Secrets in Battle: Secrets of Savannah Series Book 3 Read Online Free Page B

talk to my counselor. I need to see if I’ll ever be safe to sleep with someone again or if this is the way it’s going to be.
    Walking to the kitchen , I fix myself a small drink to calm my nerves.
    I’m going to have to tell her I’m not ready for this , and it’s going to hurt like hell because I want nothing more than to be with her. I’ve got to get all of this figured out with myself, though.
    I really need to look at getting my own place . Ryder has been great to me, but some of this I have to work out on my own. Movement startles me out of the corner of my eye.
    Annabelle walks in the kitchen . “Hey, how are you feeling this morning?”
    “Tired . Look, I’m sorry about last night. You know, if I freaked you out.”
    She shakes her head . “No. It’s completely understandable. Have you thought about talking to someone about it?”
    “Yes.”  I bark out.
    She jumps noticeably. “I’m sorry. I was just asking.”
    Shit , I scared her. “Sorry. Yes, I’m talking to a counselor about everything. Look, I really want to explore what this is between us, but I think maybe I need a little more readjustment time."
    She rubs her hand on my arm . “Maybe you’re right. I just want you to know I’m here for you. I’m gonna go shower real quick and then head home. I’ve got some studying to do today.”
    “Okay.”  I rub my hand through her hair . “Thanks.”
    She leaves me sitting here in the kitchen with my 7am mixed drink.
    ~*~*~
    I’ve been living in the apartment in one of the barns for a few weeks now . I feel better about being out here, less dependent. I help Ryder and my dad out around the farm. Ryder wants to pay me but I won’t let him because I’m living here for free and he’s done so much for me.
    I haven’t saw much of Annabelle, I guess she stay s pretty busy with her nursing stuff. The counselor had me put on some kind of sleep medicine to help with the nightmares but I don’t see that it works too well, I still have to take several shots before bed so I don’t wake up. I don’t really feel like it’s doing me any good talking to that guy anyway. Once my mandatory sessions are up in a couple of weeks, I’ll probably quit seeing him.
    A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts . Looking through the window, I see it’s Ryder. I open the door.
    “Hey , man.”
    He smiles back . “Hey, I was gonna see if you could ride into town with me? I gotta pick up a few things for the farm and Nelson is at a doctor’s appointment today.”
    I look at him strange . “What’s dad at a doctor’s appointment for?”
    He shrugs . “I think it’s just a usual physical or something. He didn’t say.”
    I grab my cap . “Yeah, I’ll go.”  I make a note to ask my parents what the doctor’s appointment was about.
    “So, are you enjoying having your own space out here?”
    “Yeah.”  I say climbing in to the front seat of the work truck. “It’s nice. It’s not like we ever got in each other’s way in the house, but smaller is better for me. ” I chuckle. “Plus, I don’t run the risk of seeing you and Scarlet having sex God only knows where.”
    “Hey , that was one time that we got carried away in the kitchen.”
    I laugh . “Um no, that’s the only time that you guys know I saw. I almost walked up on you guys in the pool one night. One night I heard a noise in your dad’s study and went to go check it out only to glimpse the two of you playing some fucked up version of CEO and secretary. Then I about walked in the barn mudroom the other day until I heard Scarlet, you are so fuckin’ tight . Nana’s right, you guys are gonna be shooting kids out soon.”
    He starts laughing . “Dude, I’m so sorry. We are just a very romantic couple. What can I say? I’m in love with her and no, no kids anytime soon.”
    “Yeah, yeah . I get it. I’m happy for you.”
    He smiles . “Thanks. You could still come up to the house more often though. Hell, today’s the first time