem
to stop myself talking through my arse. But hey, that was in the first few
minutes and she stuck around so I’m pretty sure I’m forgiven.” That’ll be
because she’s a Tootsie. Tootsie’s forgive way too easily. Hence the fact
they’re so much easier to hurt and let down.
    “Mind if I take a shower and crash?” I asked. I
was cold, wet and in a mood so vile I detested my own company.
    “Sure, mate. Bathroom’s down the hall to the
left. I’ll leave some sheets and pillows on the couch for when you get out.” I
nodded gratefully before unzipping my suitcase and taking out a handful of the
toiletries I’d thrown loosely inside, and then made my way to the bathroom.
    This day needed to be over. Fast.

 
    **********

 
    Day three of sleeping on Jared’s couch and my
neck is as stiff as fuck. Lectures start tomorrow – that should be fun
when I’m this freakin’ exhausted. At least I’ve got two nights off work so I
can chill while I get used to the whole ‘being a student’ thing. Sometimes I
wonder what the hell I’m getting myself into. I’m a twenty-four year old
freshman. That just seems wrong somehow. But it’s my fresh start – my
chance to put right some of the crap I’ve caused and make Aunt Sarah proud of
me again.
    I won’t let her down. I can’t.
    I’ve spent the last three days drying off my
stuff and this afternoon’s task was to iron out my clothes and pile them neatly
beside the couch out of the way. Yeah I know – I’m a domestic god. You
should smell my Apple Pie – I’m a mean baker too.
    I left the apartment empty when I ran to the
store to buy food for the glossy black cupboard I’d claimed as my own in the
kitchen, but when I got home Jared was back – new piece-of-ass in tow.
    “Hey, mate. You remember Emily right?”
    “Sure. Hi.”
    “Hi,” she mumbled nervously back, flicking her
fiery hair to the sides of her face. She was sitting next to Jared, in jeans so
mouth-wateringly tight they should be illegal, looking altogether flushed.
They’d so obviously been making out on the couch. The couch where I have
to sleep. Ugh.
    “I’ll leave you two to it,” I said eagerly,
holding my bags of groceries in the air and planning to take them through to
the kitchen.
    “No need. We’re just leaving.”
    Good.
      “Don’t
wait up,” he added with one of those disturbing winks. Seriously what guy winks
at his friends? It’s freakin’ weird.
    “Wasn’t planning on,” I retorted, and then
headed to the kitchen to put the food away.
    When I was done I threw a couple of cream-cheese
bagels down my throat and went about gathering my things for the morning. It
felt like the first day back at school counting my pens and notes books. I even
got myself a satchel – how cool am I? Next I made up my makeshift bed