Our Kind of Love Read Online Free Page B

she’s challenging me.
    “So you just get up and go spontaneously?”
Claudia pipes in. “What about your parents? They okay with that?”
    “I don’t need anyone’s approval. I live my own
life.”
    As if my words have struck a chord, Reign tears
away instantly and looks out the window.
    Claudia connects her iPhone to the stereo and
plays a dance song to fill the silence. Without a care in the world, she sings
at the top of her lungs, drowning out the artist’s voice. It’s actually entertaining,
especially since it makes Reign laugh. She has the sexiest laugh I’ve ever
heard. It’s refreshing. It forces me to laugh as well.
    I have to snap out of this. There is no way I’ll
let some silly attraction overpower me.
    In no time, Claudia turns down my street. The
blue, three-story house comes into view. Slowing to a stop, she lowers the
volume and observes the place.
    “This is it?” she asks as I get out of the jeep
and closed the door. I never considered how they’d perceive the house, if they
were from wealth or whatever, like some of the people I came across in the
three days I’ve been in Newport. I mean, on the outside it isn’t too bad, just
that the paint is a tad worn. It’s affordable and it’s good enough for someone
like me living on the line of temporary.
    I point to the double-hung windows on the third
floor and say, “Yeah, I’m up there.”
    Following the direction of my finger, Claudia
bobs her head. Her eyes are fixed on the exterior and her expression appears
like that of pity.
    “It looks cozy.” Reign’s sweet voice chimes in.
“Must be nice living on your own.”
    “It is,” I reply fast, thinking how it’d be even
nicer if she spends the night. That’s why I have to get rid of the girls, now.
“Well, thanks again for the ride. You ladies be careful.”
    “You’re welcome,” Claudia winks. “See ya.”
    “See you tomorrow,” Reign waves at me. I wait
until they drive off to enter the house and scamper up the stairs.
    When I unlock the door and step inside, a dark
and empty feeling greets me before I flick the light on. I quickly place my
keys and cell phone on the coffee table, turn on the TV, kick off my sneakers,
and then head to the bathroom to take a shower. The second I start to linger
and allow myself to feel lonely I’ll want to move again. And I need to give
this place a chance, to meet people and learn to be happy again, at least for
my grams sake. She’d want me to live my life without regrets. I just have to
try.
    Stepping out of the shower, I toss the wet towel
over the door. I grab my shorts off the bed before pacing over to the
kitchenette for a bottle of water.
    My cell phone rings as I walk to the couch and
plop down. It’s either one of two people: my counselor in juvie or Pete from
Georgetown. However, the last time I spoke to Greg I told him I was fine and
that he needed to layoff so that I can breathe easy. He hasn’t called me in a
month so I’m guessing it’s Pete.
    Sure enough, when I pick up the phone and look
at the screen, it’s my buddy Pete. He’s the only real friend I left back in
Georgetown.
    “Pete my man, what’s up?” I answer, sinking back
on the couch with my legs outstretched on the coffee table.
    “Not a damn thing,” he says. “Man, I still can’t
believe you left. Feels like my game completely died the moment you did ‘ cause I can’t get any girl to chill with me now.”
    I laugh. “Yeah, right, we both know who they
were all chasing and it sure wasn’t me.”
    “I guess I failed at trying to convince you to
come back here, huh?”
    “You did,” I snort. “I’m done with Georgetown.
This place isn’t too bad.”
    “If you say so.” He
doesn’t sound convinced. “Anyways, listen, I wanted to let you know that
Ashley’s been asking for you. She misses you, man. You just up and left her.”
    Ashley is one of the girls I messed around with.
It wasn’t serious. She’s well aware of that. So what’s Pete