Hard Core Read Online Free Page B

you would. But we don’t know anything about this guy, Rach. As attractive as he is, he seems a little off. He had a hard time just communicating a hello. I think—”
    “No conspiracy theories yet, Jacy. Otherwise, you’ll be shaping my opinion of the guy before I even meet him. Unless maybe you want to go for it.”
    “Go for what?”
    She harrumphed through the phone. I could almost picture the eye roll that followed it. “Don’t play dumb with me, friend. I hear a glimmer of interest in your tone. If you’re interested in this man then I think all the stars are lined up right for it. He’s close by, so you don’t have to drag begrudgingly along with me to bars and nightclubs, something you hate more than getting a cavity filled, as you’ve told me quite often. If he interests you, then let your hair down for a change and go for it.”
    “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
    A disappointed sigh followed. Rachel had the sound effects through the phone thing down to an art. “One of these days, Jacy, you’re going to have to start living again. Look, I don’t know all the details because I know you don’t talk about it much, but whatever happened before, with your last marriage, couldn’t be that bad. You’ve got to stop punishing yourself for it anyhow.”
    Her words stopped the conversation cold. My throat tightened. I felt my body curling in on itself, and I knew what would follow if I didn’t get a grip on it. Despair would wrap itself around me and not let go. Rex’s cold nose touched my hand. My dog always knew when it was happening. He understood me better than anyone. I took a deep breath and pulled myself from the brink.
    Rachel’s voice came through the fog. “Jacy? Are you still there?”
    “I’m here, Rachel. Next time you come around, I’ll introduce you to my neighbor. I’ve got work to do at home. See you in the morning.”
    The ankle weights were back. Invisible, of course, but I knew they were there. I felt them as they tried their damndest to hold my steps down. I left canals in the sand as I trudged back to my house. Rex stayed next to me, forgoing a romp in the plants looking for lizards to remain at my side.
    I unlocked my door and walked inside, the weights still gripped my ankles, keeping my steps heavy and slow. I went straight to my bedroom, my place of quiet and solitude.
    I sat down on the bed and picked up the plush white lamb, squeezing it against my chest. It had sopped up more of my tears than any handkerchief. Then the silence followed. The horrible, nightmarish silence that haunted me day and night. I rested back on the bed and held tightly to the stuffed toy, waiting for the silence to go away.

Chapter 7
    -Ledger-
    I’d showered and plowed through the muffins as if they were the last morsels of food on earth. I’d been eating boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen pizza for a week, and after two years of prison food, the homemade muffins had tasted like heaven.
    I turned on the radio I’d bought myself at the local thrift shop and sat on down on the mattress. I reached under the bed and pulled out the picture. I stared down at the small crumpled square. I’d rubbed my thumb over the photo so often, all the glossy shine had been worn away.
    Jacy’s visit had thrown me off. I’d already assured myself that I had no right to be here, no right to get to know her. But I’d come this far, and I had nothing else. I had no place to go. And there was nothing in my heart or soul that said ‘give up’.
    I pushed the picture back under the mattress and grabbed my shoes without any more mind debates or serious thought to what I was doing, I picked up the empty basket and walked out of the house and down to the beach.
    It was a clear night. The sky above was bright with a full moon, a fat, round moon that made the sand glow neon white. The little house had one porch light on and one more dim light inside. I reached the stairs that led up to Jacy’s house and climbed them without