Read Worthy of Me for Free Online Page B

that both of mine couldn’t be.
    They were my family.
    So when my best friend told me that Prince Charming probably only wanted one thing from a girl as young as me—I believed her. She would never steer me wrong. She was more versed in the world of boys and partying than I was. Prince Charming was much older than me but I could talk to him. I could tell him how I felt about the things going on in my life. I could tell him my hopes and dreams. He listened. He cared. And I fell in love.
    Soon he became an important part of my life. We spent so much time together, with his family and mine. We were never anything more than friends, but deep down I felt more than I should for a friend.
    My best friend became distant and that sent me into a panic. What did I do? Did I unconsciously stop paying much attention to her and she felt the need to let go? I tried to mend things but there was nothing else I could do.
    Soon even Prince Charming did the same. I had no idea what was happening. Or maybe I did, my mind and heart probably didn’t want to face the facts. I don’t think either of them could handle it. I don’t think either one of them wanted to believe that I was going to get hurt by people I loved…again.
    Which is why I pretended like nothing was wrong. Nothing at all, I couldn’t lose the two people I had come to depend on. So three months later when my best friend admitted that she had feelings for Prince Charming and had kissed him and professed their love for each other… I pretended.
    Because you see, by that time I was so good at pretending that it felt like second nature to me. I pretended it didn’t hurt, I pretended to be happy for them, I pretended to be in love with someone else, I pretended that it didn’t cut out a piece of my heart each time I had to watch them be all lovey dovey in front of me, and mostly? I pretended that those new thin lines along my wrists were just scrapes from a tree outside. I pretended like it didn’t hurt when he kissed her in front of me at my birthday party. I pretended that I was so in love with this new guy. I pretended that I couldn’t see how I was using and hurting that guy. I just kept on pretending.
    I had found a new way to come with my pain. It was the comfort my mother’s sewing needle brought every time I swiped it across my skin leaving thin trails of blood behind. I would flirt with the idea of going a little deeper but I was a coward, I didn’t want to die. I was a glutton for punishment, I wanted to live and endure the heartbreak of waking up every day to know that I wasn’t good enough.
    I wasn’t good enough for dad to stay behind.
    I wasn’t good enough for mom to love and spend time with me.
    I wasn’t good enough for my sisters to help me deal with alcoholic abuse.
    I wasn’t good enough for a guy to love me and not my best friend.
    I wasn’t good enough for my best friend to be true to me.
    I. Wasn’t. Good. Enough.

***

Chapter Seven
     
    Present Day…
    Aiden had upped his pursuit of me. Somehow he got it in his head that he wanted me. I knew he just wanted a night with me and after that it would all be over. Our relationship would be awkward and soon I’d have to move out and look for another job. I couldn’t afford to do that so I devised a plan of my own.
    Find someone else to put my interests into.
    It was the only logical solution. I was doing this for the best anyway.
    I had just come out of the shower, dressed in sweats and a tank. The heat was turned up in the house and Aiden was still passed out from another night of partying at RAGE. It had been a week since our seductive dance and his new antics. Sadly for him I was a master at playing the game he initiated, I knew how to stand my ground.
    I rolled my wet hair into a messy bun and headed downstairs to start the coffee and make breakfast when a knock sounded on the door. I glanced at the time, it was 10a.m. Without checking through the peephole I swung the door open. Only to wish I