Building Faith (Long Beach Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

heels Zoey insisted I buy to match the dress—momentarily forgetting that I’m supposed to be holding still. I feel a tug on my hair and a brief moment of extreme heat as Zoey curses from behind me. My eyes connect with hers in the mirror, and I give her an apologetic look.
    She holds the curling iron up in the air and gives me a look. “This thing is hot, and I nearly burned your ear off. Hold the fuck still.”
    “Sorry,” I mutter as I obediently hold still so she can finish curling my hair.
    I’m still getting used to the foul language that spews out of Zoey’s mouth. I admit, I’m a little sheltered. Well, maybe a lot considering Justin always kept me to himself. Oddly enough, instead of feeling uncomfortable, I find the swearing entertaining. Caleb’s fiancée definitely does not walk on egg shells around me. I like that. A lot.
    I think I was in shock the other day when I went shopping with her. It’s that shock that had me buying furniture for the apartment. I now have a blue and white floral couch, one white end table for the living room, and two lamps—one for the living room and one for on the new nightstand.  We didn't look at what she liked, she pushed me to buy the things that drew a second glance from me. I also have a new wardrobe, and some of the stuff I actually like. There’s about a third of it that I don’t like. Okay, I'm lying. I do like some of the clothes in that third category, but I’d rather see them on someone else than myself. Flashy things make me feel self-conscious.
    “Are you girls almost ready?” Caleb calls from my living room for the third time in the past five minutes.
    Zoey snickers as she unplugs the curling iron and sets it aside. “If you ask us one more time, I’m going to insist on giving her a mani and pedi before we leave, too,” she threatens loudly so that her voice carries to the other room.
    We both hear Caleb groan.
    Zoey smirks and glances at my nails. “You do need a manicure, but we’ll save that for another day.” She peers at me critically. “I think we’re set.”
    I glance at my reflection in the mirror and doubtful blue eyes stare back at me. “I don’t feel like myself. I look different.”
    “That’s the point. Come on,” Zoey says, pulling me into the living room. “What do you think?” she asks Caleb as she motions towards me.
    Caleb rises to his feet while he stares at me with an odd expression. “You look beautiful,” he says as a crooked smile quickly replaces the look he'd just given me.
    I thank him, and then peer at Zoey skeptically. “Are you sure I won’t get carded?”
    “Absolutely,” she says confidently.
    I scan her skimpy black and silver dress and the way it clings to her perfect figure. I bet men rarely tell her no. It’s evident that Zoey is used to getting whatever she wants.
    With great reluctance, I allow them to escort me out of my apartment and down to the parking lot. I slide into the backseat of Caleb’s car and adjust the hem of the skirt over my thighs. Caleb and Zoey are going out to a bar tonight to meet up with friends, and they are insisting I tag along. I’d rather go to bed since I have an early shift at the café tomorrow morning, but telling Zoey no is next to impossible. The only one who seems to be able to reign her in and control some of her antics is Caleb. I fight the urge to shake my head. I’m going to have to learn how to say no to Zoey. My avoidance issues with conflict is why I now have a new wardrobe and my old one has been tossed in the dumpster behind the complex.
    As I gaze at the couple in the front seats, longing sweeps through me. Even though Caleb’s driving, he has one hand resting on Zoey’s knee while the other one grips the steering wheel. Those two can barely keep their hands to themselves. I never had anything like that with Justin. At least not in the way that Zoey and Caleb like to touch one another. Justin’s touch had always been possessive. There hadn’t been