Book of Revenge Read Online Free

murmured, intending it to be sarcastic.
    “What?” she snapped again. “And that means?”
    I shrugged, not upset at all that she’d heard me. “You weren’t always in control, is all I’m saying. You’re track record for this type of thing sort of sucks.” I began listing on my fingers. “Vicoden, alcohol, sleeping aids… the list goes on!”
    “Shut up. That’s not fair. You know I only did all that stuff because I thought I was alone, because of all I endured… because of all I could hear. I thought I couldn’t survive without it.”
    I dropped my listing hand. “That’s exactly what I’m saying!”
    I could tell by the mounting look on Emily’s face that her anger was about to peak.
    Still, I pressed the point further. “You were stupid to do those things. Just look how great you are without all that.” I shook my head. “Besides, it’s not like I endured anything, or anything.”
    She growled, leaping off the floor and tackling me from my chair. My head thumped against the carpet, my ears suddenly ringing. “Ouch!”
    Emily’s legs wrapped around me like a vise. “Stop it. This is your last warning.”
    My thumb grazed the skin at the bottom hem of her sweater, a part of me missing the way she used to dress, but happy she didn’t dress that way at the same time. She smacked my hand away then slapped me across the cheek. It was fluid— sexy.
    I rubbed my burning skin, grinning. “What was that for?” I slid out from under her.
    She stood, collecting her things. “I hate this.” Her muscles tensed and flexed as she pushed me away. My animal instincts sensed a fight flaring.
    “Hate what? You mean us?” I wished I could read her thoughts, just once, but all I could do was sense her.
    Emily stopped, taking a deep breath. “Do you think it’s possible to start over?”
    I could feel my cheeks turning red, and not just because of the slap. “What do you mean?”
    “Start over, you know, like a first date. Forget everything that’s happened and just… start over.”
    I blinked. The idea was appealing to me, but also appalling. “You just want to forget all this?” I spread my arms wide.
    She looked flustered, shaking her head. “No! I mean, it was so screwed up. I want a clean start. Do you think we could do that?”
    I thought it over. “I suppose.” Where was she was going with this?
    “I just want to forget the first month of this year because truthfully, it sucked. I want to forget the blood, the death… Him.” Her voice got deep and dramatic. “And, yeah, even us. It’s all…” She was searching for the right words. “Topsy-turvy.”
    I just stood there, trying to look like I was listening when really, I was lost.
    She leaned forward. “Is that okay?” The expression on her face conveyed that she was waiting for something, but I didn’t know what.
    “Okay… so what do you want me to do?”
    She sighed. “Ask me out,” she said bluntly. Her arms were crossed now, her foot tapping.
    “Ask you… out?”
    She snorted, further annoyed. “Yes.”
    I felt hopeless. She was looking for finesse, but the only thing I lacked more than brains was finesse. “Uh…” I was suddenly sweating with nerves. I didn’t like to be put on the spot. “You want to go for pizza with me, or something?”
    Emily shook her head, her hands waving the air in front of her. “That was lame. Whatever… just forget it.”
    “What?” I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. “Come on, Em. Give a man a break!”
    She turned to leave.
    In two quick strides, I had crossed the room, grasping her hand. “Stop.”
     
     
     
    Emily:
     
    I stopped, hoping he’d come up with something better than pizza. What was I doing? I had what I wanted—I had Wes. The problem was, I always wanted more—I always wanted what Jane had, and what she had was a little romance, too.
    Wes squeezed my hand. “Emily Marie Taylor, would you like to accompany me to Vicco’s for a gourmet burger tonight?”