Blood and Sympathy Read Online Free

just a
little on the presumptuous side . She wasn't looking for a love connection or
anything like that . I blew out a noisy breath and took a bite of the ham
sandwich before replying.  
    Dear Claire,
    Thank you for writing.
    I do remember seeing you
and your sister in church when I lived in Hensteeth. I bet you'll be happy to
have high school behind you so you can focus on going to college in the fall. I'll
just be glad to get my GED before I get out of here.
    There's not much I can
tell you about myself that you'd find interesting. I'm seventeen, and I'll be
eighteen next January. In my spare time, I like working with wood and making
music boxes. I sell them in the gift shop. I also tinker with small engines so
I'll be able to help my Uncle Jeb at the marina when I come home.
    I'm relieved to find
out you're not looking for a love connection. I'm sure a girl like you wouldn't
have a thing in common with me, anyway.
    Hope all is well with
your family. I imagine Olivia's in college by now? Uncle Jeb speaks highly of
your father all the time.
    If I haven't bored you
to tears, feel free to write back when you get a chance.
    Sincerely,
    Braden
    That was pretty lame, but there was no reason for
me to make myself out to be something I wasn't. Being from the same small dot
on the map, I'm sure there wasn't anything about me she didn't already know.
    I folded the note, stuffed it into an envelope and
hoped when she opened it that she didn't get a whiff of me and my surroundings.
Not that I smelled bad, but I sure didn't smell edible. Before I went to lift
weights in the gym, I dropped the letter in the outgoing mailbox, and squelched
the feeling of hopefulness that she'd bother to reply. Still, I couldn't help
but wonder what she looked like all these years later.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Claire
Copeland
     
    Alistair was waiting in his truck for me to sneak
out, and I stalled as long as I could. I had hoped dad would turn off the TV
and go up to his room for the night so I could go out through the front door.
When I couldn't wait any longer, I ended up crawling out my bedroom window,
tiptoeing across the porch roof as quietly as I could. Alistair wouldn't wait
forever and lately I'd barely been able to wipe my ass without asking for permission
first.
    I was still grounded over the ditch incident, and
I wasn't supposed to be anywhere but my bedroom. It was Friday night, and there
was no way I was staying home like a damn prisoner while everyone else was out
having fun.
    In the process of climbing down the trellis at the
corner of the house, it snapped and pulled away from the railing, spilling me
to the ground. "Fuck that hurt," I muttered. Luckily the living room
was on the opposite side of the house. I paused a few beats, holding my breath.
When the kitchen light didn't come on, I shot to my feet and scrambled down the
lane.
    It was dark and I ran blindly toward the uneven
rumble of Alistair's pickup up the road where it sat idling with the headlights
off. The passenger door squeaked open and I climbed inside.
    "'Bout time, Clair," he said as he put
the truck in gear and pulled away slowly.
    I glared at him and lit a cigarette. "Fuck
off. It couldn't be helped."
    He cracked a beer and took a long swig before
passing it to me. "It's all good. Things will just be getting started
about now anyhow."
    The party was on the other side of the lake, and
if I squinted above the tree line, I could see the orange glow from the
bonfire. I chugged the rest of his beer and wiped my mouth with the back of my
hand. I giggled and handed him the empty can. "Damn that hit the
spot."
    He frowned but kept his mouth shut. He squeezed my
knee and said, "Grab another one if you want."
    I shook my head and nuzzled closer to his side.
"Nah, I'm good."
    His hand slid up my thigh and he pressed against
my sex making me squirm in the seat. His eyes shifted to the rearview mirror.
"Want me to pull over?"
    I chewed on my lip, pressing myself against his
hand. "If I don't