Foster Siblings 3: Brokedown Hearts Read Online Free

Travis’s threat from two days ago still ran on a loop in his brain, though, impossible to ignore. “I’ll be fine. This is for the best.” Trying to convince himself as much as Brittany, he murmured, “I need to be on my own. I need to prove to myself that I can be and be okay.”
    Reluctantly, it seemed, Brittany nodded. “I hate that it means you’re moving out, but I get it too. I know it was only a few days, but I’m going to miss you.” From her five-foot-three-inch vantage point, she looked up at David, her mouth in a twist. “Your mother doesn’t exactly love me, and I’m either tolerated or ignored by the rest of your family. It’s selfish of me, but I liked looking at you across the table and knowing you weren’t wishing someone else was sitting next to Travis.”
    God, this little slip of a woman made David’s chest tighten painfully. “I still like you, Brit. This move isn’t a slap in the face to you or your hospitality. I promise.”
    “I know,” she assured him quickly. “I’m just being a baby. I love Travis, so I don’t regret moving up here to be with him, but I miss having my family around me every day. You know?”
    “Yeah.” David’s voice scratched, and his throat hurt unbearably. “I do.”
    Her eyes going wide, Brittany slapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry.” She spoke through her fingers. “That was stupid of me to say. Of course you know what it’s like to be separated.” She shoved her sunglasses back down over her eyes. “I’ll just slink away now. Pretend I wasn’t here.” Lifting her hand, she walked out of the room. “Bye.”
    “Brit!” Without thought, David leaped and pulled the petite woman into a tight bear hug. Dipping down, he roughly whispered next to her ear, “Thank you. For everything. I really mean it.”
    Brittany squeezed him in return. “Anytime.” Pulling away, she touched his cheek and offered a gentle smile. “We’ll talk soon. Okay?”
    “Absolutely.” With a wave, David stepped backward into his room. “Bye.”
    After walking the rest of the way to her car, Brittany waved once more, got in, and drove away.
    Once again, David was alone.
    With a deep breath in, he did an about-face and took in the motel room from corner to corner. The walls had probably started out a crisp white, but age—and likely cigarette smoke—had since turned them a dingy yellow. The carpet was so faded David could no longer tell if it once had a pattern; now it was something between dirty mauve and gray. The bed had a floral comforter done in shades of black, green, and pink, and a basic dark wood headboard had dozens of chips and scratches in it. An ancient television, microwave, and hot plate sat atop a dresser that looked at least forty years out of date. A small round table with two chairs was positioned in front of a window. The window only looked out to the parking lot and empty pool and another line of motel rooms, though, so it wasn’t as if David had a view. An opening at the back of the room led to an area with a sink and tiny bathroom with a shower/tub combo.
    Nudging his bag out of the doorway with his foot, David forced himself to keep his head up and a scenario of doom and panic from his thoughts. He emphatically declared, “Home, sweet home,” and threw himself into one of the chairs at the table. Dust plumes immediately surrounded him, and David coughed and shot straight back to his feet.
    This isn’t going to work . Yet David knew he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Figure out a way to make this place livable, and quit bitching about it . First things on David’s list: find the closest bus stop, get to the nearest grocery or superstore, and buy a truckload of cleaning supplies. If he intended to live here, he needed to disinfect every inch of the place.
    Time to put some of that prep work for the real world he’d learned in prison to good use. He had to grin and bear his circumstances. As a consequence of the choices he’d