Read This Girl Stripped for Free Online Page B

change in my pocket and something to keep my mind off the big things in life that I just can’t shake, yet.
    Today we’ll decorate Star’s Christmas tree as a family. River included. All of the family activities have blended our two wayward crews together. The one person who hasn’t reappeared is Zane. Star insisted he wouldn’t be back either, but I just can’t shake the feeling that no matter how much I want to believe that, its not true. I will never be free from him.
    Journey has been around, but not much. After Star had it out with her about knowing Magnolia was with our parents for such a long time, it’s going to take a lot for any kind of forgiveness to take place. I can’t help but notice Journey only comes around when she knows Ryker or Diesel are going to be around. Whore.
    Just as I start to close my laptop, the bedroom door swings open and Magnolia bursts into my bedroom. Half way across, she launches into the air and lands right on my bed. I love her energy. She is always so fuckin’ happy. Just being with her makes me forget.
    “Aunt Paisley, we got the tree! Mom found the perfect one in the backyard. You have to see it! It’s huge!” She bounces up and down on the bed, excitement radiating from her. “This is my first Christmas tree in years. Grandma and Grandpa never got a tree. It’s perfect! Christmas is going to be perfect!”
    “I think this is gonna be a Christmas for the books,” I admit, smiling to myself thinking about how everyone in our family is really slowly putting their lives back together. I must admit I am jealous of Star. After all she has gone through, she can move on so easily. Maybe it really wasn’t that easy for her, but to the eyes of every onlooker it has been. Maybe it’s Chrome who keeps her together so well? Their love for each other is clear as day - his eyes cherish every movement she makes.
    It reminds me of the way I catch River looking at me on occasion. I only wish I knew what was going on inside his head. He’s driving me crazy.
    I wonder if I’ll ever be able to heal the way she has while living in Woodstock? It’s someplace that brought us all so much pain, and caused so much damage. Why pick this for healing?
    Since my body was finally starting to return to normal, maybe I would finally get some balls and put the moves on River in hopes he would accept whatever this is going on between the two of us? Or he will just run. Again.

    His arms wrap around me tightly; gripping me with each passing moment. The room is lively and full of laughs as we sit off in the corner stealing glances at each other in between our friendly chit chat. When I say everything about River confuses me, it really just means these moments. We act like a couple, but when the next step in a relationship starts to roll around, he bolts.
    Days will go by, and he’ll come to me and talk about our friendship. Friendship. Is that all I’ll ever have with him? These little moments make me want so much more.
    His lips graze my neck, and goosebumps cover my entire body. I lean my head back against his shoulder and take in every little touch; the small contact our bodies continue to maintain. I really want to pull him up to my bedroom and cuddle with him.
    “Will you two get a fuckin’ room already?” Chrome yells across the room. We’re caught, and that is all River needs to retreat again. His arms grasp my waist and lift me from the comfort of his lap, which I’ve made a warm and comfortable seat.
    It looks like Christmas threw up all over the place and once he bolts, I no longer can deal with all of the holiday cheer. There are twinkling lights everywhere, tinsel up the ass, and pine needles cover most of the living room. How can I be so miserable when everyone around me is so happy? Hell, I was happy moments ago. This is bullshit.
    I let out a sigh and make my way to the kitchen. I push the fridge open and pull out a bottle of beer. I’m really sick of River’s hot and cold