Breath Of The Heart Read Online Free Page B

want to know why I was home. If I didn't tell Dad the truth, he'd see right through me and I didn't want what Jake did to affect Dad's friendship with Uncle Ron. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned my cheek against the cold passenger side window. What if I threw up in Zach's car?
    "Are you sure you're okay?" Zach asked, glancing over.
    "I'm fine," I managed to get out.
    "You say that, but you can't stop tapping your foot on the floor and you're kind of bouncing in the seat like a bomb that's about to go off."
    I gulped in another deep breath. "I don't know what I'm going to tell my dad."
    "I'd go with the truth. Your dad should know what an asshole Jake is."
    I stole a peek at Zach. He had the beginnings of a scruffy face and it looked good on him. His dark eyes were warm and trusting and I hated that. I hated trusting him.
    "The thing is that Jake's brother, my Uncle Ron, is Dad's best friend."
    Zach's eyebrows furrowed and by his bewildered expression I knew he was computing and calculating my statement. "Are you Jake's cousin?"
    "No, I just call him Uncle Ron. He and Dad are best friends from high school."
    He nodded but the befuddled expression remained. "If your dad and your uncle are best friends, how does that work? How is everyone related?"
    Here it came, the explanation I hated. Zach would then view me like a lab experiment gone wrong and his demeanor would change because he'd have a reason for my weirdness. "Here's my deal. My birth mother and Dad weren't careful and she got pregnant when they were fourteen. She and her family wanted her to have an abortion, but my grandparents refused. She had me and basically handed me off to them and went on with the rest of her life. My dad and grandparents raised me. Uncle Ron is Jake's oldest brother."
    I waited for a reaction, but didn't get one.
    "That's kind of cool. So your dad is what? Thirty-four? It must be awesome having a young dad."
    I scratched my head. Why didn't he think it was strange? How come he didn't pass judgment on me, my dad and grandparents like most people did? "I guess so. My dad's pretty great."
    "That explains why your mom isn't around."
    "Yup."
    "That also explains why you don't want to tell your dad. I still say tell the truth."
    I bit on my fingernails. I couldn't do it. Dad and Uncle Ron were like me and Jake, well, what I thought Jake and I were. "I need to think about this."
    "What's your gut telling you?"
    "To go home for a week or so. I'll come up with something to tell my dad."
    "Bad idea. You go home, I bet you won't come back. Take a few days to think it through. If you need to, you can crash at my place."
    What I really wanted to do was go home. "Thanks for the offer. I'll keep it in mind."
    "What Bianca said in those texts was out of jealousy. I'm sure it eats her up that you and Jake are so close. As an outsider looking in, I can see how much you care for the guy, but I also see how much he loves her. He already threw you under the bus. If he was any kind of man, he would have come after you and apologized."
    "I know."
    We didn't say much else for the rest of the ride. I gave him the directions to my apartment and he walked me to the front door.
    "Look Emma, if you need anything, call me. My offer still stands for a place to stay. I've got an empty bedroom and everything. I sent you a text that way you have my number. Text or a call later so I know you're okay."
    "I will. And thanks."
    I went inside to the elevator. The moment I stepped into the apartment and shut the door behind me the tears flowed. I had no friends, no Jake and I couldn't turn to Dad. I had nothing.
     

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Emma
    I sent Zach a text and he sent a few back. I didn't want to chat and told him to have a good night, thanking him one more time for all his help. I stared at my phone and not once did Jake even make an attempt to contact me, and not even a text to see if I was alive.
    I sent Dad a checking in text. I was too afraid to call him, fearing