First Taste (The Lust List: Devon Stone #1) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Mira Bailee
we’d all go to skip a class or smoke a cigarette or compare the tastes of the liquor we’d stolen from our parents, hiding it in our makeshift flasks of lotion bottles and medicine containers. But our safe-haven would never be the same.
* * *
I take a deep breath, not wanting to remember the rest. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall near a cheerful inspirational poster encouraging me to persevere. This appointment was so close to being over. Thank god.
As I focus on pushing back all those past feelings and memories, it’s like my veins harden and my blood turns cold. I stiffen in my seat and repeat the same truth that’s haunted me since I was seventeen.
“If I’d been on time, Jared would still be alive.”
An excited voice greets me from the kitchen. “You get the job?”
I get home right as Maddie is pulling out a freshly nuked pizza from the microwave. She knows I see a therapist, and she knows about my brother, but I made it clear when we first met two years ago that I didn’t want to talk about it. Maddie’s the type to respect that without pushing it. A part of me is certain it’s because she wouldn’t know how to react if we did have deep conversations about my past. I’ve rarely seen a bad day from bubbly, live-for-the-moment Maddie. I’d hate to bring her down with my issues, and instead, I try to live vicariously through her free-spirited nature.
Over the past several months, I’ve suspected she goes out of her way to form some sort of distraction after my appointments with Dr. Shannon. She never confirmed it, but she’s always put extra effort into taking my mind off of everything when I get home. Tonight, she’s doing so with pizza.
I set my things on the counter right as my phone buzzes for my 5:00 alarm. Shutting it off, I ignore Maddie side-eyeing me. I grab a cardboard slice of sauce and imitation cheese and plop into a chair instead.
“I did, but it’s more complicated than that,” I say, burning my tongue on the first bite of my food.
Maddie joins me at the table. She sports a low-cut tank top and jeans that must cut off her circulation, but not only does she pull off the look—heels and all—she is convincingly comfortable on top of it. If I tried to imitate her, I’d come out resembling a suffocating raccoon with 80s hair. I could use a dose of her confidence.
“Speak, woman,” she says, kicking me under the table.
How do I summarize the events of this day? Where do I start?
“Well… The interview was at this ridiculous mansion. You should’ve seen it.”
“Ooh,” Maddie’s eyes widen. “Rich boss?”
“No, it belongs to the family we’ll be planning a party for.”
“That’ll be fun. Do they need a bartender?”
I laugh. “I’ll keep my ear out. Unfortunately, the boss is a complete jerk. He wasn’t going to give me the job, but Devon—um, one of the guys in this family—insisted I get it.”
Maddie stops mid-chew. “Wait. What? What guy?”
Do I describe our up-close-and-personal encounter when he was hovering over me? Or do I tell her how he completely crossed the line of flirting and invited me to sleep with him? Or do I tell her about how he blew me off and left without a word?
“Just some guy.”
I try my hardest to keep a straight face, but a rogue smile gives me away. Maddie stares me down waiting for more information.
“It’s nothing! I just ran into him before the interview. And then again after. When he found out Keenly—my new boss—had rejected me, he…well, he basically went in and threatened the man.”
“Really? But why?” She catches herself and holds her hands up to stop me from misunderstanding her. “I mean, you’re awesome, and you’ll rock this job, and anyone should know that. But I’m confused. Who is this guy? Someone you knew? Why was he quick to jump to your defense like that?”
I laugh at her excitement, particularly because… “You don’t even know what the job is,” I say, but I answer
* * *
I take a deep breath, not wanting to remember the rest. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall near a cheerful inspirational poster encouraging me to persevere. This appointment was so close to being over. Thank god.
As I focus on pushing back all those past feelings and memories, it’s like my veins harden and my blood turns cold. I stiffen in my seat and repeat the same truth that’s haunted me since I was seventeen.
“If I’d been on time, Jared would still be alive.”
An excited voice greets me from the kitchen. “You get the job?”
I get home right as Maddie is pulling out a freshly nuked pizza from the microwave. She knows I see a therapist, and she knows about my brother, but I made it clear when we first met two years ago that I didn’t want to talk about it. Maddie’s the type to respect that without pushing it. A part of me is certain it’s because she wouldn’t know how to react if we did have deep conversations about my past. I’ve rarely seen a bad day from bubbly, live-for-the-moment Maddie. I’d hate to bring her down with my issues, and instead, I try to live vicariously through her free-spirited nature.
Over the past several months, I’ve suspected she goes out of her way to form some sort of distraction after my appointments with Dr. Shannon. She never confirmed it, but she’s always put extra effort into taking my mind off of everything when I get home. Tonight, she’s doing so with pizza.
I set my things on the counter right as my phone buzzes for my 5:00 alarm. Shutting it off, I ignore Maddie side-eyeing me. I grab a cardboard slice of sauce and imitation cheese and plop into a chair instead.
“I did, but it’s more complicated than that,” I say, burning my tongue on the first bite of my food.
Maddie joins me at the table. She sports a low-cut tank top and jeans that must cut off her circulation, but not only does she pull off the look—heels and all—she is convincingly comfortable on top of it. If I tried to imitate her, I’d come out resembling a suffocating raccoon with 80s hair. I could use a dose of her confidence.
“Speak, woman,” she says, kicking me under the table.
How do I summarize the events of this day? Where do I start?
“Well… The interview was at this ridiculous mansion. You should’ve seen it.”
“Ooh,” Maddie’s eyes widen. “Rich boss?”
“No, it belongs to the family we’ll be planning a party for.”
“That’ll be fun. Do they need a bartender?”
I laugh. “I’ll keep my ear out. Unfortunately, the boss is a complete jerk. He wasn’t going to give me the job, but Devon—um, one of the guys in this family—insisted I get it.”
Maddie stops mid-chew. “Wait. What? What guy?”
Do I describe our up-close-and-personal encounter when he was hovering over me? Or do I tell her how he completely crossed the line of flirting and invited me to sleep with him? Or do I tell her about how he blew me off and left without a word?
“Just some guy.”
I try my hardest to keep a straight face, but a rogue smile gives me away. Maddie stares me down waiting for more information.
“It’s nothing! I just ran into him before the interview. And then again after. When he found out Keenly—my new boss—had rejected me, he…well, he basically went in and threatened the man.”
“Really? But why?” She catches herself and holds her hands up to stop me from misunderstanding her. “I mean, you’re awesome, and you’ll rock this job, and anyone should know that. But I’m confused. Who is this guy? Someone you knew? Why was he quick to jump to your defense like that?”
I laugh at her excitement, particularly because… “You don’t even know what the job is,” I say, but I answer
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