Scandal: The Reckless Series, Book #3 (The Reckless Crew) Read Online Free Page A

mean manly and handsome, right?” Kip quirks up an eyebrow. “And eat by the way. You need it.”
    I grimace at how embarrassing of a state I must be in. Whatever drugs they sent through the IVs before I passed out before surgery must’ve been good because I only remember slivers of the day before. I spear a piece of the chicken and bring it to my lips knowing the exact calorie count of it.
    My stomach protests with food so near, so I plop it in my mouth and moan out loud. Once I start, I don’t finish until I’m cleaning the container .
    “Cold Chinese is my favorite. Thank you.”
    Kip groans. “Sorry, should’ve warmed it up for you. I don’t think of that kind of shit.”
    “No, seriously, cold Chinese is my favorite. I’d eat it before every exam in college. Haven’t had it for a while.” I struggle to sit the container on the nightstand.
    “Here.” Kip sits up.
    “No, go to sleep.” I pat his forearm. “You’ve already done way too much.”
    He fiddles with a stray piece of thread from the blanket. “Chloe, just promise me one thing?”
    “What’s that?” I ask.
    “Never go back to him. He nearly killed you.”
    “I’m so lost.”
    He covers the top of my hand. “It’s better to be lost than six feet under.”
    I can’t respond as his words nail me in the gut. They are so damn true, but easier said than to actually believe them. I have no idea where on my course of life that I’d lost myself. It’s been years since I’ve seen Chloe in the mirror. I went from a strong and vibrant young woman to a fearful, beaten skeleton.
    I swing my legs over the side of the bed. “I’m going to use the restroom.”
    He points to a door that’s shadowed behind it with light. “Let me know…well if you need any help.”
    His voice is unsure from the awkward topic of conversation. I only nod to him and stand up. With my legs steady under me, my head spins, as does everything else in the room. I begin seeing double and then triple of everything and stumble back on to the bed.
    Kip’s at my side holding my good elbow.
    “Thanks,” I mumble.
    “Just get your ground for second.”
    My stomach flips and I feel sick. Like the type of sick where I need a toilet and bucket immediately.
    “I have to get to the bathroom right now, Kip.” My cheeks flush with embarrassment.
    “I’ll guide you.” He steps behind me, wrapping both of his hands around me and walks me forward until I’m in the bathroom.
    I look down to my pants and feel even more frustrated. Tears stream without warning. He hooks his fingers in the waistband of my sweats and tugs them down. Kip remains behind me and does the same with my underwear. He slowly spins me around until I’m facing him, but never looks down at my parts.
    “Sit back.” He nudges me until the cold material of the toilet lid hits my skin. “I’ll be right outside.”
    I wipe at the tears with my only arm and nod. Something is on the tip of his tongue, but he doesn’t say a word. The door makes a subdued sound clicking shut. My stomach cringes in pain and I should’ve known better than to wolf down that food. It’s not used to it and mixed with the anesthesia, it isn’t a good combination.
    A pale blue wastebasket is near me and I clutch to it. My stomach wrenches in pain once, twice, and then I finally vomit the entire contents of my stomach including nasty bile. The dry heaves echo around the bathroom.
    “Chloe, you okay?”
    I want to acknowledge him, but can’t between the sobs and dry heaves controlling my body. I lean forward and try to catch myself, feeling my cradled arm in the sling hit the wall and I scream out in pain.
    “Chloe.” Kip has the door open, stepping in. His hands are running through his hair and his face is worried.
    “I’m fine,” I manage out between sobs.
    He turns his back to me.
    “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to look at me right now either.”
    “Shut up.”
    His two words are point blank and come out in a growl before he