Collide: A Riverbend Novel Read Online Free Page A

then started cleaning. If I couldn't sleep, I may as
well help the people I'm staying with. I deep cleaned the house and
started breakfast when Mrs. Johanna came down the stairs and into
the kitchen.
     
    She gasped as she looked
around.
     
    "Did I do something wrong?"
I asked as I became nervous.
     
    She smiled as she walked
over to start coffee. "No. I've just never had anyone do something
so kind. House full of boys." She laughed to herself and started
scooping coffee into the filter.
     
    "I'm usually the one who
cooked at home. Dad can't cook to save his life." I stopped talking
and cleared my throat as tears filled my eyes. I turned away and
went back to finishing up breakfast.
     
    She impatiently stared at
the coffee maker while it did its job. "I'd have an IV drip of this
stuff 24/7 if I could." She came over and nudged me out of the way
with her hip. "Has the counselor at school met with you?" she asked
as she finished breakfast.
     
    "Yes, Ma'am. I met her
yesterday. I have to meet with her everyday between my first two
classes. I have a thick file," I stated as I sat down and started
to read one of the books I got out of the bookcase upstairs. "I
like coffee as well, but I like it with all the stuff in it that
I'm not supposed to have."
     
    She sat down across from
me, setting a plate filled with eggs, bacon, and toast in front of
me. "I spoke with your doctor and he said it's all about moderation
and eating well most of the time. He did say it was okay to cheat a
little as long as you keep up with your readings and take the right
amount of insulin." She handed me a fork.
     
    I took the fork and started
eating. I'm always hungry in the morning, but not most of the rest
of the day.
     
    Havock sleepily walked into
the kitchen with nothing but his pajama pants on. A tattoo of words
in a thick font wrapped his whole left shoulder. He opened the
fridge and took a drink of the orange juice straight from the
container.
     
    I stood up and walked to
the sink. I washed my dish as Havock sat down and started eating. I
had to keep my mind occupied. I tried to keep it off of that sexy
tattoo and his six pack. I also tried to keep it off of how messy
his hair was and how I wanted to run my fingers through
it.
    What. The. Hell? My heart
started beating faster just thinking about him.
     
    Johanna cleared her
throat.
     
    He looked up. "What?" He
asked with his mouth full of toast.
     
    She looked at his bare
chest. I looked at his six pack. He looked at me. "Does this bother
you?" He asked after he swallowed his food.
     
    I shrugged like I saw a
body like that everyday, when in fact I felt like I was going to
pass out. Dammit, he was hot. I looked out the window to get
focused. I stood on my tiptoes as I saw a lab running around the
yard with puppies in tow.
     
    "You have dogs?" I asked
with excitement. It was actually my first bit of excitement in a
while.
     
    "Against my will, yes.
Havock found them wandering in the rain on his way home from school
last week." She gave him an irritated look.
     
    "It was my good deed for
the week," he teased taking a bite of bacon.
     
    About that time, Garrett
walked in wearing nothing but his pajama pants. Damn, what did they feed these boys? Of course, as I looked at him my heart didn't speed up, and I
didn't feel the urge to get closer to him. Weird . Personality wise you would
think I'd go for Garrett not Havock. Huh? Strange.
     
    Their mom sighed. "Okay.
New rule. You must be fully clothed when you leave your room." She
got up and started fixing herself a cup of coffee.
     
    "May I go outside?" I asked
as I looked back out the window.
     
    "Of course, dear. You don't
have to ask."
     
    "Thank you," I said as I
hurried out the door. I sat down on the ground and waited for the
dog to come to me. A chocolate puppy ran over and jumped on my leg.
I picked him up and played with him. I laughed as he licked my
nose.
     
    "Don't get attached. Mom
called the dog catcher and he's picking